Components of Computer

Components of Computer
Dr. O. D. NINAN
November, 2024
Dr. O. D. NINAN November 2024

Central Processing Unit (CPU)
• The CPU, sometimes referred to as the microprocessor, is created as a single
Integrated Circuit (IC) chip.
• The CPU located on the computer’s main circuit board (Motherboard). It is
basically the brain of the PC.
• The motherboard is a rigid rectangular card containing the circuitry that
connects the processor and all the other components that make up your
personal computer.
• In most personal computers, some of the components are attached directly to
the motherboard and some are housed on their own small circuit boards that
plug into the expansion slots built into the motherboard
• The Control Unit (CU) and Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU) make up the CPU.
• The CPU also has a number of registers, temporary storage spaces for data and
instructions.

The Register
• Registers are group of flip-flops use to store data within the Central Processing Unit.
• Examples of registers within the CPU include Accumulator (ACC), Program Counter,
Instruction Decoder, Instruction Register, Stack Pointers, etc.
Arithmetic and Logic Unit
• The ALU performs logical analysis and decision-making in addition to performing
mathematical calculations.
Control Unit
• The control unit (CU) serves as the system's supervisor.
• The CU is in charge of coordinating and synchronizing all tasks carried out by a
computer system.
Memory
• It is the part of the Computer where data and instructions are stored in digital form.
It also stores the intermediate and final results of operations performed by the ALU.
• A computer system's memory can be divided into Primary memory and secondary
memory .
Primary Memory
• The memory that resides inside a computer system is called primary memory.
• The primary memory is transient in nature, and data is kept there in the form of
electronic charges.
• Data inside this memory will be erased immediately after the machine is turned off.
• Two categories of primary memory are
• ROM stands for Read Only Memory, Whatever is written in a ROM chip
cannot be changed or removed. ROM has a few variants, as follows:
• PROM stands for programmable read-only memory, where information can
be entered only once and cannot be changed after that.
• PROM can be purchased empty and subsequently loaded by the user with a
program.
• The contents of PROM cannot be changed once they have been loaded with
the program.
• EPROM is referred to as erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM),
where data may be repeatedly rewritten.
• The EPROM chip must be withdrawn from the CPU and subjected to ultraviolet
rays in order for new data to be written into it.

• EEPROM (electrically erasable programmable read-only memory) is a type of
memory that can be repeatedly updated without being taken out of the CPU
using specialized electronic pulses.
• RAM stands for “Random Access Memory," and as its name implies, data can be
read from and written onto a RAM chip.
• RAM is also referred to as read/write memory. It is a volatile memory; any data
entered into the RAM is erased as soon as the computer is turned off.
• Various types of RAMS are:
• DRAM (Dynamic RAM) It needs to be refreshed periodically by the CPU so that
the data contained in it is not lost.

• SRAM (Static RAM) Data contained in it remains stored properly; therefore, it
does not need to be refreshed by the CPU.
• This type of RAM has a higher speed than DRAM and its costlier.
• Secondary Storage
• Secondary memory is a form of external, permanent storage for computers.
They include, hard drives, floppy disks, magnetic tape, and optical disks.

• Magnetic tape
• The start of the tape is marked with a metal foil known as a marker.
• Data is saved one character at a time, with each character being recorded in parallel
across the width of the tape in either a 7-bit or 9-bit format.
• Records are stored as data on tapes, and these records are spaced apart by an inter-
record gap (IRG).
• Floppy Disk
• A floppy disk is created using mylar material that has been magnetic oxide-coated.
The round portions of this flexible material are either 3.5 or 5.25 inches in diameter.

• They are known as floppy disks because of the flexible material that was used
in their manufacture.
• They are portable, inexpensive, and small, making it easy to transport them
from one location to another.
• Hard Disk
• In order to store large amounts of data, magnetic disks, often known as the
"hard disk" or Winchester disk, were first created in 1956.
• In a hard disk, information is stored on a rigid platter or stack of platters with a
magnetic surface.
• Because hard disks can hold massive amounts of information, they usually
serve as computer's primary means of storage, holding almost all of the
programs and files.
• The hard disk drive is normally located inside the system unit. .

• Optical Disk/Drive
• An optical drive is a device that reads or writes data on an optical disc.
• They can be internal optical drives installed inside the computer or external
optical drives connected to the computer using a cable.
• The three most common types of optical drives are CD, DVD, and Blu-ray.
• In terms of storage capacity CDs store the least amount of data, DVDs store
more than CDs, and Blu-Rays store the most.
• CD-R: A CD-Recordable drive can put data onto a disk in just one session, and
then is "closed" - one "burn" only - you can't add to it after you create it.
• CD-RW: A CD-Rewritable drive can be written onto more than once - similar to
a floppy or hard disk.
• DVD-ROM (Digital Video Disk - Read-Only Memory)
• They all look the same. One must read the label to determine the media type.
• Optical technology uses a laser or light beam to process information.
• Pen Drive
• The term "pen drive" (often known as "PD" by users) refers to a portable
storage device that may be quickly transported from one location to another.
• A pen drive is relatively simple to use; all a user needs to do to get it started is
insert it into a Universal Serial Bus (USB) connection.
• Flash Memory
• Flash memory is a type of nonvolatile memory that consists of memory
"blocks" that may be erased and reprogrammed.
• Exercise
• Discuss the differences between the Pen drive and flash drive

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Components of Computer

Dr. O. D. NINAN November 2024

Dr. O. D. NINAN November 2024

Dr. O. D. NINAN November 2024

Dr. O. D. NINAN November 2024

Dr. O. D. NINAN November 2024

Dr. O. D. NINAN November 2024

Dr. O. D. NINAN November 2024

Dr. O. D. NINAN November 2024

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