Computer System and

Hardware
Allen A. Llorca
SMIS HEAD
 Hardware Overview
Modern-day computer systems usually contain, at a
minimum, the following hardware components:
 The System Unit
o Motherboard (aka System Board):
o CPU (Central Processing Unit)
o Memory, such as RAM, ROM, Cache, and Flash
o Ports
o Expansion Slots
 Secondary Storage, such as hard disk drives, CD-ROMs,
etc.
 Input / Output Devices
 Communications Devices
 The Central Processing Unit (CPU) is the "brain" of
the computer. It executes instructions (from software)
and tells other components what to do.
o The Intel Pentium is a popular processor for IBM-
PCs.
o The PowerPC is a popular processor for
Macintoshes.
o AMD processors are powerful and help accelerate
the needs of your next PC with superior standards,
performance, security and scalability.
 3 Major Components
 ALU (arithmetic logic unit)
 Performs calculations and comparisons (data changed)
 CU (control unit): performs fetch/execute cycle
 Functions:
 Moves data to and from CPU registers and other hardware components
(no change in data)
 Accesses program instructions and issues commands to the ALU
 Subparts:
 Memory management unit: supervises fetching instructions and data
 I/O Interface: sometimes combined with memory management unit as
Bust Interface Unit
 Registers
 Example: Program counter (PC) or instruction pointer determines next
instruction for execution
 Features of CPU
 The performance of the CPU is entirely dependent on the
features it has

1. Cache Memory
2. Cores
3. Speed
4. Multithreading
5. Compatibility
6. Bandwidth
 Cache Memory

 The cache is the small memory inside the processor; it fetches the data
from the main memory and sends it to the CPU.
 Cache memory is an extremely fast memory type that acts as a buffer
between RAM and the CPU.
 It has three types, L1 or Layer 1, L2 or Layer 2, and L3 or Layer 3. Each
layer’s working, and sizes are as follows, L1 > L2 > L3.
 CPU Cores
 Processors designed in recent days are multi-core. These cores
are independent of each other and consist of their cache memory.
 They help in parallel processing to increase the efficiency of the
system.
 Different Types of CPUs

1. Single-core CPU
2. Dual-core CPU
3. Quad-core CPU
4. Hexa core processors
5. Octa-core processors
6. Deca-core processor
Difference between Dual core and Quad core
Processors
 CPU Speed
 The speed of the CPU is usually measured in GHz or MHz. A
processor with more frequency performs the task faster.
 A dual-core processor with less frequency runs faster than a
single-core processor with more frequency.
 CPU Speed (Cont.)
 How Does Clock Speed Affect Process?
 Before the advent of multi-core CPUs, clock speed
was viewed as the key spec for comparing single-
core processors. Today, it’s taken into consideration
alongside many other factors, like:

 The number of cores the CPU contains

 The size and efficiency of the CPU cache
 The amount of power the CPU consumes
 CPU Multithreading
 There are two logical cores in the physical unit that works
parallels.
 The entire process speeds up with the increasing number of
cores.
 These are commonly used in virtualized environments, where
the administrators assign dedicated workloads to different
logical cores.
CPU Core VS Threads
 CPU Compatibility
 The processor should support the memory modules.
 They should be compatible with the motherboards of the
system.
 CPU Compatibility (Cont.)
What is PGA?
 PGA stands for Pin Grid Array.
 It is a type of CPU socket design where the pins are located on the CPU
itself, forming a grid-like pattern.
 These pins are responsible for establishing electrical connections
between the CPU and the motherboard.
 CPU Compatibility (Cont.)
What is LGA?
 LGA, on the other hand, stands for Land Grid Array.
 In LGA CPU sockets, the motherboard contains an array of pins or pads, while
the CPU has a flat surface with corresponding contact points.
 When the CPU is placed in the socket, these contact points make contact with
the pins or pads on the motherboard, establishing the necessary connections.
 Bandwidth
 The speed at which
communication occurs
between the main
memory and USB
controllers.

