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Chapter 02

Chapter 2 of 'Understanding Computers' discusses the system unit, focusing on data representation, CPU functions, and memory components. It explains how data and programs are encoded for computer understanding, the arrangement and purpose of hardware inside the system unit, and strategies for enhancing computer performance. The chapter also covers future technologies that may improve PC capabilities.

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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
5 views48 pages

Chapter 02

Chapter 2 of 'Understanding Computers' discusses the system unit, focusing on data representation, CPU functions, and memory components. It explains how data and programs are encoded for computer understanding, the arrangement and purpose of hardware inside the system unit, and strategies for enhancing computer performance. The chapter also covers future technologies that may improve PC capabilities.

Uploaded by

abdullahduaa
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Understanding Computers

Today and Tomorrow 12th Edition

Chapter 2

The System Unit:


Processing and Memory
Learning Objectives
• Understand how data and programs are represented
to a computer and be able to identify a few of the
coding systems used to accomplish this.
• Explain the functions of the hardware components
commonly found inside the system unit, such as the
CPU, memory, buses, and expansion cards.
• Describe how new peripheral devices or other
hardware can be added to a PC.
• Understand how the computer system’s CPU and
memory components process program instructions
and data.
• Name and evaluate several strategies that can be
used today for speeding up the operations of a
computer.
• List some technologies that may be used in the future
PCs.
Chapter 2 Understanding Computers, 12th Edition 2
Overview
• This chapter covers:
– How computers represent data and programs
– How the CPU, memory, and other components
located inside the system unit are arranged and
their purposes
– How the CPU works
– Strategies to speed up a computer today and to
create faster computers in the future

Chapter 2 Understanding Computers, 12th Edition 3


Data and Program Representation
• In order to be understood by a computer, data and
programs need to be represented appropriately
• Coding systems: Used to represent numeric, text-
based, and multimedia data, as well as to represent
programs
• Digital computers: Can only understand two states, off
and on (0 and 1)
• Digital data representation: The process of
representing data in digital form so it can be used by a
computer

Chapter 2 Understanding Computers, 12th Edition 4


Digital Data Representation
• Bit: The smallest unit of data
that a binary computer can
recognize (a single 1 or 0)
• Byte = 8 bits
• Byte terminology used to
express the size of
documents and other files,
programs, etc.
• Prefixes are often used to
express larger quantities of
bytes: kilobyte (KB),
megabyte (MB), gigabyte
(GB), etc.

Chapter 2 Understanding Computers, 12th Edition 5


The Binary Numbering System
• Numbering system: A way of representing numbers
• Decimal numbering system
– Uses 10 symbols (0-9)
• Binary numbering system
– Uses only two symbols (1 and 0) to represent all
possible numbers
• In both systems, the position of the digits determines
the power to which the base number (such as 10 or 2)
is raised

Chapter 2 Understanding Computers, 12th Edition 6


The Binary Numbering System

Chapter 2 Understanding Computers, 12th Edition 7


Coding Systems for Text-Based Data
• ASCII and EBCDIC
– ASCII (American Standard Code for Information
Interchange): coding system traditionally used with
PCs
– EBCDIC (Extended Binary-Coded Decimal
Interchange Code): developed by IBM, primarily for
mainframe use
• Unicode: newer code (32 bits per character is
common); universal coding standard designed to
represent text-based data written in any language

Chapter 2 Understanding Computers, 12th Edition 8


Coding Systems for Text-Based Data

Chapter 2 Understanding Computers, 12th Edition 9


Coding Systems for Other
Types of Data
• Graphics (still images
such as photos or
drawings)

• Bitmapped images: A
variety of bit depths
are possible (4, 8, 24
bits)

• Vector-based images:
Use mathematical
formulas to represent
images rather than a
map of pixels

