TOPIC:- DEFINITION OF COMPUTER,MEMORY AND CPU.
Definition of Computer:
a) A computer is an electronic device for the storage and processing information.
b) A programmable machine that inputs, processes and outputs data.
c) A functional unit that can perform substantial computation, including numerous arithmetic
operations or logic operations, without human intervention during a run time.
d) A computer is an electronic device that can perform a variety of operations in accordance
with a set of instructions called program.
Central
Input Unit Processing Output Unit
Unit (CPU)
Main Memory Storage Devices
Definition of Data:-Raw facts and figures are called Data.
Data can be of following types:
i. Numeric Data: It is the data containing numbers only. E.g. 15, -17,3.14159 , 40005.008etc.
ii. Alphabetic Data: It is data containing alphabets. E.g. “India”, “ I like bike/car”.
iii. Alphanumeric Data: It is the data containing alphabets, numbers and special symbols.
E.g.”Item$57”, India 2009” etc.
The data that result from answering a query or question is called Information.
Information Technology ( IT ) is the technology required for information processing. In other
words, IT encompasses all forms of technology used to create, store, process, exchange and use
information in its various forms.
Memory: The memory of a computer is more like a predefined working place, where it temporarily keeps
information and data to facilitate its performance. The memory of a computer can be thought of as
“cells”.
Definition: A Memory Cell may be defined as a device which can store a symbol selected from a set of
symbols.
Definition of Bit: A bit is an elementary unit of the memory.
Bit
0 1 0 1 0 1 1 0 Cell 0
1 0 0 1 1 0 0 1
Cell 1
Fig. Memory cells.
TOPIC:- DEFINITION OF COMPUTER,MEMORY AND CPU.
One byte is the smallest unit which can represent a data item or a character. Other units of memory are
KB, MB, GB,TB.
One KB means 210 bytes i.e. 1024 bytes; 1KB = 1024 bytes.
One MB means 210 KB i.e. 1024x1024 bytes; 1 MB= 1024 KB.
One GB means 210 MB i.e. 1024x 1024x1024 bytes; IGB=1024 MB.
One TB means 210 GB i.e. 1024x 1024x1024 bytes; ITB= 1024 GB.
UNIT SIZE DESCRIPTION
Bit One binary digit Stores either a binary 0 or 1
Byte Eight bits One character
Word 16 to 64 bits One character
Kilobyte(KB) 1 thousand bytes About one page of double-spaced text
Megabyte(MB) 1 million bytes About the size of a short book
Gigabyte(GB) 1 billion bytes 1,000 short books
Terabyte(TB) 1 trillion bytes An entire library
Pent byte (PB) 1 quadrillion bytes Just about all the libraries in the US.
Table-Description of Bits units
Central Processing Unit (CPU):
1) The CPU is the control centre for a computer. It guides, directs and governs its performance. It is
the brain of the computer. The CPU has two components which are responsible for different
functions. These two components are the control units(CU ) and Arithmetic Logic Unit.
2) Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU)- The ALU performs all the four arithmetical( +. -, *, /) and some
logical ( <,> =, <=, >=, <>) operations. When two numbers are required to be added, these
numbers are sent from memory to ALU where addition takes place and the result is put back in
the memory. The same was other arithmetic operations are performed. For logical operations also,
the numbers to be compared are sent from memory to ALU where the comparison takes place and
the result is returned to the memory. The result of a logical operation is either TRUE or FALSE.
These operations provide the capability of decision-making to the computer.
3) Control Unit (CU)- The CU controls and guides the interpretation, flow and manipulation of all
data and information. The CPU sends control signals until the required operations are done
properly by ALU and memory. Another important function of CU is the program execution i.e,
carrying out all the instruction stored in the program. The CU gets program instructions from
memory and executes them one after the other. After getting the instructions from memory in CU,
the instruction is decoded and interpreted i.e which operation is to be performed. Then the asked
operation is carried out. After the work of this instruction is completed, control unit sends signal
to memory to send the next instruction in sequence to CU.
4) The control unit even controls the flow of data from input devices to memory and from memory
to output devices.
