Use the information in the text and the diagram to help you match the terms in the box with the appropriate explanation or definition below.

a) software  b) peripheral devices c) monitor e) hardware   f) input    g) port   h) output i) central processing unit

 

1. The brain of the computer.

2. Physical parts that make up a computer system.

3. Programs which can be used on a particular computer system.

4. The information which is presented to the computer.

5. Results produced by a computer.

6. Hardware equipment attached to the CPU.

7. Visual display unit.

8. Any socket or channel in a computer system into which an input/output device may be connected.

 

 

In pairs, ask and answer questions

1. What are the main components of a typical computer system?

2. What are some examples of input devices?

3. What are some examples of output devices?

INSIDE THE SYSTEM

Read the advertisement and translate the technical specifications into your own language.

Processor - dual core @ 2.2 GHz

RAM - 4 GB

Hard Drive - 160 GB

Wireless (for laptops) - 802.11b (WPA2 support required)

Monitor - 19" LCD - desktop only

Operating System - Windows Vista with Service Pack 2 or Apple OS X 10.6.8

Backup Device - External hard drive, USB Flash Drive and/or DVD+/-RW drive

 

Try to answer these questions. Consult a dictionary, if necessary.

1. What is the main function of a microprocessor?

2. What unit of frequency is used to measure processor speed?

3. What does ‘RAM’ stands for?

 

Read the following text and then sentences 1 to 8 below. Decide if the sentences are True (T) or False (F), and rewrite the false ones to make them true.

What’s Inside a PC System?

The nerve centre of a PC is the central processing unit or CPU. This unit is built into a single microprocessor chip – an integrated circuit – which executes program instructions and supervises the computer’s overall operation. The unit consists of three main parts:

· the control unit, which examines the instructions in the user’s program, interprets each instruction and causes the circuits and the rest of the components – disk drivers, monitors, etc. – to be activated to execute the functions specified;

· the arithmetic logic unit (ALU), which performs mathematical calculations (+, -, etc.) and logical operations (and, or, etc.);

· The registers, which are high-speed units of memory used to store and control information. One of these registers is the program counter (PC) which keeps track of the next instruction to be performed in the main memory. Another is the instruction register (IR) which holds the instruction that is currently being executed.

One area where microprocessors differ is in the amount of data – the number of bits – they can work with at a time. There are 16, 32 and 64-bit processors. The computer’s internal architecture is evolving so quickly that the new 64-bit processors are able to address 4 billion times more information than a 32-bit system.

The programs and data which pass through the central processor must be loaded into the main memory (also called the internal memory) in order to be processed. Thus, when the user runs an application, the microprocessor looks for it on secondary storage devises (disks) and transfers a copy of application into RAM area. RAM (random access memory) is temporary, i.e. its information is lost when the computer turned off. However, the ROM section (read only memory) is permanent and contains instructions needed by the processor. Most of today’s computers have internal expansion slots that allows user to install adapters or expansion boards. Popular adapters include high-resolution graphics boards, memory expansion boards, and internal modems.

The power and performance of a computer is partly determined by the speed of its microprocessor. A clock provides pulses at fixed intervals to measure and synchronize circuits and units. The clock speed is measured in MHz (megahertz) or GHz (gigahertz) and refers to the frequency at which pulses are emitted. For example, a CPU running at 1,600 MHz (1,600 million cycles per second) will enable the computer to handle the most demanding applications.

The RAM capacity can sometimes be expanded by adding extra chips. These are usually contained in small circuit boards called single in-line memory modules (SIMMs). Modern Pentium processors also accept dual in-line memory modules (DIMMs), which allow for a wider data path.

Santiago Remacha Esteras. Infotech. English for Computer Users. – CUP, 2005.

 

1. The CPU directs and coordinates the activities taking place within the computer system.

2. The arithmetic logic unit performs calculations on the data.

3. 32-bit processors can handle more information than 64-bit processors.

4. A chip is an electronic device composed of silicon elements containing a set of integrated circuits.

5. RAM, ROM and secondary storage are the components of the main memory.

6. Information cannot be processed by the microprocessor if it is not loaded into the main memory.

7. Permanent storage of information is provided by RAM (random access memory).

8. The speed of microprocessor is measured in gigahertz or megahertz. One GHz is equivalent to one thousand MHz. One MHz is equivalent to one million cycles per second.