Chapter 2 Understanding Computers, 12th Edition 10


Coding Systems for Other
Types of Data
• Audio data: Must be in digital form in order to be
stored on or processed by a PC
– Often compressed when sent over the Internet
• MP3 files
• Video data: Displayed using a collection of frames,
each frame containing a single graphical image
– Amount of data can be substantial, but can be
compressed
• MPEG-2 files

Chapter 2 Understanding Computers, 12th Edition 11


Representing Programs: Machine
Language
• Machine language: Binary-based language for
representing computer programs the computer can
execute directly
– Early programs were written in machine language.
– Today’s programs still need to be translated into
machine language in order to be understood by the
computer
• Most program are written in other programming
languages
– Language translators are used to translate the
programs into machine language

Chapter 2 Understanding Computers, 12th Edition 12


Inside the System Unit
• System unit: The main case of a computer
– Houses the processing hardware for a computer
– Also contains memory, the power supply, cooling
fans, and interfaces to connect peripheral devices
– Houses the drive bays in which storage devices
(hard drives, DVD drives, etc.) are located
– With a desktop PC, usually looks like a rectangular
box

Chapter 2 Understanding Computers, 12th Edition 13


Inside the System Unit

Chapter 2 Understanding Computers, 12th Edition 14


The Motherboard
• Computer chip: A very small pieces of silicon or other
semi-conducting material onto which integrated
circuits are embedded
• Circuit board: A thin board containing computer chips
and other electronic components
• Motherboard or system board: The main circuit board
inside the system unit
– All computer components must connect to the
motherboard
– External devices (monitors, keyboards, mice,
printers) typically connect by plugging into a port
exposed through the exterior of the system unit

Chapter 2 Understanding Computers, 12th Edition 15


The CPU
• Central processing unit (CPU): circuitry and
components packaged together and attached to the
motherboard
– Does the vast majority of processing for a
computer
– Also called a processor; called a microprocessor
when talking about PCs
• Dual-core CPU: Contain the processing components
(cores) of two separate processors on a single CPU
• Quad-core CPU: Contains 4 cores
• Typically designed for desktop PCs, portable PCs, or
servers
• Often made by Intel or AMD

Chapter 2 Understanding Computers, 12th Edition 16


The CPU

Chapter 2 Understanding Computers, 12th Edition 17


The CPU

Chapter 2 Understanding Computers, 12th Edition 18


Processing Speed
• CPU clock speed: One measurement of processing
speed
– Measured in megahertz (MHz) or gigahertz (GHz)
– Higher CPU clock speed = more instructions
processed per second
• Alternate measure of processing speed is the number
of instructions a CPU can process per second
– Megaflops, gigaflops, teraflops
• Other factors (CPU architecture, memory, bus speed,
etc.) also affect the overall processing speed of a
computer
• Benchmark tests: Can be used to evaluate overall
processing speed

Chapter 2 Understanding Computers, 12th Edition 19


Word Size and Cache Memory
• Word size: The amount of data that a CPU can
manipulate at one time
– Typically 32 or 64-bit
• Cache memory: Special group of very fast memory
chips located on or close to the CPU
– Level 1 is fastest, then Level 2, then Level 3
– More cache memory typically means faster
processing
– Usually internal cache today

Chapter 2 Understanding Computers, 12th Edition 20


Bus Width, Bus Speed, and
Bandwidth
• Bus: An electronic path over
which data can travel
• Bus width: The number of
wires in the bus over which
data can travel
• Bus width and speed
determine the throughput (or
bandwidth) of the bus

Chapter 2 Understanding Computers, 12th Edition 21


Memory
• RAM (random access memory): Temporary memory
that the computer uses
– Consists of chips connected to a memory module
which is connected to the motherboard
– SIMM, DIMM, RIMM
– Holds data and program instructions while they are
needed.
– Adequate RAM is needed to run programs
– Volatile: Contents of RAM is lost when the
computer is shut off
– Some forms of nonvolatile RAM are under
development

