fixed systems:

super computers e.g. single purpose that requires manipulation of a large amount of mathematical data (weather forecasting)

mainframes e.g. high performance that can perform multiple tasks (banking) 

desktop e.g. wide range of purposes for an individual user or organisations 

mobile systems: 

allows a wide range of tasks to be performed whilst on the move

laptop/notebook - a portable computer

netbook - a small and portable computer designed for browsing the web

tablet - a large handheld device

smartphone

Central Processing Unit (CPU) e.g. pin grid array (PGA), land grid array (LGA)

Graphics Processing Unit (GPU)

memory:

volatile - temporary (short-term)

non-volatile - permanent (long-term) 

storage:

local

remote

Solid State Drives (SSD)

portable storage e.g. memory sticks, hard drives, memory cards

optical drives e.g. DVD

connection methods:

Universal Series Bus (USB) 2/3

Video Graphics Array (VGA)

Digital Versatile Interface (DVI)

High Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI)

FireWire (IEEE1394)

Thunderbolt

Serial Advanced Technologies Attachment (SATA)

input/output devices e.g. printers, display devices

Learners will understand the functions of hardware components that make up a computer system including:

processors

memory 

storage

input/output devices

Learners will be able to produce hardware system specifications for different uses. 

motherboard

Random Access Memory (RAM)

internal storage e.g. SATA, SSD

graphics cards

audio interface/sound card

optical drives

network interface device

input/ output devices eg graphics tablets, keyboard, monitor, mouse

Power Supply Unit (PSU)

file management

storage management

memory management 

resource management e.g. control of peripherals:

security

user interface

Learners will compare different types

of Operating Systems including

vendor e.g. MS Windows, MacOS, iOS:

cost of licences

EULA

system requirements 

open source e.g. Linux, Android:

free for non-commercial usage

end users can access and alter the source code

system requirements

availability of applications

to enable OS and other computer programs to access hardware functions

database

spreadsheets

presentation software

word processing

utilities e.g. anti-virus, compression tools

web browsers

specialist software e.g. audio, visual, graphics

bespoke software - designed to meet a specific need

Learners will understand how software can be adapted to meet the needs of end users including:

disabilities e.g. sight impaired, physical limitations

customisation e.g. use of macros, toolbars

personalisation e.g. templates, house style and appearance of software

Learners will be able to produce software system specifications for different uses.

Learners will understand the purpose of components used to implement networks including:

network topologies:

star

infrastructure mode (wireless)

ad-hoc mode (wireless)

types of networks

client server 

peer to peer

network protocols:

Medium Access Control (MAC)

IP 

SMTP

IMAP

POP3

FTP

HTTP

HTTPS

Sharing resources:

file sharing

devices e.g. printers

binary 

hexadecimal 

decimal 

connect directly using wired or wireless technologies

configure the IP addresses for the attached devices

share access to files

share access to at least one external device