Unit I

Computer System Overview

What is Computer?

 A computer is a device that can be instructed to carry out

sequences of arithmetic or logical operations automatically.
Modern computers have the ability to follow generalized sets of
operations, called programs. These programs enable computers
to perform an extremely wide range of tasks.
What is Data?

Data. Data in a computer terminology mean raw facts and figures.

For ex-mohan,1977 etc.

What is Information?

means what we get after processing.

Data Vs. Information?

you should understand that what goes in the computers is data and
what comes out of them is information.

This process of turning data into information is also known as

information processing cycle.
BASIC COMPUTER ORGANISATION
BASIC COMPUTER ORGANISATION

Computer organisation refers to logical structure of

a computer how its components are connected to one
another

ALU Registers

Control Memory

Memory Memory Memory

Functional components of a
Computer
Input Unit

CPU

Output Unit

Memory
Input Unit
The input unit consists of input
devices that are attached to the
computer.
These devices take input and convert
it into binary language that the
computer understands.
Some of the common input devices
are keyboard, mouse, joystick, scanner
etc.
Input Unit
Central Processing
Unit(CPU)
Once the information is entered
into the computer by the input
device, the processor processes it.
The CPU is called the brain of the
computer because it is the control
centre of the computer.
 As the CPU is located on a small
chip, it is also called the
Microprocessor.
Central Processing
Unit(CPU)
• The CPU has three main
components which are responsible for
different functions –
• Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU),

• Control Unit (CU) &

• Memory registers.
Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU)
The ALU, as its name suggests
performs mathematical calculations
and takes logical decisions.
Arithmetic calculations include
addition, subtraction, multiplication
and division.
Logical decisions involve comparison
of two data items to see which one
is larger or smaller or equal.
Control Unit (CU) CU
The Control unit coordinates and
controls the data flow in and out of
CPU and also controls all the
operations of ALU, memory registers
and also input/output units.
It is also responsible for carrying out
all the instructions stored in the
program.
Memory Registers MR
A register is a temporary unit of
memory in the CPU.

These receive data/information and

then this data/information is held in
them as per the requirement.
 Output Unit
The output unit consists of output devices
that are attached with the computer.

It converts the binary data coming from CPU

to human understandable from. The

common output devices are monitor, printer,

plotter etc.
 Hardware and Software
A computer consists of both hardware and software
and both are equally important for
the working of the computer system.

The electronic components of a computer system

that we can see and touch are called hardware.

Software is a general term used for computer

programs that control the operations of the computer.
Hardware and Software
 Hardware and Software
A program is a sequence of instructions that
perform a particular task. A set of programs form a
software.

It is the software which gives hardware its

capability.

Hardware is of no use without software and

software cannot be used without hardware.
 Types of Software

Software can be broadly are categorized as:

System Software

Application Software

Utility Software
Types of Software
 System Software

System Software is the software that

is directly related to coordinating
computer operations and performs
tasks associated with controlling and
utilizing computer hardware. These
programs assist in running application
programs and are designed to control
the operation of a computer system.
 System Software
System software directs the computer
what to do, when to do and how to
do. System software can be further
categorized into:-

Operating System

Language Translators
 Operating System
 An Operating system is the most
important system software.

It is a set of programs that control

and supervise the hardware of a
computer and also provide services to
application software, programmers
and users. Ex :-
 Operating System

Some of the popular operating

systems used in personal computers
are DOS, Windows, Unix, Linux,
Solaris, etc.
 Application Software
An application software is bought by
the user to perform specific
applications or tasks.

Say for example making a document

or making a presentation or handling
inventory or managing the employee
database.
Application Software

 An application software can be of

two types:
General Purpose Application
Software &

Customized Application software.

 Application Software -
General Purpose Application
Software
 Some of the application software is
made for the common users for day to
day applications and uses.

These are also referred as Office

Tools.

 The users may use them in the

manner they want.
 Application Software -
General Purpose Application
Software
 Some of the popular types of general
purpose application software are:
Word Processor

Presentation Tools

Spreadsheet Packages

Database Management System

Application Software -
Customized Software
Customized Software is one which is
tailor made as per the user’s
requirement. Such type of software is
customer specific.

 It is made keeping in mind the

individual needs of the user and so are
also referred as Domain Specific Tools
Application Software -
Customized Software
Examples:
Inventory Management System &
Purchasing System
School Management System
Payroll System
Financial Accounting
Hotel Management
Reservation System
Weather Forecasting system
MEMORY CONCEPTS
 Memory
Memory is one of the most
important components of a
computer system as it stores data
and instructions.

Every memory chip contains

thousands of memory locations. In
the computer, the data is stored in
the form of bits and bytes.
 Memory

A bit is the smallest storage unit of

memory. A nibble is a collection of 4
bits. Eight bits combined together to
form a single byte, which in turn
represents a single character
Memory Units
Memory Units
 Permanent
Temporary Storage areas
Storage areas

1 2 3 4
Storage
CPU Cache RAM Devices

ROM/BIOS
Level 1 Physical
Removable
Devices
Registers
Network/
Internet
Storage
Level 2 Virtual
Hard
Drives
 Types of Memories
The computer memories can be
divided into following categories:

Primary Memory

Cache Memory

Secondary memory
Primary Memory

Primary memory or main

memory is a Metal Oxide
Semiconductor (MOS) memory
used for storing program and
data during the execution of the
program. It is directly accessible
to CPU.
Primary Memory
Broadly primary memory
can be of two types :–

1. RAM (Random Access Memory)

2. ROM (Read only memory).

Random Access Memory
(RAM)
the memory can be accessed from
any desired location randomly.

