“Heaven’s Light is Our Guide”
Department of Computer Science & Engineering
RAJSHAHI UNIVERSITY OF ENGINEERING & TECHNOLOGY
Fundamentals of Computer
Block Diagram of a Digital Computer:
Various Components of a Digital Computer:
Input device:
Input device is the device by which we can send something (data) to computer from
outside of the computer.
Example of input device: Mouse, Keyboard, Scanner, Joystick etc.
Output device:
This device sends the results generated by the computer to the outer world or to the user
(i.e., outside of the computer).
Example of output device: Monitor, Printer, Speaker etc.
Memory / Storage:
Mainly computer has two types of memory:
i) Main or primary memory,
ii) Secondary Memory.
i) Main or primary memory:
High speed memory (Faster than secondary memories)
Size of main memory is small
Cost is high
Example of primary memory: RAM (Random Access Memory), ROM (Read Only
Memory)
ii) Secondary Memory:
Speed of this memory is slow (Slower than primary memories)
Huge amount of secondary memory can be used to store data
Cost of Secondary memory is low
Data is permanently stored even if power is switched off
Example of secondary memory: HDD (Hard disk Drive), CD-ROM, DVD.
CPU (Central Processing Unit):
CPU is considered as the brain of the computer. It performs all types of data processing
operations of computer.
CPU itself has following two components:
i) CU (Control Unit),
ii) ALU (Arithmetic Logic Unit).
i) CU (Control Unit):
This unit controls the operations of all parts of computer but does not carry out any
actual data processing operations.
ii) ALU (Arithmetic Logic Unit):
All types of arithmetic operations (like addition, subtraction, multiplication,
division) and logic operations (like comparing, selecting, matching) are performed
in this unit.
RAM (Random Access Memory):
RAM is volatile, i.e. data stored in it is lost when we switch off the computer or if
there is a power failure
RAM is small, both in terms of its physical size and in the amount of data it can
hold
RAM is of two types:
i) Static RAM (SRAM)
ii) Dynamic RAM (DRAM)
ROM (Read Only Memory):
The memory from which we can only read but cannot write on it
This type of memory is non-volatile, i.e. the information is stored permanently in
such memories
A ROM, stores such instructions that are required to start a computer
ROM chips are not only used in computer but also in other electronic items like
washing machine and microwave oven
PROM (Programmable Read Only Memory):
PROM is the read-only memory that can be modified only once by a user
The user buys a blank PROM and enters the desired contents using a PROM
program
Inside the PROM chip there are small fuses which are burnt open during
programming
It can be programmed only once and is not erasable
EPROM (Erasable and Programmable Read Only Memory):
It is erasable and can be programmed more than once
The EPROM can be erased by exposing it to ultra-violet light for a duration of up
to 40 minutes
EEPROM (Electrically Erasable and Programmable Read Only
Memory):
The EEPROM is programmed and erased electrically
It can be erased and reprogrammed about ten thousand times
Both erasing and programming take about 4 to 10 ms (millisecond)
