Computer Components

[chromewarriorXIII]

I am doing an interest project in school on the components of the computer. I am involving my class by having each of them do research on a specific component and then share with the class. We will also be taking apart and putting together a computer and making a booklet that includes all the components and where they go. The goal of the project is that we all know how to use a computer but I want to really learn what happens inside it (I'm conducting the project but it will be a learning experience for me as well).

I did some quick research and I have 11 categories (1 per person) that I think are good. I just wanted to know if there was anything that you guys could add to help me. Keep in mind that we will be working on this over a 4 week period, 3 days a week.

Here are the categories I have:

1. CPU
2. Memory
3. Hard Drive
4. Mother Board
5. Case, Cooling, Power Supply
6. Monitor
7. Video and Sound Cards
8. *Cables and Ports (Most likely will be internal cables combined with Mother Board)
9. *Drives - CD-ROM, DVD/CD Burners, USB, SD
10. Keyboard, Mouse, Speakers
11. Software - Operating Systems (differences and what they do)

Is there anything that I should add or get rid of? I only need 10 categories, so if there is anything that can be merged or removed keep that in mind. Thank you Escapists.

*Items that have been may be removed or combined with other sections.

 

[oliveira8]

You can get rid of CD drives drives. That or put the Cables and ports together with something else.

And expand the software part or just get rid of it. Doing a work on the software part alone can get painfull cause theres many areas. Or just cut it down to just the OS, but it would feel incomplete.

 

[chromewarriorXIII]

You can get rid of CD drives drives. That or put the Cables and ports together with something else.

And expand the software part or just get rid of it. Doing a work on the software part alone can get painfull cause theres many areas. Or just cut it down to just the OS, but it would feel incomplete.

I was think of just having the operating system because all the other software isn't really required.

Also, what if I think the only thing I could combine the cables and ports with is the case section which has enough as it is.

And I will remove the drives sections in the final list.

 

[300lb. Samoan]

I agree with oliveira8 about the OS, if you're building a system you're limited to either windows or linux and I don't think you want to get into the intricacies of unix for an interest project.

I would expand CD drives to also include SD cards, memory sticks, and USB drives. you may want to work with a system that has a multi-card reader in it, so there will be a tangible device in the computer to remove and reinstall.

cable and ports you can just get rid of, the internal cabling should fall under motherboard or case, and the external cabling should be component specific (sound card, monitor, keyboard mouse speakers etc. each have their own cable needs. monitor cabling can be a very wide topic these days - dsub, DVI, HDMI)

i guess that leaves a dillema, since you can't lose two categories... I think if you limit software to just the OS, it would be a substantial topic, and I would lose cables over that.
sounds like a great project! i think there's a lot to learn from this

 

[Ghost]

take away cables and ports i think, or merge them with case and power supply.

 

[oliveira8]

Now the drive section looks better.

Merge the cable part with motherboard. And you might wanna add UPS with the case, cooling and powersupply part. Its something that everyone should have.

 

[chromewarriorXIII]

I talked with my teacher and he suggested the following:

1. CPU
2. Memory
3. Hard Drive
4. Mother Board and Cables (basic components of the cables)
5. Cooling and Power Supply
6. Monitor and Case
7. Video and Sound Cards
8. CD-ROM, Floppy Disk, CD/DVD Burner, USB Ports, SD Slots
9. Peripherals - Mouse, Keyboard, Speakers
10. Operating System

This should hopefully distribute it equally enough that everyone can get about a page or more of research in a week.