Alternately referred to as a processor, central processor, or microprocessor, the CPU (pronounced sea-pea-you) is the Central Processing Unit of the computer. A computer's CPU handles all instructions it receives from hardware and software running on the computer.As you can see in the above picture, the CPU chip is usually in the shape of a square or rectangle and has one notched corner to help place the chip properly into the CPU socket. On the bottom of the chip are hundreds of connector pins that plug into each of the corresponding holes in the socket. Today, most CPU's resemble the picture shown above. However, Intel and AMD have also experimented with slot processors that were much larger and slid into a slot on the motherboard. Also, over the years, there have been dozens of different types of sockets on motherboards. Each socket only supports specific types of processors and each has its own pin layout.

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Features of External Hardware Computer Components

External computer components connect to a computer system from OUTSIDE. They are not necessary for the system to function but make our experiences easier or better. We will discuss the following:

* Input Devices (used to get data into a computer)
*Output Devices (used to get information out of a computer)

* Peripherals

    Input Devices
        Input devices are pieces of hardware that get raw data into the computer ready for processing.
        Processing involves taking raw data and turning it into more useful information.

        Input devices fall into two categories:

     *  Manual Input Devices - Need to be operated by a human to input information
     * Automatic Input Devices - Can input information on their own.

   * Output Devices

    When inputted raw data has been processed it becomes usable information. Output devices are        pieces of hardware that send this usable information out of the computer.

   Some output devices send information out temporarily and some send information out permanently:

  * Temporary Output Devices 
  * Permanent Output Devices

  *Peripheral Devices

   Almost all input and output devices are known as 'Peripheral devices'. 
   These are 'non-essential' hardware components that usually connect to the system externally.
   Peripherals are called non-essential because the system can operate without them.

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Where is the CPU located on the motherboard?

CPU/processor. The central processing unit (CPU), also called a processor, is located inside the computer case on the motherboard. It is sometimes called the brain of the computer, and its job is to carry out commands.

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High level languages

A programming language such as C, FORTRAN, or Pascal that enables a programmer to write programs that are more or less independent of a particular type of computer. Such languages are considered high-level because they are closer to human languages and further from machine languages. In contrast, assembly languages are considered low-level because they are very close to machine languages.

               The main advantage of high-level languages over low-level languages is that they are easier to read, write, and maintain. Ultimately, programs written in a high-level language must be translated into machine language by a compiler or interpreter.The first high-level programming languages were designed in the 1950s. Now there are dozens of different languages, including Ada, Algol, BASIC, COBOL, C, C++, FORTRAN, LISP, Pascal, and Prolog.

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How to Burn a DVD From a computer?

 Burn a DVD From a computer

           Burning a video to a DVD is one of the primary reasons for owning a laptop with a DVD burner. The task can be intimidating for first-time users, but various DVD burning software can make the task a lot less daunting. Most laptops that have a built-in DVD burner will also come with software to assist in the task of creating DVDs. However, since the majority of laptops run on the Windows operating system, this article will focus on using Windows DVD Maker to create a DVD.

         Locate Windows DVD Maker software from your start menu, under 'All Programs.'

         Windows DVD Maker opening screenshot Click on the options link and select the options that you want for your DVD. Here is where you can decide what menu options you want for the DVD as well as the aspect ratio and format. The defaults are fine for most productions.

           Windows DVD Maker options menu screenshot

Click on 'Add Items' from the menu bar to select pictures and video for your DVD. You will notice a running time total in the left hand bottom of this window. The total alloted time for a DVD is 150 minutes using this method.

 Selecting DVD content

      
             Click to move to the next screen, where you will see that you are now ready to burn the files to a DVD. It is here that you can preview your DVD, make your menu selections add music to your slide show and even customize the menu if that is what you decide.

            Windows DVD Maker menu options

Insert a blank DVD R/RW disk into the DVD R/RW drive. Click on the 'Burn' button from the final window left once you completed step four. If you do not already have a disk in the laptop's DVD drive, it will instruct you to put one in. Once the program completes the burn of video to the DVD, it will notify you that it is complete and eject the DVD.

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Define function of the monitor of the computer?

Define function of the monitor of the computer

                A computer monitor is a display adapter that displays information processed by the computer's video card. When a video card or graphics card converts binary information from is and 0S into images, these images are displayed onto the directly connected monitor. There are different types of monitors, including cathode ray tube (CRT) and liquid crystal displays (LCD). Monitors have display functions that include powering it on and off, controlling brightness, contrast and position, among others.

LCD

                A liquid crystal displays or LCD is a type of flat panel monitor, meaning it's designed to be thin. This feature should not be confused with flat screen, meaning the computer monitor's screen is flat instead of curved. LCD refresh their screen differently than CRT monitors. An LCD screen is created by electric voltages hitting liquid crystal cells, allowing 64 different shades per cell. LCD have one resolution size, and, if a smaller resolution is adopted, a black border will appear around the re-sized resolution.

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Useful programs

Useful programs

         Here are some computer programs useful in understanding and implementing dissonance-based tuning and timbres. Since I usually program in the language MATLAB, most of these are MATLAB programs, although the dissonance calculating program is also available in Microsoft's version of BASIC. Morgan Thunder has also translated the dissonance measuring program into C, and updated by Prof. Frink while Mauricio Rodriguez has translated it into LISP -- thanks Morgan, Prof. Frink, and Mauricio!

       To calculate the dissonance of a sound with a given spectrum, use the following program, which should be placed in your MATLAB folder and called dismeasure.
The logical structure and the meaning of the variables are discussed in the section How to Calculate Dissonance Curves of the paper Relating Tuning and Timbre, which is available on-line for your browsing pleasure.

      A pair of useful MATLAB programs converts from musical ratios into cents, and back again. The which should be named ratcent and centrat and placed in your MATLAB folder. As usual in MATLAB the input variables cents and ratios can be scalars or vector.

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