Different Internet Speed Devices

...for modems in the home to transmit and receive data at 56 Kbps. External modems are becoming less common because most new computers come with an internal modem already fitted to the Motherboard. Modems are a common way to connect to the Internet. Other methods include Cable and ISDN, however this is an area of computing that is constantly changing as new technologies become available. Main Processing Unit - Network Interface Card It is possible to link computers together so that data can be transferred between them and so that other devices such as printers can be shared. Network Interface Card To connect computers together the computers each need a network interface card (NIC) like the one above. There are different types of network cards for different types of networks! The card plugs into a slot on the motherboard. It has a port which allows for a suitable connector and cable to then connect the PC to a network device. Storage Devices - Floppy Disk These are cheap ways of storing things but can only hold 1.44 Mb of data. Inside the plastic casing is a small disk which has a surface which can store magnetic patterns. When inserted into the computer, the metal sleeve slides across to reveal a part of the disk to a read/write head. The disk spins round within its casing and the head can move back and forth. Casings come in different colours but the most common are black and blue. Most computers have a floppy disk drive and this means the floppy disk is a cheap way of moving or copying small amounts of data from one computer to another. They can also carry computer viruses between computers so BEWARE! Storage Devices - Hard Disk Hard Disks have the capacity to store lots of data. The one in the picture above can store 10Gb. Hard Disks have a smooth surface which, like floppy disks, can be magnetised so they can be used to store data over and over again. Hard Disks are usually fixed inside the computer and are connected to the Motherboard with a ribbon cable. The Hard Disks rotate and as they do so read/write heads move back and forth across the surfaces to store and retrieve the data. External Hard Disks can be attached to an appropriate port. This makes them more portable but takes up space. Most modern computers have at least one Hard Disk. Usually, application software such as Word, Excel and Access are stored on the Hard Disk. If a computer has more than one Hard Disk then one must be designated as the 'Master' and any others as 'Slaves'. Storage Devices - CD ROM CD ROMs store a large amount of data. Most computer games are now purchased on CD ROMs. Data is stored optically which means that it is read by using a laser. The CD ROM is placed inside a drive and the disc rotates at high speed. A laser light and sensor moves back and forth as the disk rotates in the drive. A standard CD ROM can hold 650Mb of data but it is possible for some CD ROMs to hold up to 1Gb of data. On average one CD ROM can hold as much data as could

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