Looking Inside the Computer

System
By: Syed M Hamedoon
Assistant Professor
 Computer
• A computer is an electronic device, operating
under the control of instructions stored in its
own memory that can accept data (input),
process the data according to specified rules,
produce information (output), and store the
information for future use.
Computer
 Functionalities of Computer
• Any digital computer carries out five functions
in gross terms:
1) Takes data as input
2) Stores the data and instruction in its memory
and use when it is required
3) Processes the data and convert it into useful
information
4) Generates the Output
 Digital Computer
• A digital computer uses distinct values to
represent the data internally.
• All information are represented using the
digits 0s and 1s.
• The computers that we use at our homes and
offices are digital computers.
 Analog computer
• Analog computer is another kind of a computer
that represents data as variable across a
continuous range of values.
• The earliest computers were analog computers.
Analog computers are used for measuring of
parameters that vary continuously in real time,
such as temperature, pressure and voltage.
• Analog computers may be more flexible but
generally less precise than digital computers
 Parts of Computer System
(1) Hardware
(2) Software
(3) Data
(4) Users
 Hardware
• It consists of the mechanical parts that make
up the computer as a machine.
• The hardware consists of physical devices of
the computer.
• The devices are required for input, output,
storage and processing of the data.
Examples: Keyboard, monitor, hard disk drive,
floppy disk drive, printer, processor and
motherboard are some of the hardware devices
 Software
• Software is a set of instructions that tells the computer
about the tasks to be performed and how these tasks
are to be performed. Program is a set of instructions,
written in a language understood by the computer, to
perform a specific task.
• A set of programs and documents are collectively
called software. The hardware of the computer system
cannot perform any task on its own. The hardware
needs to be instructed about the task to be performed.
• Software instructs the computer about the task to be
performed. The hardware carries out these tasks.
Different software can be loaded on the same
hardware to perform different kinds of tasks.
 Data
• Data are isolated values or raw facts, which by
themselves have no much significance.
• For example, the data like 29, January, and
1994 just represent values.
• The data is provided as input to the computer,
which is processed to generate some
meaningful information
 User
• Users are people who write computer
programs or interact with the computer.
• Programmers, data entry operators, system
analyst and computer hardware engineers fall
into this category
 Characteristics of Computer
1) Speed: The computer can process data very
fast, at the rate of millions of instructions per
second. Some calculations that would have
taken hours and days to complete otherwise,
can be completed in a few seconds using the
computer.
• Example:
calculation and generation of salary slips of
thousands of employees of an organization,
2) Accuracy: Computer provides a high degree
of accuracy.
For example, the computer can accurately give
the result of division of any two numbers up to
10 decimal places
3) Diligence: When used for a longer period of
time, the computer does not get tired or
fatigued. It can perform long and complex
calculations with the same speed and accuracy
from the start till the end.
4) Storage Capability: Large volumes of data and
information can be stored in the computer and
also retrieved whenever required.
• A limited amount of data can be stored,
temporarily, in the primary memory.
• Secondary storage devices like floppy disk and
compact disk can store a large amount of data
permanently
5) Versatility:
Computer is versatile in nature. It can perform
different types of tasks with the same ease.
• At one moment you can use the computer to
prepare a letter document and in the next
moment you may play music or print a
document.
 Difference between data and
information
• Data is raw facts
• Information meaningful data
 Classification of Computer
• The digital computers that are available
nowadays vary in their sizes and types. The
computers are broadly classified into four
categories based on their size and type
(1) Microcomputers
(2) Minicomputers
(3) Mainframe computers
(4) Supercomputer.
 Microcomputers
• Microcomputers are small, low-cost and single-user
digital computer. They consist of CPU, input unit,
output unit, storage unit and the software.
• Although microcomputers are stand-alone machines,
they can be connected together to create a network of
computers that can serve more than one user.
• IBM PC based on Pentium microprocessor and Apple
Macintosh are some examples of microcomputers.
Microcomputers include desktop computers, notebook
computers or laptop, tablet computer, handheld
computer, smart phones and net book.
 Microcomputer
• Desktop Computer or Personal Computer (PC)
• Notebook Computers or Laptops
• Netbook
• Tablet Computer
• Handheld Computer or Personal Digital
Assistant (PDA)
• Smart Phones
 Minicomputers
• Minicomputers are digital computers, generally used
in multiuser systems.
• They have high processing speed and high storage
capacity than the microcomputers.
• Minicomputers can support 4–200 users
simultaneously.
• The users can access the minicomputer through their
PCs or terminal.
• They are used for real-time applications in industries,
research centers, etc. PDP 11, IBM (8000 series) are
some of the widely used minicomputers.
 Mainframe computers
• Mainframe computers are multi-user, multi-
programming and high performance computers.
• They operate at a very high speed, have very
large storage capacity and can handle the
workload of many users.
