BASIC COMPUTER ORGANISATION

A computer is an electronic device, under the control

of instructions stored in its memory that can accept
data (input), process the data according to
specified rules(Program) on processor & produces
information (output), and store the information for future
use
Data vs Information
Data are raw numbers or other findings which, by themselves, are of
limited value.
Information is data that has been converted into a meaningful and
useful context.
Computers are being used extensively nowadays in
everyday life/every field
In the form of laptop, desktop, smartphone,gadgets etc.
Advantages of computer
•Speed
•Accuracy
•Huge storage
•Versatility
•Tirelessness
Disadvantages of computer
•Data security issue
•Computer crimes
•Health risk
•Bad impact on environment if not properly disposed
off
Any digital computer performs five functions in
gross term.
1.Take data as input
2.Stores data/instructions
3.Process those stored data
4.Generate the output
5.Control all above steps
Functional components of a computer

Microprocessor unit(mpu) = (CU+ALU)

control unit+arithmatical logical unit

CPU=MPU+Memory Unit
Input/Output Units
Input Unit
A device through which data and programs from
the outside world enter the computer system.
Output unit
A device through which results stored in the
computer memory are made available outside
the computer system.
Input Devices
Input devices can send data or information to a computer or another device.
Keyboard: It is an input device which sends data in to the computer. The data send depends on
the
key pressed by the user.
Mouse: A mouse is a small handheld input device which controls a cursor in a graphical user
interface. It can move and select text, files, folders etc. on our computer according to the user
input.
Scanner: Scanner optically reads and document, file or image and then changes it into digital
signal and sends to the computer.
OMR: optical mark recognition/ reader, is used to read marks on a document and send them to
computer.
OCR: OCR stands for optical character Recognition, is an input device which reads printed text
and sends that to computer.
MICR: Magnetic Ink Character Reader is an input device which generally finds application is banks
to process cheques.
Microphone: it receives audio generated by some input source and sends the same to a
computer. Webcam: it sends the captured images to a computer.
Graphics Tablets: This input device is used to draw using hand.
Trackballs: an upside down mouse ,encased within a socket. Is a cursor control device.
Barcode reader: It is used to read the barcode of various items and feed the same to computer.
Gamepad: Also known as joy pad is the input controller for video games.
Joystick: these input devices are used to control video games.
Output Devices
A device that can receive data from computer or another
device and create output with that data is called output device.
Examples of various output devices are as :
Monitor: A monitor is an output device that is responsible for
receiving data from a computer and displaying that information
as text or images for users to see.
Speakers: Receives sound signal from a computer and then
plays that sound signal and thus we hear songs or music or any
other audio.
Projector: Gets data from a computer and displays or projects
the same information onto a screen or a wall. Projector cannot
directly accept data from a user and send that data to another
device.
Both Input / Output Devices
An input/output device is capable of receiving data from users or another devices
and also sending data to another devices or computers. That means a devices
which can be used as both input device and output device are called Input /
Output (I/O) devices. Some examples of input/output devices are as:
USB drive: Also known as pen drive or flash stick works as both input device to
computer and as an output device. USB drives receive or save data from a
computer as an input and it can also send data to a computer or another device.
Facsimile: Facsimile or FAX machine has a scanner which is an input device and a
small printer to provide output.
Modems: It is used to transmit and receive data from one computer to
another computer or other devices using telephone lines
CD-RW drives and DVD-RW drives: Receives data from a computer as input to copy
onto and save into writable CD or DVD. We also use CDs or DVDs to transfer data
to a computer.
Touch Screen: Touch screen is both input and output device. By touching the
screen input is provided and being a screen, it is used as an output device.
Headsets: Headset consists of speaker as an output device and microphone
functions as an input device.
Central processing unit – Comprises three parts
1.Arithmetic/Logic Unit
Performs basic arithmetic operations such as addition and subtraction
Performs logical operations such as AND, OR, and NOT. Most modern ALUs
have a small amount of special storage units called registers that can
be accessed faster than main memory.
2.Control unit
It organizes the computer to work computer as single unit
& generates control signals for various devices regarding read/write or
execute operation
3.Memory
A collection of cells, each with a unique physical address Most computers
are byte-addressable
Cell at address 11111110 contains 10101010
Memory Units – How much memory is required for
a file/data/progam etc. is measured by memory units.
Following are the memory units. 210=1024 =KB
PRIMARY MEMORY
RAM and ROM
Random Access Memory (RAM)
Memory in which each location can be accessed and changed
Read Only Memory (ROM)-PROM,EPROM,EEPROM
Memory in which each location can be accessed but not changed
RAM is volatile, ROM is not
RAM- RANDOM ACCESS MEMORY
1. it is stored on the motherboard in modules that are called
DIMMs(Dual inline memory module).Becoz DIMMS have 2 dual rows of
pins one on each side.
2. DIMMs i.e memory module pins can have 168, 184,240 or 288
pins.
3. RAM is installed on the motherboard in the memory slots.
4. a motherboard can have various number of memory slots. The
average motherboard will have between 2 and 4 memory slots.
5. In order for a program to run , it needs to be loaded into RAM first.
6. Increasing the RAM will make the computer run faster.
7. RAM requires constant electrical power to store data if power will
turn off the data will erase.
TYPES OF RAM
DRAM- contains capacitors.capacitors have to be refreshed with
electricity constantly.DRAM- operates Asynchronous with the system
clock