 The bandwidth of multi-

core processors is greater
than that of single-core
processors.
 Assignment
Types of CPU (Intel and AMD)
1. Cache Memory
2. Cores
3. Speed
4. Multithreading
5. Compatibility
6. Bandwidth
 Memory Chips
o Random Access
Memory (RAM), also
known as Main Memory
or Primary Storage, is
used to hold
instructions and data whil
e they are being used.
RAM is volatile, meaning
its contents are lost when
the power goes off.
 Memory I/O bus Data Peak trans- CAS
Standard Module Timings
clock clock rate fer rate latency
name name CL-tRCD-tRP
(MHz) (MHz) (MT/s) (MB/s) (ns)
DDR4-1600J* 10-10-10 12.5
DDR4-1600K 200 800 1600 PC4-12800 12800 11-11-11 13.75
DDR4-1600L 12-12-12 15
DDR4-1866L* 12-12-12 12.857
DDR4-1866M 233.33 933.33 1866.67 PC4-14900 14933.33 13-13-13 13.929
DDR4-1866N 14-14-14 15
DDR4-2133N* 14-14-14 13.125
DDR4-2133P 266.67 1066.67 2133.33 PC4-17000 17066.67 15-15-15 14.063
DDR4-2133R 16-16-16 15
DDR4-2400P* 15-15-15 12.5
DDR4-2400R 16-16-16 13.32
300 1200 2400 PC4-19200 19200
DDR4-2400T 17-17-17 14.16
DDR4-2400U 18-18-18 15
DDR4-2666T 17-17-17 12.75
DDR4-2666U 18-18-18 13.50
333.33 1333.33 2666.67 PC4-21333 21333.33
DDR4-2666V 19-19-19 14.25
DDR4-2666W 20-20-20 15
DDR4-2933V 19-19-19 12.96
DDR4-2933W 20-20-20 13.64
366.67 1466.67 2933.33 PC4-23466 23466.67
DDR4-2933Y 21-21-21 14.32
DDR4-2933AA 22-22-22 15

DDR4-3200W 20-20-20 12.50

DDR4-3200AA 400 1600 3200 PC4-25600 25600 22-22-22 13.75
DDR4-3200AC 24-24-24 15
A video card (also called a display card, graphics card, display adapter or graphics adapter) is
an expansion card which generates a feed of output images to a display (such as a computer
monitor). Frequently, these are advertised as discrete or dedicated graphics cards,
emphasizing the distinction between these and integrated graphics. At the core of both is the
processor unit graphics processing unit (GPU), which is the main part that does the actual
computations, but should not be confused as the video card as a whole.

The Pinout of a Digital Visual Interface (DVI)

The Pinout of a Video Graphics connector (as viewed from the socket).
Array ( VGA) connector (as
viewed from the socket)

The Pinout of a High-Definition Multimedia

Interface (HDMI) connector (as viewed from
the socket)
A graphics processing unit (GPU), also occasionally called visual processing
unit (VPU), is a specialized electronic circuit designed to rapidly manipulate and
alter memory to accelerate the building of images in a frame buffer intended for
output to a display. Because of the large degree of programmable computational
complexity for such a task, a modern video card is also a computer unto itself.

Type Memory clock rate (MHz) Bandwidth (GB/s)

DDR 166–1500 8–96

DDR2 2000–2500 128–230
DDR3 2500–3500 160–224
GDDR4 3000–4000 160–256
GDDR5 1000–2000 288–336.5
GDDR5X 1000–1750 160–673
HBM 250–1000 512–1024
 Expansion Slots are sockets on the motherboard that you can plug expansion
cards into. To plug a card into a slot, you must open the system unit. A card contain a
socket on its end that sticks out from the system unit so a cable can be plugged into
it. Common types of cards are graphics, sound, and network cards.

