How Computers Work

rticle View print view Computer III. HOW COMPUTERS WORK The physical computer and its components are known as hardware. Computer hardware includes the memory that stores data and instructions; the central processing unit (CPU) that carries out instructions; the bus that connects the various computer components; the input devices, such as a keyboard or mouse, that allow the user to communicate with the computer; and the output devices, such as printers and video display monitors, …

…and CD-ROMs (compact discs), which can store up to 630 megabytes of information. A single CD-ROM can store nearly as much information as 700 floppy disks can. C. The Bus The bus is usually a flat cable with numerous parallel wires. The bus enables the components in a computer, such as the CPU and memory, to communicate. Typically, several bits at a time are sent along the bus. For example, a 16-bit bus, with 16 parallel ------------------------------------------------------------------------ **Bibliography**