• Mainframe computers are large and powerful
systems generally used in centralized databases
Example:
Mainframe computers are used in organizations
like banks or companies
 Supercomputers
• Supercomputers are the fastest and the most
expensive machines.
• They have high processing speed compared to
other computers. The speed of a supercomputer
is generally measured in FLOPS (FLoating point
Operations Per Second).
• Some of the faster supercomputers can perform
trillions of calculations per second.
• Supercomputers are built by interconnecting
thousands of processors that can work in parallel.
 Computer Components
Any kind of computers consists of
• HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE
 Components of Computer Hardware
• The computer system hardware comprises of
three main components
1. Input/Output (I/O) Unit
2. Central Processing Unit (CPU)
3. Memory Unit
The I/O unit consists of the input unit and the output unit. CPU
performs calculations and processing on the input data, to
generate the output. The memory unit is used to store the data,
the instructions and the output information. The figure below
illustrates the typical interaction among the different components
of the computer
 Input/Output (I/O) Unit
• The user interacts with the computer via the I/O unit.
• The Input unit accepts data from the user and the Output
unit provides the processed data i.e. the information to the
user.
• The Input unit converts the data that it accepts from the
user, into a form that is understandable by the computer.
• Similarly, the Output unit provides the output in a form that
is understandable by the user.
• The input is provided to the computer using input devices
like keyboard, trackball and mouse. Some of the commonly
used output devices are monitor and printer.
 Central Processing Unit (CPU)
• Central Processing Unit CPU controls, coordinates and
supervises the operations of the computer. It is responsible
for processing of the input data.
• CPU consists of Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU) and Control Unit
(CU).
• ALU performs all the arithmetic and logic operations on the
input data.
• CU controls the overall operations of the computer i.e. it
checks the sequence of execution of instructions, and,
controls and coordinates the overall functioning of the units
of computer.
• Additionally, CPU also has a set of registers for temporary
storage of data, instructions, addresses and intermediate
results of calculation.
 Memory Unit
• Memory Unit Memory unit stores the data, instructions,
intermediate results and output, temporarily, during the
processing of data. This memory is also called the main memory
or primary memory of the computer.
• The input data that is to be processed is brought into the main
memory before processing. The instructions required for
processing of data and any intermediate results are also stored in
the main memory.
• The output is stored in memory before being transferred to the
output device. CPU can work with the information stored in the
main memory.
• Another kind of storage unit is also referred to as the secondary
memory of the computer. The data, the programs and the output
are stored permanently in the storage unit of the computer.
Magnetic disks, optical disks and magnetic tapes are examples of
secondary memory
 What is Hardware?
• Computer hardware is the collection of physical
elements that constitutes a computer system.
• Computer hardware refers to the physical parts
or components of a computer such as the
monitor, mouse, keyboard, computer data
storage, hard drive disk (HDD), system unit
(graphic cards, sound cards, memory,
motherboard and chips), etc.
• All of which are physical objects that can be
touched
 Input Devices
• Input device is any peripheral (piece of
computer hardware equipment) to provide
data and control signals to an information
processing system such as a computer or
other information appliance.
• Input device Translate data from form that
humans understand to one that the computer
can work with. Most common are keyboard
and mouse
 Central Processing Unit (CPU)
• A CPU is brain of a computer. It is responsible
for all functions and processes. Regarding
computing power, the CPU is the most
important element of a computer system. The
CPU is comprised of three main parts :
1. Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU)
2. Control Unit (CU)
3. Registers
 Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU):
• Executes all arithmetic and logical operations.
Arithmetic calculations like as addition,
subtraction, multiplication and division.
Logical operation like compare numbers,
letters, or special characters
 Control Unit (CU):
• Controls and co-ordinates computer components.
1. Read the code for the next instruction to be
executed.
2. Increment the program counter so it points to
the next instruction.
3. Read whatever data the instruction requires
from cells in memory.
4. Provide the necessary data to an ALU or register.
5. If the instruction requires an ALU or specialized
hardware to complete, instruct the hardware to
perform the requested operation.
 Registers
• Stores the data that is to be executed next,
"very fast storage area".
 Primary Memory
• Random Access Memory (RAM)
• Read Only Memory (ROM)
 Random Access Memory (RAM)
• RAM is a memory scheme within the computer system
responsible for storing data on a temporary basis, so
that it can be promptly accessed by the processor as
and when needed. It is volatile in nature, which means
that data will be erased once supply to the storage
device is turned off.
• RAM stores data randomly and the processor accesses
these data randomly from the RAM storage. RAM is
considered "random access" because you can access
any memory cell directly if you know the row and
column that intersect at that cell.
 Read Only Memory (ROM)
• ROM is a permanent form of storage. ROM
stays active regardless of whether power
supply to it is turned on or off. ROM devices
do not allow data stored on them to be
modified.
 Secondary Memory
• Stores data and programs permanently :its
retained after the power is turned off
1) Hard drive (HD)
2) Optical Disk
3) Flash Disk