The instructions and data that we

input into the computer are stored in
the RAM of the Computer.

It is a read/write memory, so data

can be both read from and written to
the RAM.
Random Access Memory
(RAM)
It is a volatile memory and loses its
contents when the power is switched
off or interrupted.
Nowadays RAMs are available in
gigabytes. The normal memory
access time of a RAM is 20-80 ns.
Random Access Memory
(RAM)
RAM can be broadly classified into
two categories:

Dynamic RAM (DRAM) and

 Static RAM (SRAM).

Dynamic RAM (DRAM)
It consists of a transistor and a
capacitor that stores electric charge.

The DRAMs are physically smaller,

cheaper and slower memories. They
are slower because the data stored in
them needs to continuously
refreshed and this consumes lot of
processor time.
Dynamic RAM (DRAM)
Each refresh operation takes
several CPU cycles to complete. This
is because a capacitor tends to loose
charge over a period of time which
needs to be refreshed again and
again.
 Static RAM
This type of RAM is large in physical
size but is an expensive and faster
memory.

It is faster because it is made up of

flip flops to store data and these flip
flops do not require any refreshing.
 Static RAM
Static RAM is also volatile and is
easier to use as compared to dynamic
RAM. These are used in specialized
applications.
DRAM Vs. Static RAM
 ROM
Its non volatile memory, ie, the
information stored in it, is not lost
even if the power supply goes off. It’s
used for the permanent storage of
information. It also posses random
access property. Information can not
be written into a ROM by the
users/programmers. In other words
the contents of ROMs are decided by
the manufactures.
Types of ROM
(i) PROM : It’s programmable ROM.
Its contents are decided by the user.
The user can store permanent
programs, data etc in a PROM. The
data is fed into it using a PROM
programs.
Types of ROM
(ii) EPROM : An EPROM is an erasable
PROM. The stored data in EPROM’s
can be erased by exposing it to UV
light for about 20 min. It’s not easy to
erase it because the EPROM IC has to
be removed from the computer and
exposed to UV light. The entire data is
erased and not selected portions by
the user. EPROM’s are cheap and
reliable.
Types of ROM
(iii) EEPROM (Electrically Erasable
PROM) : The chip can be erased &
reprogrammed on the board easily
byte by byte. It can be erased with in
a few milliseconds. There is a limit on
the number of times the EEPROM’s
can be reprogrammed, i.e.; usually
around 10,000 times.
Flash Memory
Its an electrically erasable &
programmable permanent type
memory. It uses one transistor
memory all resulting in high packing
density, low power consumption,
lower cost & higher reliability. Its
used in all power, digital cameras,
MP3 players etc.
Cache Memory
 Cache memory is a special high
speed memory made up of high speed
static RAMs.

It is used to hold frequently

accessed data and instructions.

We know that the processing speed

of CPU is much more than the main
memory access time of the computer.
Cache Memory

This means the CPU has to wait for

a substantial amount of time.

Alternatively we have the cache

memory which is a small, expensive
but fast memory that is placed
between the CPU and the main
memory.
Cache Memory
Whenever some data is required,
the CPU first looks into cache.

If data is found, we call it a cache hit

and the information is transferred to
the CPU.

In case of a miss, the main memory

is accessed.
Cache Memory
There are two types of cache
memory:
L1 cache: It is small and is built inside
the CPU. It is fast as compared to L2
cache

L2 cache: It is large but slower and is

mounted on the motherboard
Secondary Memory
 Secondary Memory

The major limitation of primary

memory is that it has limited storage
capacity and is volatile.

To overcome this limitation we have

secondary memory storage devices.
This type of memory is also called
external memory. For example Floppy
disk, hard disk, USB drives, CD/DVDs
 Hard disk

A hard disk consists of one or more

circular disks called platters which are
mounted on a common spindle. Each
surface of a platter is coated with a
magnetic material. Both surfaces of
each disk are capable of storing data
except the top and bottom disk where
only the inner surface is used.
 Hard disk

The information is recorded on the

surface of the rotating disk by magnetic
read/write heads. These heads are
joined to a common arm known as
access arm. This arm moves over the
surface of the rotating disk as shown in
the figure (next slide)
Rotating Arm of Hard disk
 Hard disk
Information is recorded on each of
these disks in the form of concentric
circles called tracks which are further
divided into sectors. Hard drives
however, are not very portable and are
primarily used internally in a computer
system. But external hard disks are also
available as a substitute for portable
storage. Today the hard disks have the
storage capacity of several gigabytes to
terabytes.
OPTICAL DISKS
 OPTICAL DISKS
An optical disk is primarily used as a portable
and secondary storage device. It can store more data
than the previous generation of magnetic storage
media, and has a relatively longer lifespan. Compact
disks (CD), digital versatile/video disks (DVD) and Blu-
ray disks are currently the most commonly used
forms of optical disks. These disks are generally used
to:
Distribute software to customers.
Store large amounts of data such as music, images
and videos.
Transfer data to different computers or devices.
Back up data from a local machine.
Thank You