COMPUTER KNOWLEDGE

Chapter – 2: Hardware and Memory

Chapter – 2 : Scope
Components of Computers
1) Hardware
a) Motherboard, CPU, Input, Output & IO Devices
b) Computer Memory
 Some Terms related to Computer
i. Data: Collection of basic facts and figure without any sequence. This data
is also called as raw data. When the data is collected as facts and figures,
there is no meaning to it, at that time, for example, name of people,
names of employees etc.

ii. Processing: It is the set of instructions given by the user to the related
data that was collected earlier to output meaningful information. The
computer does the required processing by making the necessary
calculations, comparisons and decisions.

iii. Information: Information is the end point or the final output of any
processed work. This meaningful output data is called information.
 Components of Computers
There are 4 basic components
of computer-
i. Input Unit
ii. Output Unit
iii.Storage
iv.Central Processing Unit
Computer Hardware
MOTHERBOARD
• Also known as system board
• All the other boards are connected to this board
• It contains – CPU chip, Memory Chip, RAM/ROM, Input
Output controller etc.
Computer Hardware
CENTRAL PROCESSING UNIT
• The part of a computer in which operations are
controlled and executed.
• Also called a central processor or main
processor
• Control Unit
• Controls the machine cycle
• Arthematic logic unit
• Executes the computers commands
• Can do either arthematic operations or
logical operations
 Input Devices
The devices which are used to input the data and programs in the computer are known as
"Input Devices". They send data to the computer
The input unit links the external environment with the computer system performs this
task
Functions performed by Input Unit
a. It accepts (or reads) the list of instructions and data from the outside world.
b. It converts these instructions and data in computer acceptable format.
c. It supplies the converted instructions and data to the computer system for
further processing.
 Output Devices
Output Device produces the final results of computer into human understandable
form. They receive data from the computer
The Output Unit links the computer with the external environment.
Output unit accepts the results produced by the computer which are in coded form
and it converts these coded results to human readable form.

Note: Input Unit and Output Unit are

also called Peripheral devices
INPUT / OUTPUT DEVICES
• MODEM – Modulator – Demodulator
First converts from analog to digital & then digital to analog
Enables transmission through telephone lines
• TOUCHSCREEN – Simultaneous input-output
Printer: - Printer is an external hardware output device that takes the electronic data
stored on a computer or other device and generates a hard copy of it. Printers are one of
the most popular computer peripherals and are commonly used to print text and photos.

Types of Printer:- Plotter- used for hoardings- high definition

image

paper touches ink modern printers

most advanced printer

Impact Printer:-It is a type of printer that works by direct contact of an ink ribbon with
paper. These printers are typically loud but remain in use today because of their unique
ability to function with multipart forms. An impact printer has mechanism similar to a
typewriter.
Example of Impact Printers: Dot-matrix printers, Daisy-wheel printers, and line printers.

Non-Impact Printers:-It is a type of printer that does not hit or impact a ribbon to print.
They used laser, xerographic, electrostatic, chemical and inkjet technologies. Non-impact
printers are generally much quieter. They require less maintenance and service than impact
printers.
Example of Non-Impact Printers is Inkjet printers and Laser printers.
 Computer Memory
➢ A memory is just like a human brain. It is used to store
data and instructions. Computer memory is the storage
space in computer where data is to be processed and
instructions required for processing are stored.

On the basis of material, Memory is of 3 types-

I. Semiconductor memory-such as RAM, ROM, EPROM, and flash memory.
II. Magnetic memory-such as hard disk, floppy disk and magnetic tapes.
III. Optical memory-such as computer disk, DVD and blue-ray disk.
On the basis of storage type, Memory is primarily of three types-
i. Cache Memory
ii. Primary Memory or Main Memory
iii. Secondary Memory
Cache Memory:
➢ It is a very high-speed semiconductor memory which can speed up CPU.
➢ It acts as a buffer between the CPU and main memory.
➢ It is used to hold those parts of data and program which are most frequently
used by CPU.
➢ The parts of data and programs are transferred from disk to cache memory by
operating system from where CPU can access them.
Advantages
• Cache memory is faster than Main memory.
• It consumes less access time as compared to main memory.
• It stores the program that can be executed within a short period of time.
• It stores data for temporary use.
Disadvantages
• Cache memory has limited capacity.
• It is very expensive.
Primary Memory (Main Memory):
➢ It holds only those data and instructions on which computer is currently working.
➢ It has limited capacity and data is lost when power is switched off.
➢ It is generally made up of semiconductor device.

