Motherboard CD/DVD

GPU//Graphic Card

RAM
Cable
ROM USB Ports
HDD/SSD

Power Supply HDMI

Processor
Ethernet
CPU Fan

Thermal Paste Thunderbolt

OS
Power button/reset button
NIC // WiFi // Bluetooth

IC CPU Cover
Register
 PRIMARY
MEMORY

INPUT CPU OUTPUT

SECONDARY
MEMORY
 • Receive the data from the user
Input Unit with the help of input devices
Input Unit is required by the computer
system to receive the data and information
• Convert the data from electrical
to use it for processing. We provide the input
of data and information with the help of
signals to machine language that
input devices. the computer understands
• Signal the CPU to receive the data
from the input devices
• Supply the converted data to the
CPU via memory unit for further
processing
 • There are two types of output
Output Unit generated by the computer
Output Unit of the computer system • Hardcopy Output
provides the results of computation and
information to the user. The output unit • From book (Koseli)
generally performs the reverse process of the
input unit and it converts the machine • Softcopy Output
language (digitalized information) to
electronic impulses that are readable by the • From book (Koseli)
Output devices.
 The memory unit performs various task such
Memory Unit (Or as –
Storage Unit) • the memory unit stores the data that it
Memory Unit is responsible for holding data
received from the input unit.
and information for the other functional
units of the computer system. It holds the
• Provides the data and information to the
data and information that is received from
CPU for further processing.
the input unit before they are processed by
CPU.
• Holds any data or instructions that are
generated by the CPU at intermediate
processing.
• Holds the final result that comes after
processing of the data in the CPU.
• At the end provides the results of the
processed data to the output devices.
• It also saves the data and information for
later use
Primary Memory
• Primary memory is a key component of a computer system. Its
function is to hold data and programs that are currently in use.
• Primary memory is built inside the computer. As a result, data can be
read from and written to primary memory extremely quickly. This
gives the processor fast access to the data and instructions that the
primary memory holds.
• There are two types of primary memory:
• Read Only Memory (ROM)
• Random Access Memory (RAM)
Primary Memory
• ROM is non-volatile, whereas RAM is volatile. Non-volatile memory
keeps its contents even when the computer is switched off. Volatile
memory loses its contents when unpowered.
• Primary memory is comparatively limited in size, especially when
compared with secondary storage. In a modern personal computer,
primary memory is often around 4 GB to 16 GB in size.
Secondary Storage (or Auxiliary Memory)
• Computers need to be able to store programs and data when the
power is switched off. Secondary storage is used to hold data and
programs when the computer is not in use.
• General purpose computers, such as personal computers and tablets,
need to be able to store programs and data for later use.
Secondary Storage
• Secondary storage is non-volatile, long-term storage. It is used to
keep programs and data indefinitely. Without secondary storage all
programs and data would be lost the moment the computer is
switched off.
• There are many forms of secondary storage and each type of
secondary storage device has its own characteristics. Because all
devices are different, some are more suited to certain applications
than others.
Secondary Storage
• For example, a hard disk drive has a high capacity and reasonable
access speed, making it suitable for everyday storage of programs and
data. A USB stick is smaller in capacity, but extremely fast and
portable, making it suitable for transferring files between computers.
• Not all computers require secondary storage.Embedded computers,
such as those found in a digital watch or central heating system, do
not need to store data when the power is turned off. The instructions
needed to run them are stored in ROM and any user data is held in
RAM.
CPU
• CPU is a major component of the The CPU performs the following
computer system that acts as heart functions:
and brain of computer, and • It performs all calculations.
performs all the processing related
activities. Therefore, the processing • It takes all decisions.
unit is popularly known as Central • It controls all units of the
Processing Unit (CPU). It receives computer.
data and instructions from outside
world, stores them temporarily, • It is the combination of three
processes the data as per the major components ALU, CU and
instructions and sends the result to Register Array.
the outside world as information.
CPU Components
• The CPU consists of six main components:
• Control Unit (CU)
• Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU)
• Registers
• Cache
• Buses
• Clock
System Bus
Control Unit (CU)
The CU provides several functions:
• it fetches, decodes and executes instructions
• it issues control signals that control hardware
• it moves data around the system
Arithmetic Logic Unit
The ALU has two main functions:
• It performs arithmetic and logical operations (decisions). The ALU is
where calculations are done and where decisions are made.
• It acts as a gateway between primary memory and secondary storage
. Data transferred between them passes through the ALU.
Registers
Registers are small amounts of high-speed memory contained within the CPU. They are
used by the processor to store small amounts of data that are needed during processing,
such as:
• the address of the next instruction to be executed
• the current instruction being decoded
• the results of calculations
Different processors have different numbers of registers for different purposes, but most
have some, or all, of the following:
• program counter (PC)
• memory address register (MAR)
• memory data register (MDR)
• current instruction register (CIR)
• accumulator (ACC)
 Types of Register Table

Register Symbol Number of bits Function

Memory Data
Register MDR 16 Holds memory operand
Memory Address
Register MAR 12 Holds address for the memory
Accumulator AC 16 Processor register
Current Instruction
Register CIR 16 Holds instruction code
Program Counter PC 12 Holds address of the instruction
Cache
• Cache is a small amount of high-speed random access memory (RAM)
built directly within the processor. It is used to temporarily hold data
and instructions that the processor is likely to reuse. This allows for
faster processing as the processor does not have to wait for the data
and instructions to be fetched from the RAM.
Buses
A bus is a high-speed internal connection. Buses are used to send
control signals and data between the processor and other components.
Three types of bus are used:
• Address bus - carries memory addresses from the processor to other
components such as primary memory and input/output devices.
• Data bus - carries the actual data between the processor and other
components.
• Control bus - carries control signals from the processor to other
components. The control bus also carries the clock's pulses.
Clock
• The CPU contains a clock which is used to coordinate all of the computer's
components. The clock sends out a regular electrical pulse which
synchronizes (keeps in time) all the components.

• The frequency of the pulses is known as the clock speed. Clock speed is
measured in hertz. The higher the frequency, the more instructions can be
performed in any given moment of time.

• In the 1980s, processors commonly ran at a rate of between 3 megahertz

(MHz) to 5 MHz, which is 3 million to 5 million pulses or cycles per second.
Today, processors commonly run at a rate of 3 gigahertz (GHz) to 5 GHz,
which is 3 billion to 5 billion pulses or cycles per second.
 INCREASE IN COST PER BIT
REGISTERS

PROCESSOR CACHE

PRIMARY MEMORY

SECONDARY MEMORY

INCREASE IN CAPACITY AND ACCESS TIME

LEVEL EXAMPLE SIZE CAPACITY POWER TERM SPEED PRICE

0 PROCESSOR REGISTERS SMALL SMALL ON IMMEDIATE VERY FAST VERY

EXPENSIVE
1 PROCESSOR CACHE SMALL SMALL ON IMMEDIATE VERY FAST VERY
EXPENSIVE
2 RAM MEDIUM MEDIUM ON VERY SHORT FAST AFFORDABLE
TERM
2 ROM SMALL SMALL OFF MID TERM FAST AFFORDABLE

3 FLASH / USB MEMORY SMALL LARGE OFF SHORT SLOWER CHEAP

TERM
3 SSD MEDIUM VERY LARGE OFF MID TERM FAST VERY CHEAP

4 MAGNETIC DISK LARGE VERY LARGE OFF MID TERM SLOW VERY CHEAP

4 MAGNETIC TAPE LARGE VERY LARGE OFF LONG TERM VERY SLOW AFFORDABLE