Chapter 2 Understanding Computers, 12th Edition 22


Memory

Chapter 2 Understanding Computers, 12th Edition 23


Memory
• Registers: High-speed memory built into the CPU;
used by the CPU
• ROM (read-only memory): Read-only chips located on
the motherboard into which data or programs have
been permanently stored
– Retrieved by the computer when needed
– Being replaced with flash memory
• Flash memory: Type of nonvolatile memory that can
be erased and reprogrammed
– Some flash memory chips are used by the PC
– Flash memory chips are also used in flash memory
storage media (sticks, cards, and drives)

Chapter 2 Understanding Computers, 12th Edition 24


Fans, Heat Sinks, and
Other Cooling Components
• Heat: A continuing problem for CPU and computer
manufacturers
• Fans: Used on most PCs
• Heat sinks: Small components typically made out of
aluminum with fins that help to dissipate heat
• Water cooling systems: Cool the PC with liquid-filed
tubes
• Other cooling methods (such as ion pump cooling
systems) are under development

Chapter 2 Understanding Computers, 12th Edition 25


Fans, Heat Sinks, and
Other Cooling Components

Chapter 2 Understanding Computers, 12th Edition 26


Expansion Slots, Expansion Cards,
and ExpressCards
• Expansion card: A circuit board used to add additional
functionality or to attach a peripheral device
• Expansion slot: A location on the motherboard into
which expansion cards are inserted
• ExpressCard modules: Designed for
notebook computer expansion

Chapter 2 Understanding Computers, 12th Edition 27


Buses
• Bus: An electronic path within a computer over which
data travels
– System bus: Moves data back and forth between
the CPU and memory
– Expansion buses: Connect the CPU to peripheral
(typically input and output) devices
• PCI and PCI Express (PCIe) bus
• AGP bus
• HyperTransport bus
• Universal Serial Bus (USB)
• FireWire/IEEE 1394 bus

Chapter 2 Understanding Computers, 12th Edition 28


Buses

Chapter 2 Understanding Computers, 12th Edition 29


Ports and Connectors
• Port: A connector on the exterior of a PC’s system unit
to which a device may be attached

– Serial – USB
– Parallel – FireWire
– Network – SCSI
– Keyboard/Mouse – MIDI
– Monitor (VGA, – IrDA
DVI, HDMI) – Game
– Modem/Phone – eSATA

Chapter 2 Understanding Computers, 12th Edition 30


Ports and Connectors

Chapter 2 Understanding Computers, 12th Edition 31


Ports and Connectors
• Many desktop PCs come
with a variety of ports on
the front of the system
unit for easy access
• A wired or wireless hub
can connect many
devices to a single USB
or FireWire port

Chapter 2 Understanding Computers, 12th Edition 32


Ports and Connectors
• Notebook computers
have ports similar to
desktop PCs, but often
not as many
• Handheld computers and
mobile devices typically
have less ports
– An SD slot is
common for both
memory cards
and to connect
peripheral devices

Chapter 2 Understanding Computers, 12th Edition 33


How the CPU Works
• CPU: Consists of a variety of circuitry and
components packaged together
– Transistor: Key element of the microprocessor
• Made of semi-conductor material that acts like a
switch controlling the flow of electrons inside a
chip
• Today’s CPUs contain hundreds of millions of
transistors; the number doubles about every 18
months (Moore’s Law)

Chapter 2 Understanding Computers, 12th Edition 34


Typical CPU Components
• Arithmetic/Logic Unit (ALU): Performs integer
arithmetic and logical operations
• Floating Point Unit (FPU): Performs decimal arithmetic
• Control unit: Coordinates and controls activities
• Prefetch unit: Tries to fetch data and instructions
before they are needed
• Decode unit: Translates instructions so they are
understood by the control unit, ALU, and FPU
• Internal cache and registers: Store data and
instructions needed by the CPU
• Bus interface unit: Where data and instructions flow in
and out of the CPU

