Chapter 1 Introduction to a Typical PC 11
system is equal to 1,000,000. In computer systems,
a 1-megabyte item such as memory is 1,048,576
(220) bytes (the power of 2 raised to the 20th). The
large values expressed for computer systems are
based on the binary number system. Figure 1-12
compares the values of the base 10 number system
and the base 2 number system.
Take a Tour Outside the
Computer Case
A minimal workstation consists of a computer
and input and output devices, Figure 1-13. The
computer is a case that houses the motherboard,
CPU, memory, hard drive, and other associated
electronics parts and modules that make up the
computer system. The typical input devices found
at a workstation are a keyboard and mouse, but
there are many other devices that can be used
for input. The typical output devices found at the
workstation are the computer monitor, printer, and
speakers.
Peripherals
The keyboard, mouse, monitor, printer,
and speakers are classified as peripherals. A
peripheral is an optional piece of equipment
used to display data or to input data. The monitor
displays data in the form of words and pictures.
The printer displays data in a printed form on
paper. The speakers convert data into sound
such as music and spoken language. The mouse
and keyboard are common input devices. The
keyboard is used to enter alphanumeric text and
Metric
Name
Symbol Number
Base 10
Number
Base 2
Common
Name
Numeric Equivalent for the
Base 10 Number System
Pico p 10
-12
2
-40
trillionth 0.000 000 000 001
Nano n 10
-9
2
-30
billionth 0.000 000 001
Micro μ 10
-6
2
-20
millionth 0.000 001
Milli m 10
-3
2
-10
thousandth 0.001
Base unit 1 1
Kilo k 10
3
2
10
thousand 1,000
Mega M 10
6
2
20
million 1,000,000
Giga G 10
9
2
30
billion 1,000,000,000
Tera T 10
12
2
40
trillion 1,000,000,000,000
Peta P 10
15
2
50
quadrillion 1,000,000,000,000,000
Exa E 10
18
2
60
quintillion 1,000,000,000,000,000,000
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Figure 1-11.
Metric prefix chart.
Prefi x Base 2 Number System Base 10 Number System
Kilobyte 1,024 1,000
Megabyte 1,048,576 1,000,000
Gigabyte 1,073,741,824 1,000,000,000
Terabyte 1,099,511,627,776 1,000,000,000,000
Petabyte 1,125,899,906,842,624 1,000,000,000,000,000
Exabyte 1,152,921,504,606,846,976 1,000,000,000,000,000,000
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Figure 1-12.
Base 10 and base 2
comparisons. You get
more for your meg
when you are using
base 2 terminology.