SDRAM- synchronous dynamic RAM. used today in RAM DIMMs.

SDRAM-operates synchronous with the system clock

All signals are tied to the system clock for a better controlled timing.

RAM- the term 64 bit or 32 bit data path refers to the number of bits
of data that are transferred in 1 clock cycle.
SECONDARY MEMORY
Secondary Storage Devices Magnetic Tape
mass auxiliary storage device

Floppy disk

Hard disk
Secondary Storage Devices
Hard disk
Fixed Head HDD / Movable head HDD

A hard disk is a set of stacked disks. Each disk has data

recorded electromagnetically in concentric circles, or tracks, on
the disk Hard Drive Types
1.Parallel Advanced Technology Attachment (PATA)
2.Serial ATA (SATA)
3.Small Computer System Interface (SCSI)
4.Solid State Drives (SSD)
Upto 12 TB sized HDD is available in the market
GENERATIONS IN COMPUTERS
 DEPENDING UPON THE TECHNOLOGY
USED, COMPUTERS WERE CLASSIFIED AS:
Generation means improvement in the miniaturization,speed,power and memory

Generations Time Perriod Technology

First Generation 1946-1955 Vacuum Tubes

Second Generation 1955-1965 Transistors

Third Generation 1965-1975 Integrated Circuits(ICs)

Fourth Generation 1976-1988 Microprocessor/Large

Scale integration

Fifth Generation Since 1988 Artificial Intelligence

TYPES OF COMPUTERS
 TYPES OF COMPUTERS
Supercomputer.
Mainframe.
Server Computer.
Workstation Computer.
Personal Computer or PC.
Microcontroller.
Smartphone.
Wearable computers-watches, google glass etc
Tablet,laptop etc..
BASED ON PURPOSE
Microcomputers (personal computers)-
laptop,tablet,smartphones,smartbooks,programmable calculator,video game
console,handheld game consoles etc
Minicomputers (mid-range computers)-medium sized business
organisations,laboratories,hospital CAT scanners
Mainframe computers-bank ,govt and large corporations
Supercomputers-weather forecasting, fluid dynamics, nuclear simulations,
astrophysics, complex scientific computations
BASED ON FUNCTION
Servers-database server, file server, web server, terminal server
Workstations
Information appliances-these are designed to perform user friendly
function. these are battery operated mobile devices like playing
music,photography,videography,wearable devices
Embedded computers-washing machine, DVD player ,automobile etc
BASED ON USAGE
Public Computers-cybercafes,school,libraries
Personal Computer
Shared computer-thin client computers(Such systems normally
require a system administrator to set up and maintain the hardware
and software.)
Display computer- display selected material (usually audio-visual,
or simple slide shows) in a shop, meeting or trade show.