A BLOG FOR THE GEEK IN YOU: February 2013

Most of the tech enthusiasts are hungry for acquiring the knowledge but they often tend to avoid to understand the basic concepts behind the working of gadgets and components.This is a list of the most basic
of a common concepts that are avoided by almost everybody.

COMPUTERS HARDWARE COMPONENTS-

We all use computers almost everyday but most of us usually don't know what's going on inside.So for them here is a brief introduction ...Here i would be discussing the parts of motherboard which is the main part of any computer..

COMPONENTS-

CPU- Central Processing Unit-It is also known as the microprocessor or the processor. It is the brain of the computer, and it is responsible for fetching,decoding and executing program instructions as well as performing mathematical and logical calculations.

Main Memory / Random Access Memory (RAM)

Random Access Memory or RAM most commonly refers to computer chips that temporarily store dynamic data when you are working with your computer to enhance the computer performance.

BIOS- Basic Input Output System-

BIOS is a term that stands for Basic Input/Output System. BIOS is a Read Only Memory which consists of low-level software that controls the system hardware and acts as an interface between the operating system and the hardware

Cache Memory-

It is a small block of high-speed memory (RAM) that enhances PC performance by pre-loading information from the (relatively slow) main memory and passing it to the processor on demand.

Chipsets-
The NorthBridge (also called the memory controller) is in charge of controlling transfers between the processor and the RAM, which is why it is located physically near the processor. It is sometimes called the GMCH, for Graphic and Memory Controller Hub.
The SouthBridge (also called the input/output controller or expansion controller) handles communications between slower peripheral devices. It is also called the ICH (I/O Controller Hub). The term bridge is generally used to designate a component which connects two buses.

CPU Clock-
The clock synchronizes the operation of all parts of the PC and provides the basic timing signal for the CPU.

2.COMPUTER LANGUAGES-

You might have come accross various languages like C,C++,Python,HTM.....

But might not know many of them and where is it used.Here is a list of various languages and its uses..

C - C is a general-purpose programming language initially developed by Dennis Ritchie. Its design provides constructs that map efficiently to typical machine instructions, and therefore it found lasting use in applications that had formerly been coded in assembly language

C++ -C++ is a statically typed, free-form, multi-paradigm, compiled, general-purpose programming language. It is regarded as an intermediate-level language, as it comprises a combination of both high-level and low-level language features.Developed by Bjarne Stroustrup starting in 1979 at Bell Labs, it adds object oriented features, such as classes, and other enhancements to the C programming language. Originally named C with Classes, the language was renamed C++ in 1983, as a pun involving the increment operator.

PHP-PHP is an open source server-side scripting language designed for Web development to produce dynamic Web pages. It is one of the first developed server-side scripting languages to be embedded into an HTML source document rather than calling an external file to process data.

JAVA-Java is a general-purpose, concurrent, class-based, object-oriented computer programming language that is specifically designed to have as few implementation dependencies as possible. It is intended to let application developers "write once, run anywhere" (WORA), meaning that code that runs on one platform does not need to be recompiled to run on another. Java applications are typically compiledto bytecode (class file) that can run on any Java virtual machine (JVM) regardless of computer architecture.

PYTHON-Python is a general-purpose, high-level programming language whose design philosophy emphasizes code readability. Its syntax is said to be clearand expressive. Python has a large and comprehensive standard library.

Python supports multiple programming paradigms, including object-oriented, imperative and functional programming styles. It features a fully dynamic type system and automatic memory management.

ANDROID-Android is a Linux-based operating system designed primarily for touchscreen mobile devices such as smartphones and tablet computers. Initially developed by Android, Inc., which Google backed financially and later purchased in 2005.

PERL-Perl is a high-level, general-purpose, interpreted, dynamic programming language.Though Perl is not officially an acronym, there are various backronyms in use, such as: Practical Extraction and Reporting Language.It is a general-purpose Unix scripting language to make report processing easier.

