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Lecture 2

LOOKING INSIDE THE COMPUTER SYSTEM

By
Umer Tariq
Lecturer Computer
Political Science and IR Department
OVERVIEW
Parts of Computer System
i. Hardware
ii. Software
iii. Data
iv. User
Information Processing Cycle
Essential Computer Hardware
Processing Devices
Memory Devices
RAM
ROM
Input and Output Devices
Storage Devices
Magnetic Storage
PARTS OF THE COMPUTER SYSTEM
Computer systems have four parts
1. Hardware
2. Software
3. Data
4. User
1. Hardware
Mechanical devices in the computer
Anything that can be touched
Interconnected electronic devices used to control computer’s operations, input, output
Referred to as device
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Computer hardware can be categorized as having either internal or external components.
Internal components include items such as
- motherboard,
- Random Access Memory (RAM)
- Hard drive
-network Interface Card (NIC) etc
External components are those items that are often connected to the computer in order to control either
its input or output. Also known as peripheral devices
- Mouse
- Keyboard
- Microphone
- Camera
- Touchpad
PARTS OF THE COMPUTER SYSTEM

2. Software
Set of instructions which make the computer work
Tell the computer what to do
Also called a program
Thousands of programs exist
Some to help computer perform its tasks and manage its
resources, others to help users perform their tasks such as
creating documents
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PARTS OF THE COMPUTER SYSTEM

3. Data
Pieces of information that by themselves do not make much sense
Computer processes them in various ways, converting them to useful information
Computer organize and present data
4. Users
People operating the computer
Most important part
Tell the computer what to do
No system is completely autonomous
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INFORMATION PROCESSING CYCLE

Steps followed to process data

A computer converts data into information by performing
various operations on data according to some instructions from
a program, displays results to user and stores them
This is called Information Processing Cycle
Following are the step, and each involves one or more specific
components of computer
Input
Processing
Output 1B-12

Storage optional
INFORMATION PROCESSING CYCLE

1. Input:
During this part of the cycle, the computer accepts data from some source, such as the user or a program,
for processing.
2. Processing:
During this part of the cycle, the computer’s processing components perform actions on the data, based
on instructions from the user or a program.
3. Output:
Here, the computer may be required to display the results of its processing. For example, the results
may appear as text, numbers, or a graphic on the computer’s screen or as sounds from its speaker.
The computer also can send output to a printer or transfer the output to another computer through a
network or the Internet
4. Storage:
In this step, the computer permanently stores the results of its processing on a disk, tape, or some
other kind of storage medium.
As with output, storage is optional and may not always be required by the user or program.
ESSENTIAL COMPUTER HARDWARE

All Computers use the same basic hardware

Hardware categorized into four types
1. Processor
2. Memory
3. Input and Output
4. Storage
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1. Processor
Process that converts raw data into useful information is called
‘Processing’
To perform this computer needs two components:
Processor
Memory
Processor is Brain of the computer. It organizes and carries out
instructions that come from either the user or the software
PC generally has one or more specialized chips called ‘Microprocessor’
These are slivers of silicon etched with many electronic circuits
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Carries out instructions from the program
To process instructions computer passes electricity through these
circuits
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Processor is called CPU “Central Processing Unit”
Microprocessor is plugged into computer’s motherboard
People often refer to computer systems by the type o f CPU. they contain. A "
Pentium 4” system, for example, uses a Pentium 4 microprocessor as its CPU.
“Motherboard” is rigid rectangular card containing circuitry connecting processor
to other hardware
It can be thought of as a master circuit board
In most personal computers, many internal devices such as video cards, sound
cards, disk controllers and other devices are housed on their own smaller circuit
boards, which attach to the motherboard.
In many newer computers, these devices are built directly into the motherboard
ESSENTIAL COMPUTER HARDWARE

2. Memory devices
Stores data or programs permanently or temporarily
Two most important types are:
i. Random Access Memory (RAM)
ii. Read Only Memory (ROM)

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 RANDOM ACCESS MEMORY (RAM)
Volatile
Like an electronic scratch pad
As the program is launched it is loaded into and run from memory
RAM holds data and program instructions while the CPU works with them.
Similarly when data is entered it is entered into memory
When you switch on the computer the data and instructions from the hard disk are stored in RAM.
Therefore it is called read/ write memory
Made up of chips mounted on a circuit board
Stores current data and programs
the more RAM a computer has, the more it can do and the faster it can
perform certain tasks
Measured in Bytes
RANDOM ACCESS MEMORY (RAM)
Information stored in RAM is accessed randomly, not in a
sequence as on a CD or hard drive. So, its access time is much
faster.
RAM comes in the form of a chip that is individually mounted on
the motherboard or in the form of several chips on a small board
connected to the motherboard.
READ ONLY MEMORY (ROM)
Permanent storage of programs even if computer is shut down
Called ‘Non-Volatile’ memory
It is called read only memory as we can only read the programs and data stored on it
but cannot write on it
Holds the computer boot directions
Whenever computer starts it checks ROM for directions that help it start up and for
info about hardware devices
The manufacturer of ROM fills the programs into the ROM at the time of
manufacturing the ROM. After this, the content of the ROM can't be altered, which
means you can't reprogram, rewrite, or erase its content later
However, there are some types of ROM where you can modify the data.
READ ONLY MEMORY (ROM)
ESSENTIAL COMPUTER HARDWARE
3. Input and output devices
Allows the user to interact
Input devices accept data
Keyboard, mouse

Output devices deliver data

Monitor, printer, speaker

Some devices are input and output

Touch screens
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Communication devices
INPUT DEVICES

The trackball and touchpad are variations of the mouse and enable you to
draw or point on the screen.

