Chapter 1 Introduction to a Typical PC 3
Digital Electronics
All electronic components fall into one of two
categories: analog or digital. Digital electronics
is a system that is best represented by a simple
switch. There can only be two conditions in the
switch circuit. The switch is either on or off. No
other state exists. Look at Figure 1-2, which shows
a typical switch wired to a lamp. The switch
controls power to the lamp. The lamp can be
turned on or off. No other electrical condition can
exist for this simple circuit. Digital electronics
in computers use on and off conditions. There
is either full voltage or no voltage applied to the
circuit.
Analog electronics use and produce varying
voltage levels. Analog electrical circuits can be
or determining if the problem is hardware related
or software related.
The aim of this textbook is to systematically
teach you the necessary skills to be successful in
the world of computer technology. In this chapter,
we will take a quick look at the major components
of a typical PC and introduce basic computer
concepts such as computer data and software. As
your studies progress through the text, each part
and concept will be covered in great depth, but
for now it is best to have an overall view of the PC
system. No component can be fully understood
without realizing how it interacts with the other
components in the system. This chapter covers
introductory-level knowledge of the computer
system before going into depth at a technician
level.
A B
C
Advanced Microprocessor Devices Inc.
International Business Systems Corporation
Oleksiy Mark/Shutterstock
Figure 1-1.
Computers vary in
size. A—Microchip
(AMD Athlon™ XP
processor). B—Large
computer system for a
research center.
C—Typical home PC.