PASCAL-Pascal is an influential imperative and procedural programming language, designed in 1968–1969 and published in 1970 by Niklaus Wirth as a small and efficient language intended to encourage good programming practices using structured programming and data structuring.

view this infographic for the difference

3.NETWORKING BASICS-

Some basic Networking terminologies which most of them usually don't know are....

FTP-Short for File Transfer Protocol, FTP is a standard way of sending and receiving files between two computers. A good example of how FTP is used today is by web developers, who will connect to their web server using FTP and send updated versions of their web pages to the server.

SERVER-A computer connected to a network that other computers may or may not access. Unlike other computers on a network, a server is a dedicated computer set up for one or more purposes. For example, a user may setup a server to authenticate and allow or prohibit users from accessing a network, send/receive e-mail, manage print jobs, or host a website. For example, the Computer Hope web page is hosted on a server.

CLIENT-A client is a computer that retrieves information from or uses resources provided by a server or main computer. Many corporate networks are comprised of a client computer at each of the employees' desks.

LOCAL HOST-Default name describing the local computer address also known as theloopback address. For example, typing: ping localhost would ping the local IP address of 127.0.0.1 (the loopback address). When setting up a web server or software on a web server, 127.0.0.1 is used to point the software to the local machine.

APACHE SERVER-The Apache project is a collaborative software development effort aimed at creating a robust, commercial-grade, feature full and freely-available source code implementation of a HTTP server. The Apache server is available for various operating systems, but is most commonly used on operating systems such as Unix, Linux, and BSD.

DNS-Short for Domain Name System or Domain Name Service, a DNS is an Internet or other networkserver that helps to point domain names or the hostname to their associated IP address that was introduced by Paul Mockapetris and Jon Postel in 1984. If a domain name is not found within the local database, the server may query other domain servers to obtain the address of a domain name.

4.ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS-

Electronics components forms the very basic of all the equipments and gadgets used today.Whenever we open the inside of some equipments we find electronic components which we usually don't know.Here is the wrking principle of a few basic components....

TRANSFORMER-A transformer is a static electrical device that transfers energy by inductive coupling between its winding circuits. A varying current in the primary winding creates a varying magnetic flux in the transformer's core and thus a varying magnetic flux through the secondarywinding. This varying magnetic flux induces a varying electromotive force (EMF), or "voltage", in the secondary winding.

RESISTORS-A resistor is a passive two-terminal electrical component that implements electrical resistance as a circuit element.
The current through a resistor is in direct proportion to the voltage across the resistor's terminals. This relationship is represented by Ohm's law:

$I = {V \over R}$
CAPACITORS-A capacitor (originally known as condenser) is a passive two-terminal electrical component used to store energy in an electric field. The forms of practical capacitors vary widely, but all contain at least two electrical conductors separated by a dielectric(insulator); for example, one common construction consists of metal foils separated by a thin layer of insulating film. Capacitors are widely used as parts of electrical circuits in many common electrical devices.

DIODE-a diode is a two-terminal electronic component with an asymmetric transfer characteristic, with low (ideally zero) resistanceto current flow in one direction, and high (ideally infinite) resistance in the other. A semiconductor diode, the most common type today, is a crystalline piece of semiconductor material with a p-n junction connected to two electrical terminals.

TRANSISTOR-A transistor is a semiconductor device used to amplify and switch electronic signals and electrical power. It is composed of semiconductor material with at least three terminals for connection to an external circuit. A voltage or current applied to one pair of the transistor's terminals changes the current flowing through another pair of terminals. Because the controlled (output) power can be higher than the controlling (input) power, a transistor can amplify a signal.

IC(Integrated Circuit)-An integrated circuit or monolithic integrated circuit (also referred to as an IC, a chip, or a microchip) is a set of electronic circuitson one small plate ("chip") of semiconductor material, normally silicon. This can be made much smaller than a discrete circuit made from independent components.

5.CONNECTORS-

The various equipments today have a variety of different connectors used for communication purpose or as power connectors.Being a tech enthusiast ine must be aware of the names of these connectors.Here are a few connectors most commonly used ..