Characteristics of Main Memory

✓ Semiconductor memories
✓ Known as main memory.
✓ Usually volatile memory means data in primary memory
does not exist if it is not saved when a power failure
occurs.
✓ Faster than secondary memories.
✓ A computer cannot run without primary memory.
 RAM ROM
Volatile or temporary memory Non-Volatile or Permanent memory
Data gets erased when power supply Data stored permanently, computer
gets off manufacturer decides the information of
ROM, and it is permanently stored atthe
time of manufacturing which
cannot be overwritten by the user

Faster memory Slower memory

It is used in the normal operations of a A ROM chip is used primarily in the
computer after starting up and start-up process of a computer.
loading the operating system

2 main types – Static Ram and Types of ROM include PROM, EPROM
Dynamic Ram and EEPROM.
 Secondary Memory
➢It is also known as external memory or non-
volatile memory.
➢Slower than main memory.
➢Used for storing data or information permanently.
➢For example: hard disk, CD-ROM, DVD etc.
❖ Characteristic of Secondary memory
✓ Magnetic and Optical memories
✓ Non-volatile memory which is used for storage of data in a
computer.
✓ Data is permanently stored even if power is switched off.
✓ Computer may run without secondary memory.
✓ Slower than primary memories.
• SEQUENTIAL ACCESS • DIRECT ACCESS
Example
Example ❖Magnetic Disk (700 to 3600 RPM)
❖Floppy Disk
❖Magnetic Tapes such as ❖Hard Disk
cassettes ❖CD – ROM
❖Re-Writable CD
❖BD Blue Ray Disc
❖Pen-drives
❖Memory Cards
Comparison in different secondary memory devices
 Devices such as smartphones, iPods, and computers store data in digital formats
The 0s and 1s are used to represent digital data are referred to as binary digits —
from this term we get the word bit that stands for binary digit Binary system
is a number system to the base 2
A bit is a 0 or 1 used in the digital representation of data
4 bit 1 nibble
8 bit 1 byte (octet)
1024 byte 1 KB (Kilo Byte)
1024 KB 1 MB (Mega Byte)
Hierarchy – Bit < Nibble < Byte <
1024 MB 1 GB (Giga Byte)
MB < GB < TB < PB < XB < ZB < YB
1024 GB 1TB (Tera Byte)
1024 TB 1 PB (Peta Byte)
1024 PB 1 XB (Exa Byte)
1024 XB 1 ZB (Zeta Byte)
1024 ZB 1 YB (Yota Byte)
 Registers:
➢ The program which is to be executed is a set of instruction which are
stored in memory.
➢ The CPU executes the instructions of program to complete a task and
this execution takes place inside the CPU with the help of Registers, ALU
(arithmetic logic unit) and CU(control unit).
➢ When the processor executes instructions, data is temporarily stored in
small local memory location and these are called Registers
➢ Register is one of a small set of data holding places that are part of a
computer processor. A register may hold a computer instruction, a
storage address, or any kind of data (such as a bit sequence or
individual characters).
❖ Accumulator Register-It stores the immediate result of arithmetic
and logical operations.
❖ Memory address register (MAR)- It contains the address of
memory location to which data is to be stored.
❖ Program counter- It contains the address of the next instruction to
process
❖ Instruction register-It contains the current instruction being
processed

An uninterruptible power supply (UPS) is a device that allows a computer to keep

running for at least a short time when the primary power source is lost.