The joystick is a swiveling lever mounted on a stationary base that is well suited for
playing video games.

Scanner can copy a printed page of text or a graphic into the computer’s memory, freeing
you from creating the data from scratch.

A digital camera can record still images, which you can view and edit on the computer
ESSENTIAL COMPUTER HARDWARE

4. Storage devices
Hold data and programs permanently
secondary storage devices
The CPU can't directly access the secondary memory. First, the secondary
memory data is transferred to primary memory then the CPU can access it.
Different from RAM
Magnetic storage
Floppy and hard drive
Uses a magnet to access data
Optical storage 1B-28

CD and DVD drives

Uses a laser to access data
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN STORAGE AND MEMORY

There is more space in storage Less space in memory

Contents are retained in storage when the Programs or the data in memory disappear when
computer is turned off you shut down the
computer.
Storage devices operate much slower than Memory chips operate much faster than storage
memory chips devices
Storage is the component of your computer that Memory refers to the location of short-term data
allows you to store and access data on a long-
term basis

Memory can be considered as desk whereas Storage as Cabinet

 MAGNETIC STORAGE

There are many types of computer storage, but the most common is the magnetic disk
A disk is a round, flat object that spins around its center
(Magnetic disks are almost always housed inside a case of some kind, so you can’t see
the disk itself unless you open the case.)
Read/write heads, which work in much the same way as the heads of a tape recorder or
VCR, are used to read data from the disk or write data onto the disk.
The device that holds a disk is called a disk drive
Some disks are built into the drive and are not meant to be removed
Most personal computers have at least one nonremovable hard disk (or hard drive)
there is also a diskette drive, which allows you to use removable diskettes (or floppy
disks
Diskettes are used to load data onto the hard disk, to trade data with other users, and to
make backup copies of the data on the hard disk.
OPTICAL STORAGE

optical storage—devices that use lasers to read data from or write data to the reflective surface of
an optical disc.
CD ROM:
The CD-ROM drive is the most common type of optical storage device
Compact discs (CDs) are a type of optical storage

In CD-Recordable (CD-R) drive, you have the option of creating your own CDs. A CD-R drive can
write data to and read data from a compact disc.
To record data with a CD-R drive, you must use a special CD-R disc, which can be written on only
once, or a CD-ReWritable (CD-RW) disc, which can be written to multiple times, like a floppy disk.
Digital Video Disc (DVD ), which is revolutionizing home entertainment.
Using sophisticated compression technologies, a single DVD (which is the same size as a standard
compact disc) can store an entire full-length movie.
DVDs can hold a minimum of 4.7 GB of data and as much as 17 GB. Future DVD technologies promise
much higher storage capacities on a single disc.
DVD drives also can locate data on the disc much faster than standard CD-ROM drives.
SOFTWARE

Tells the computer what to do

A set of instructions that drive a computer to perform tasks is called a
‘Program’
When a computer uses a particular program it is said to be ‘running’ or
‘executing’ that program
Two types
i. System software
ii. Application software 1B-37
SOFTWARE RUNS THE MACHINE
i. System software
Any program that controls computer’s hardware or used to maintain it and
run in an efficient way
Most important software
Three basic types
a. Operating system
b. Network operating system (OS)
c. Utility
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a. Operating system
Tells computer how to use its own components
Windows XP, Macintosh, Linux
Essential for any computer as it acts as an interpreter between hardware, application
programs and the user
b. Network operating system (OS)
Allows computers to communicate and share data across a network
Windows Server 2003
c. Utility
It is a program that makes computer system easier to use or perform highly specialized
functions
Utility software is system software designed to help analyze, configure, optimize or
maintain a computer.
 SOFTWARE

ii. Application Software

Accomplishes a specific task
Most common type of software
MS Word, power point, games

Covers most common uses of computers

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COMPUTER DATA

Fact with no meaning on its own

Stored using the binary number system
Computerized data is ‘digital’
Data can be organized into ‘files’
File is simply a set of data with a name
File that user can open, and use is often called a ‘document’
Programs can also be organized as files 1B-41
COMPUTER USERS
Personal computers are specifically designed to work with human users
Some people think of computers as intelligent devices but in sense no computer
is completely autonomous
Computer can take on various Roles
Setup the system
Install software
Running programs
Manage files
Maintain the system
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“User-less” computers
Require no human interaction once they have been setup, programmed,
installed and started up
Examples might be many home appliances, security systems, communication
systems
Run with no user input
Automated systems
Typically controlled by operating systems
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