COMPUTER SYSTEMS

Computer: A computer is an electronic device which is capable of receiving input

processing the give input and producing the results to the end user.

Block diagram of a computer: or Major hardware components of a computer:

The hardware components of a computer can be divided into the following units:

1. Input unit

2. Central processing unit

3. Memory unit

4. Output unit

Input unit:

 Input unit is used to enter data and instructions to the computer.

 The data and instructions entered by an input unit are stored in memory before they
are sent to the CPU.

 Examples: of input devices are keyboard, mouse, joystick, lightpen, scanners etc.

Central Processing Unit:

 CPU is the combination of control unit(CU) and Arithmetic Logic Unit(ALU).

 CPU’s are also called as Micro-Processors.

 Examples of Micro Processors are Intel Pentium, dual core, core i3, core i5, core
2duo
 (a) Control Unit:

 The control unit co-ordinates the activities of various hardware components

of a computer.

 It issues the commands to the other hardware parts in the computer.

(b) Arithmetic Logic Unit:

 The ALU performs Arithmetic operations such as addition, subtraction,

division, multiplication etc and

 logic operations such as AND, OR, NOT. The logic operations are useful in
conditional branching.

Memory Unit:

 Memory is used to store data and instructions.

 Memory is constructed by using a semi conducting material which is capable of

storing some voltage levels.

 The presence of voltage at a particular location in the memory is splitted as ‘1’ and
the absence of voltage at a particular location in the memory is splitted as ‘0’.

 The memory unit stores the data and instructions in the form 0’s and 1’s (binary
form).

 Memory within a computer can be divided into the following categories:

(a) Register memory

(b) Cache memory

(c) Main memory

(d) Secondary memory

(a) Register memory:

 Registers are used within the CPU of a computer.

 These are used to store the intermediate results produced by ALU and also
used to find the next instruction to be executed by the CPU.

 Register s are the costliest and fastest memory available in the market.

(b) Cache memory:

 Cache memory is a smallest amount of memory which can be placed either

part of the micro processor or outside the micro processor.
  The main purpose of using cache memory is to store the frequently used data.

 The cache memory which is placed within the micro processor is called
internal cache.

 The cache memory which is placed outside the micro processor is called
external cache. The external cache is generally placed between processor and
main memory.

External cache

processor Main memory(RAM)

 Cache memory is cheaper than register memory and costlier than the other
types of memory in the computer.

 Cache memory is slower than the Register memory but faster than the other
types of memory in the computer.

(c) Main memory:

 Main memory is also called as Random Access Memory(RAM).To run any

program or application must be brought into the main memory.

 The main memory is volatile (temporary) in nature i.e., the data and
instructions stored on main memory will be lost, whenever the computer is
turned off or shutdown.

 Main memory is cheaper than the Register memory and cache memory but
costlier than the other types of memory in the computer.

 Main memory is slower than the Register memory and cache memory but
faster than the other types of memory in the computer.

 Read Only Memory(ROM) is also treated as main memory but its nature is
not volatile.

 The main purpose of ROM is to store the minimum set of programs required
to boot up the computer.

(d) Secondary memory:

 Secondary memory is used to store the data and instructions permanently.

 Secondary memory is large in size compared to other types of memories.

 Secondary memory is cheapest among all types of memories.

  Secondary memory is the slowest memory among all types of memories.

Output Unit:

 Output units are used to display the results produced by the computer.

 The output devices can be divided into the following types.

(a) Soft copy (b) Hard copy

(a) Soft Copy:

 Soft copy output devices are just used to display the results only i.e., the
output produced on soft copy output devices cannot be carried from one place
to another place.

 Examples of soft copy output devices are monitors, visual display

units(VDUs) etc.

(b) Hard copy:

 Hard copy output devices will produce the output on a hard copy such as paper
which can be carried one place to another place.

 Examples of hard copy output devices are printers and plotters etc.

Hardware:

The physical circuitary and the components of a computer is called hardware.

Software:

A collection of related programs that achieves a particular task is called software.

Program:

A program is nothing but a set of instructions that are used to solve a problem.

Programming language:

It is a language which is used to write programs.

Examples: FORTRAN, COBOL, C etc.

Evolution of programming languages:

Computer programming languages are classified into the following categories.

 1. Machine language 2. Assembly or Symbolic language 3. High level language

Machine language:

 Machine language programs are written using a stream of 0’s and 1’s.

 The instructions written in machine language are directly understandable to the

computers.

 The job of programmer is very difficult. Since the programmer need to remember
many codes for writing a program.

 Identification of errors in machine language programs is also very difficult.

 The machine language instructions are executed faster than the instructions written in
other languages.

Assembly or Symbolic language:

 A set of pnemonics (commands) are used to write assembly language programs.

Therefore, the job of programmer becomes easier compared to machine language.

 The instructions written in assembly language are not directly understandable to the
computer. Therefore, a translator is used to convert the assembly language
instructions into machine language instructions. This translator is called “Assembler”

assembly language prog machine language

ASSEMBLER COMPUTER

 Every single assembly language instruction is converted into one machine language
instruction.

 There is no debugging facility in assembly language and hence identification of errors

in the assembly language program is difficult.

 The execution speed of assembly language programs is less compared to machine

language programs.

High level languages:

 A program written in high level language is very close to the language used by the
programmer. Therefore, writing a high level program is very easy compared to
machine and assembly language programs.

 The readability of high level programs is more compared to the machine and
assembly language programs.
  The programs written in high level language are not directly understandable to the
computers. So, a translator is used to convert the high level language into machine
language.This translator is called “compiler”.

high level language prog machine language

COMPILER COMPUTER

 One instruction in a high level language may be equal to many instructions in

machine language. Therefore, the execution time of a high level program is more
compared to machine and assembly language programs.

 Examples of high level language programs are C,C++,JAVA etc.

Types of software:

Software can be divided into the following categories

1. Programming software 2. System software 3. Application software

Programming software:

 Programming software is helpful for the programmers to develop new programs.

 Examples: c, c++,java etc

System software:

 System software acts as a platform for running several programs in a computer.

 It also acts as an interface between a computer and user.

 Examples: 1. Operating systems such as windows, DOS etc

2. Utility software such as scandisc tool, Antivirus systems etc.

3. Firmware such as BIOS software (Basic Input Output System)

Application software:

 Application software are used to achieve a particular specific task.

 Examples: word processors, spread sheets etc.