 Ports are sockets that are on the outside other system unit, meaning you can easily
plug a cable into a port without opening the system unit.
o Serial ports transmit one bit of data at a time.
o Parallel ports transmit 8 bits of data at a time.
o Universal Serial Bus (USB) ports are much faster than serial or parallel ports
and allow multiple devices to be connected to the same port.
A hard disk drive (sometimes abbreviated as Hard
drive, HD, or HDD) is a device used to permanently store and
also retrieve information. There are many variations, but their
sizes are generally 3.5" and 2.5" for desktop and laptop
computers respectively.
 SSD (solid-state drive)
 An SSD, or solid-state drive, is a type of storage device used in
computers.
 This non-volatile storage media stores persistent data on
solid-state flash memory.
 SSDs replace traditional hard disk drives (HDDs) in
computers and perform the same basic functions as a hard
drive.
 But SSDs are significantly faster in comparison. With an SSD,
the device's operating system will boot up more rapidly,
programs will load quicker and files can be saved faster.
Types of SSD Form Factors
2.5”
When shopping for SSDs, the first thing you’ll want to know is
which form factor fits in your system. SSDs come in many shapes
and sizes. For example, 2.5” is the most common type of SSD
and fits into most laptop or desktop computers.
M.2
Another form factor, M.2, has become the standard type of
storage for slim laptops and notebooks. Its tiny form factor is
often compared to a stick of gum and easy to install right on the
motherboard in most cases.
mSATA
mSATA, or mini-SATA, is essentially a smaller version of the full-
size SATA SSD. It uses a compact form factor like M.2 but is not
interchangeable.
U.2
Finally, there’s U.2 which looks like a 2.5” drive but is a bit
thicker. It uses a different connector and sends data through the
PCIe interface.
Interfaces: SATA vs. NVMe
Read and Write Comparison
Storage performance
A power supply unit (PSU) converts mains AC to low-voltage
regulated DC power for the internal components of a computer.
Modern personal computers universally use a
switched-mode power supply. Some power supplies have a
manual selector for input voltage, while others automatically
adapt to the supply voltage.
 FORM FACTOR
Full Tower Mid Tower
Full-tower cases are generally big with a Another case that might be a step down, would be
height that is about or more than 30 classified as a mid tower case. Mid-tower cases are
inches (more than 76 cm). The number the most widely used computer cases. Mid Tower
of internal drive bays inside these cases cases are about 18 to 24 (45 to 60 cm) inches high
can be between 6 and 10. and they usually contain 2 to 4 internal drive bays
and a similar number of external bays (for CD/DVD
readers and similar).
Mini Tower
Mini-tower usually have up to 2 or sometimes 3 Slim Line Case
internal drive bays. Mini-cases normally stand at aSlim line cases are simply tower cases turned on th
height of 12 to 18 inches (30 to 45 cm). sideways. They can hold a monitor on top of the cas
Expandability is a problem with these cases.
OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY PROCEDURE

• Always ground or discharge yourself before touching any part of

the computer
• Do not work alone so that there’s someone who can take care of
you in case of accident or emergency.
• Be careful with the tools that may cause short circuit
• Always full the cable connector on the handle and not on the
cable itself
• Use only rubber shoes when standing on the ground or in a
concrete floor
• Make sure that the pins are properly aligned when connecting a
cable connector.
OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY PROCEDURE (Cont.)

• Always power off and unplug the computer before working on it.
• Take away any liquid such as mineral water or soft drinks near your working
area or near computers.
• Contingency measures during workplace accidents, fire and other
emergencies are recognized.
• Personal protective equipment is correctly used in accordance with
organization OHS procedures and practice.
• Hazard/risks in the workplace and their corresponding indicators are
identified to minimize or eliminate risk to co-workers, workplace and
environment.
• Take necessary precautions to protect the component of the computer from
damaged cause by Electrostatic Discharge (ESD).
• Hold the components by edges and do not touch the IC’s.
• Read and follow instruction on the manual carefully.
• Do not use excessive force if things don’t quite slip into place.