Memory Devices

As mentioned before, having some knowledge of computer hardware is important. But today I will specifically talk a bit about memory devices. Now, the very first thing you need to know about memory is that there are two different types of memory. The first one is Primary Memory and the other is Secondary Memory (a.k.a storage). Primary memory is essentially memory that has fast access (like nanoseconds fast). It contains a cache on the Central Processing Unit (CPU) and the megabytes differ depending on the CPU. Another memory that falls under primary memory is RAM which stands for Random Access Memory. RAM contains a workspace area for your computer. However, one of the bad things of RAM is that it's volatile, so data does not get saved when power is shut off. So make sure you save your work every minute or so!

Moving on to Secondary Memory (storage)! Secondary memory is as important as primary memory however they're not the same thing. Secondary memory devices include magnetic disks like hard drives, floppy drives, CD's, and so on! Moreover, secondary storage is typically bigger in size than primary memory. Some examples are laptops and desktops. Laptops can carry up to 512 gigabytes and desktops can carry up to 4 terabytes. That's a plethora of storage! But one of the downsides of secondary memory is that it has slower access than what the primary memory has. Other types of memories include ROM, which stands for read-only memory, and CMOS which stands for complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor. Read-only memory is usually on the motherboard and it contains instructions for powering on the system. CMOS memory is a bit different from ROM. Instead of contacting instructions, CMOS contains different information for the motherboard about your system like what type of CPU it has, how much memory, what type of hard disks, etc. There's a lot more information about memory to digest. But for now I'll just leave it at that. If you would like to learn more make sure to check out this lecture provided by USC professor, Lance Winkel. The slides contain plenty of information on computer hardware and memory devices! 

The Importance of Computer Hardware Knowledge

Today, technology is very vital in our every day lives, especially since many of us use it at work or at school. Anyone who doesn't know how it works can be at a disadvantage because there are so many topics to technology that one can learn, which can make life easier after having some knowledge. One of the many topics to technology is Computer Hardware. Many people assume that lacking background knowledge of computer hardware won't affect them. But it can. One of the reasons why people should learn, at least the basics, about computer hardware is because computers are made up of various parts and each of those parts has its own way of functioning.

Imagine if one day your computer is giving you problems? You won't be able to do much because you don't have the proper knowledge on how technology works (in this case, computer hardware). Now, since we're on the topic of Computer Hardware, I'll mention some of the computer hardware components. Computer hardware components come in all shapes and sizes. For instance, there is the computer System Unit. Inside the System Unit is the power supply, the hard drive, the central processing unit (with a fan) which is the "brain of your computer", the motherboard, and some other components. Moreover, all of these come in different prices. Some may be much more expensive than others because of the progression of that component over time. To learn more about Computer Hardware you can check out this lecture provided by USC professor, Lance Winkel.