Chapter 2 Understanding Computers, 12th Edition 35


Typical CPU Components

Chapter 2 Understanding Computers, 12th Edition 36


The System Clock and the Machine
Cycle
• System clock: Timing mechanism within the computer
system that synchronizes the computer’s operations
– Each signal is a cycle
– Number of cycles per second = hertz (Hz)
– Many PC system clocks run at 200 MHz
– Computers can run at a multiple or fraction of the
system clock
• For instance, with a CPU clock speed of 2 GHz,
the CPU clock “ticks” 10 times during each
system clock tick
– During each CPU clock tick, one or more pieces of
microcode are processed

Chapter 2 Understanding Computers, 12th Edition 37


The System Clock and the Machine
Cycle
• Machine cycle: The series of operations involved in
the execution of a single machine level instruction
– Fetch: The program instruction is fetched
– Decode: The instructions are decoded so the
control unit, ALU, and FPU can understand them
– Execute: The instructions are carried out
– Store: The original data or the result from the ALU
or FPU execution is stored either in the CPU’s
registers or in memory, depending on the
instruction

Chapter 2 Understanding Computers, 12th Edition 38


The System Clock and the Machine
Cycle

Chapter 2 Understanding Computers, 12th Edition 39


The System Clock and the Machine
Cycle

Chapter 2 Understanding Computers, 12th Edition 40


Making Computers Faster and Better
Now and in the Future
• Improving performance today
– Add more memory
– Perform system maintenance
• Uninstall programs properly
• Consider placing large files on external storage
devices
• Delete temporary files
• Arrange files efficiently
• Scan for viruses and spyware
• Empty the Recycle Bin
– Buy a larger or second hard drive
– Upgrade your Internet connection
– Upgrade your video graphics card

Chapter 2 Understanding Computers, 12th Edition 41


Making Computers Faster and Better
Now and in the Future
• Strategies for faster and better computers
– Improved architecture: Smaller components, faster
bus speeds, multiple CPU cores, etc.
– Improved materials: New backing materials, flexible
circuits, etc.
– Pipelining: Allows multiple
– instructions to be processed
– at one time
– Multiprocessing and parallel
– processing: Use multiple
– processors to speed up processing

Chapter 2 Understanding Computers, 12th Edition 42


Pipelining

Chapter 2 Understanding Computers, 12th Edition 43


Parallel Processing

Chapter 2 Understanding Computers, 12th Edition 44


Future Trends
• Nanotechnology: The science of creating tiny
computers and components less than 100 nanometers
in size
• Carbon nanotubes used in many products today
• Nanoparticles and nanocrystals
• In the future, components may be built by
working at the individual atomic and molecular
levels

Chapter 2 Understanding Computers, 12th Edition 45


Future Trends
• Quantum computing: Applies the
principles of quantum physics and
quantum mechanics to computers
– Utilizes atoms or nuclei working
together as quantum bits
(qubits)
– Qubits function simultaneously
as the computer’s processor
and memory and can represent
more than two states
– Expected to be used for
specialized applications, such
as encryption and code
breaking

Chapter 2 Understanding Computers, 12th Edition 46


Future Trends
• Optical computer: Uses light, such as from laser
beams or infrared beams, to perform digital
computations
– Opto-electronic computers use both optical and
electronic components
• Silicon photonics: The process of making optical
devices using silicon manufacturing techniques
– Hybrid silicon laser
• Terascale computing: The ability to process one trillion
floating-point operations per second
– Expected to be needed for future applications
• 3D chips: Contain transistors that are layered to cut
down on the surface area required

Chapter 2 Understanding Computers, 12th Edition 47


Summary
• Data and Program Representation
• Inside the System Unit
• How the CPU Works
• Making Computers Faster and Better Now and In
the Future

Chapter 2 Understanding Computers, 12th Edition 48

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