Introduction Computer System

Introduction to Computer
System
Md Meraj Uddin
Assistant Professor
IIITM-K/DUK, Technopark, Trivandrum
[email protected]
9447582856
What is a Computer?
• A computer is an electronic device,
operating under the control of instructions
(software) stored in its own memory unit,
that can accept data (input), manipulate
data (process), and produce information
(output) from the processing. Generally,
the term is used to describe a collection of
devices that function together as a system.
What is a Computer?
What does a Computer do?
What does a Computer do?
• Computers can perform four general

operations, which comprise the information
processing cycle.
• Input
• Process
• Output
• Storage
Why is a Computer so
Powerful?
Why is a Computer so
Powerful?
• Speed: Computers can carry out
instructions in less than a millionth of a
second.
• Reliability: Low failure rate
• Accuracy
• Storage Capacity: Ability to store huge
amounts of data and information.
• Ability to communicate with other
computers.
How does a Computer know
what to do?
How does a Computer know
what to do?
• It must be given a detailed list of
instructions, called a computer program or
software, that tells it exactly what to do.
• Before processing a specific job, the
computer program corresponding to that
job must be stored in memory.
• Once the program is stored in memory the
computer can start the operation by
executing the program instructions one
after the other.
Computer System
• Hardware
• Software
• User
HARDWARE
SUBSYSTEM
What are the Primary H/W
Components of a Computer ?
• Input devices.
• Central Processing Unit (containing the
control unit and the arithmetic/logic unit).
• Memory.
• Output devices.
• Storage devices.
Hardware Components
of a Computer System
Hardware Components
(Another View)
CENTRAL
PROCESSING
UNIT(CPU)
Central Processing Unit
MAIN MEMORY
Main Memory
Random Access Memory (RAM)

 Holds its data as long as the computer is switched on
 All data in RAM is lost when the computer is switched off
 Described as being volatile
 It is direct access as it can be both written to or read from in
any order
 Its purpose is to temporarily hold programs and data for
processing. In modern computers it also holds the operating
system.
Memory Address
Read Only Memory [ROM]
 ROM holds programs and data permanently even when
computer is switched off
 Data can be read by the CPU in any order so ROM is also
direct access
 The contents of ROM are fixed at the time of manufacture
 Stores a program called the bootstrap loader that helps
start up the computer
 It is also called a firmware.
Memory Units
1. Bit: A binary digit is 0 and 1

2. Nibble: A group of 4 bits
3. Byte: A group of 8 bits
4. Word: A computer word, like a byte, is a group of fixed
number of bits processed as a unit which varies
from computer to computer but is fixed for each
computer. The length of a computer word is called
word length and it may be as small as 8 bits or may be
as long as 96 bits.
Memory Units …
Unit Exact Number of bytes Approximation
------------ ------------------------ ------------
kilobyte 210 bytes 103 bytes
megabyte 220 bytes 106 bytes
gigabyte 230 bytes 109 bytes
terabyte 240 bytes 1012 bytes
petabyte 250 bytes 1015 bytes
exabyte 260 bytes 1018 bytes
Cache Memory
Memory Hierarchy
SUBSYSTEM
INTERCONNECTION
Connecting CPU and Memory
using three Busses
Connecting I/O Devices to
Busses
SOFTWARE
SUBSYSTEM
What is a Software?
• Software is set of programs telling the
computer how to process data. Program is a
set of instructions.
• Software could be categorized into two types:
1.System Software

Operating Systems, BIOS, Device
Drivers, Compilers, Assemblers, etc.
2.Application Software

Office, Web Browser, Database
Software, etc.
Operating System
• A program that acts as an intermediary
between a user of a computer and the
computer hardware.
• An operating system is the most important
software that runs on a computer. It manages
the computer's memory, processes, and all
of its software and hardware. It also allows
us to communicate with the computer without
knowing how to speak the computer's
language.
Globally Unique Identifier (GUID)
GUID Partition Table (GPT)
The main difference between MBR and GPT is that MBR

has some limitations for modern usage. Namely, MBR can
only handle four primary partitions and 2TB of HDD
space. GPT has no partition limit,.
THANKS
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Introduction Computer System

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Introduction to Computer

• Computers can perform four general

Random Access Memory (RAM)

1. Bit: A binary digit is 0 and 1

The main difference between MBR and GPT is that MBR

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