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CT - Topic 2 - Computer System

Computer System

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Sandeepa Thathsara Nayanahara
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7 views

CT - Topic 2 - Computer System

Computer System

Uploaded by

Sandeepa Thathsara Nayanahara
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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TOPIC 2: COMPUTER SYSTEM

COMPUTING FOR TECHNOLOGY – FOT 1001


TOPIC 2: CONTENT

Introduction to a Computer System.


Computer System Components: Hardware, Software and
Liveware.
Fetch – Decode – Execution Cycle.
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS FOR A COMPUTER SYSTEM

All computer systems, no matter how complex, consists of the following:


 At least one CPU
 Memory to hold programs and data
 I/O devices
 Long-term storage
CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING COMPUTER SPECIFICATIONS

600 MHz Pentium III processor.


256 MB RAM
16 GB Hard Disk
17” monitor (1280 x 1024 resolution)
PERSONAL
COMPUTER
SYSTEM
COMPUTER
SYSTEM
(NETWORK)
MAIN COMPONENTS OF A COMPUTER SYSTEM

 Hardware
• The physical components of a computer, including the computer itself and its
attached peripherals.
• Provides input, output and storage components.
 Software
• The programs that run on computer hardware.
• Gives “life” to the hardware.
• Systems software and application software.
 A computer requires both hardware and software. It is essentially useless
HARDWARE COMPONENT

 Input, Output devices.


 Storage devices.
 CPU – Central Processing Unit
• ALU – Arithmetic and Logic Unit
• CU – Control Unit
 Main memory
• Short-term storage for CPU
calculations or temporary data storage
INPUT-PROCESS-OUTPUT MODEL (IPO)

 Input – Keyboard, mouse, scanner,


webcam, microphone.
 Processing – CPU executes computer
programs.
 Output – Monitor, printer, plotter,
projector, speaker.
 Storage – Hard drive, optical disks,
USB flash drives.
CPU (CENTRAL PROCESSING UNIT)

 A chip in the motherboard that executes program commands


 ALU: Arithmetic and Logic Unit
 Performs arithmetic and Boolean logical calculations
 CU: Control Unit
 Controls processing of instructions
 Controls movement of data within the CPU
MAIN MEMORY

 Also known as primary storage, working storage, and RAM (random access
memory)
 Consists of bits, each of which hold a value of either 0 or 1 (8 bits = 1 byte)
 Holds both instructions and data of a computer program
 Main memory is volatile
SECONDARY MEMORY

 Secondary memory provides long-term


storage.
 Information is moved between main memory
and secondary memory as needed.
 Hard disks, USB flash drives, magnetic tapes
etc.
 Secondary memory is non-volatile.
SOFTWARE COMPONENT

 Operating system
• Controls all machine activities
• Provides the user interface to the computer
• Managed resources including the CPU and memory
• Windows, Mac OS, Linux etc.
 Application software
• Generic term for any other kind of software
• Word processors, spreadsheets, missile control systems, POS systems, games etc.

 Most modern operating systems and application software have graphical user
interfaces.
DIGITAL INFORMATION

 Computers store all the information digitally.


• Numbers
• Text
• Graphics
• Audio
• Video
 Generally all the information is digitized, in other words they are broken down into
pieces and represented by numbers.
REPRESENTING TEXT DIGITALLY

 Every character is stored as a number, including spaces, digits and


punctuation.
 Corresponding upper and lower case letters are separate characters.
BINARY NUMBERS

 Once information is digitized, it is represented and stored in memory


using the binary number system.
 A single binary digit (0 or 1) is called a bit
 A single bit can represent two possible states, like a light bulb that is
either on(1) or off(0)
 Combinations of these bits are used to store values
BITS AND BYTES

8 bit (bits) = 1 B (byte)


1024 bytes = 1 KiB (kib byte)
1000 bytes = 1 KB (kilo byte)
1024 KiB = 1 MiB (mebi byte)
1000 KB = 1 MB (mega byte)
1024 MiB = 1 GiB (gibi byte)
1024 GiB = 1 TiB (tebi byte)
1000 MB = 1 GB (giga byte)
1024 TiB = 1 PiB (pebi byte) 1000 GB = 1 TB (tera byte)
1024 PiB = 1 EiB (exbi byte) 1000 TB = 1 PB (peta byte)
1024 EiB = 1 ZiB (zebi byte)
1024 ZiB = 1 YiB (yobi byte)
MAIN MEMORY

 Main memory is divided into many memory


locations (or cells)
 Each memory cell has a numeric address, which
uniquely identifies it.
 Each memory cell stores a set of number of bits
(usually 8 bits, or one byte)
 Large values are stored in consecutive memory
locations.
CPU: FETCH – DECODE – EXECUTION CYCLE

 CPU is a microprocessor
 It continuously follows the fetch-decode-execution cycle.

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