Scribd
Upload
178 views

Components of Computer System

This document provides an overview of the components of a computer system, including the hardware subsystem, software subsystem, data, and users. It describes the main hardware components like the CPU, memory, input/output devices, and storage. It also explains the two types of software - systems software that runs the computer system, and applications software that allows users to perform tasks. The hardware and software work together to process and present data to users.

Uploaded by

Annie Glory
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
178 views

Components of Computer System

This document provides an overview of the components of a computer system, including the hardware subsystem, software subsystem, data, and users. It describes the main hardware components like the CPU, memory, input/output devices, and storage. It also explains the two types of software - systems software that runs the computer system, and applications software that allows users to perform tasks. The hardware and software work together to process and present data to users.

Uploaded by

Annie Glory
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 16

IT151-Introduction to Information and

Communication Technology

Components of Computer System


Objectives

5.1 The Hardware Sub-System


 Inside the Computer
 The CPU/ and Memory
 The Input/output Sub-System
 Types of Input/output Devices and Media

5.2 The Software Sub-System:


 5.2.1 Systems Software
 5.2.2 Applications Software

5.3 Memory management


Computer System

Computer System has four (4) parts


 Hardware

 Software

 Data

 User
The Hardware Sub-System

Mechanical devices in the computer


Anything that can be touched
The computer equipment
Includes keyboard,mouse,printers, monitors, disk drives etc
The Hardware Sub-System…..cont

CPU RAM Radiator and Cooling Fans

Motherboard
Removable Media

Sound Card Hard Disk

Graphics Card

Power Supply
The Hardware Sub-System-Central Processing Unit(CPU)

 Brains of the computer


 Carries out instructions from the program
 Manipulate the data
 Most computers have several processors
 Parts of CPU
 Arithmetic/Logic Unit (ALU): processes data arithmetically (addition, subtraction,
multiplication, division) or logically (greater than, less than, equal to)
 Control Unit: works with the operating system to move data between auxiliary storage and
main memory; and between main memory and the ALU
 Main Memory: contains both program instructions and the data that is required.
Memory Management: The Hardware Sub-System-Main
Memory

Random Access Memory (RAM): allows data and instructions to


be accessed randomly from any memory location (address).
Primary storage.
Volatile - lost when power is turned off
Read Only Memory (ROM): usually contains programs that help
the computer system operate:
can only be read: cannot be written to or altered by the user (usually)
ROM is not volatile
Memory Management: The Hardware Sub-System-Main
Memory

 Data and instructions are stored as BITS (binary digits). Everything from our world is
translated into a computer recognizable format called binary (zeros or ones)
 The combination of binary digits represents our letters or numbers. One character
represented is equal to a byte.
 Memory capacity is measured in bytes. Today’s most common measurement is megabytes
 Kilo = 1,000 (KB) Thousand
 Mega = 1,000,000 (MB) Million
 Giga = 1,000,000,000 (GB) Billion
 Bytes are composed using either the ASCII coding system (7 bits = character) or EBCDIC (8
bits = character)
Memory Management:The Hardware Sub-System-Storage

 Storage: Required because main memory is limited, expensive and volatile.


 Sequential Access Storage Devices (SASD): data is stored in sequential order. Retrieval is
also sequential.
 Storage media is magnetic tape.
 Supports batch processing environment
 Excellent form of backup
 Direct Access Storage Devices (DASD): data can be stored and retrieved randomly.
 Storage capacity is referred to as density. How tightly packed data is on the disk.
 DASD is required for transaction processing.
 Memory capacity is measured in bytes. Today’s most common measurement is kilobytes,
megabytes and gigabits
The Input/output Sub-System

Input devices accept data and instructions and convert them to a form
that the computer can understand.
Digital computer cameras
Terminals
Scanning devices
Optical data readers
Magnetic Ink Character Recognition (MICR)
The Input/output Sub-System

Output devices present data and information in a form people can


understand
Display monitors
Liquid Crystal Displays (LCDs)
Printers and plotters
Speakers.
The Software Sub-System

Software is the instructions for the hardware. It is the programmes


which make the computer do the work.
Tells the computer what to do
Two Types
System software
Application software
The Software Sub-System-System Software

Most important software


Operating system
Windows XP
Network operating system (OS)
Windows Server 2003
Utility
 AntiVirus
The Software Sub-System-Application Software

The class of computer instructions that direct a computer system


to perform specific processing activities and provide functionality
for users. (Programmes that solve specific problems of our
interest)
Accomplishes a specific task
Most common type of software
MS Word
Covers most common uses of computers
Computer System-Data and Users

Data
Pieces of information
Computer organize and present data
Users
People operating the computer
Most important part
Tell the computer what to do
Review Questions

Identifying the hardware parts of the computer


Identifying the basic components of the hardware parts the computer
system i.e. Motherboard, Central Processing Unit (CPU), Graphical
Processing Unit (GPU), Random Access Memory (RAM) and Storage
Mention two types of Software you know
Explain why System Software is important to be installed before any
other software is installed in a computer.

You might also like