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Unit 2 Ict Intro

The document provides an overview of computer hardware, detailing its three main components: Input/Output Unit, Central Processing Unit (CPU), and Memory Unit. It explains the functions of each component, including how the CPU processes data and the roles of primary and secondary memory in data storage. Additionally, it highlights the importance of cache memory in enhancing processing speed.

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Peter Parker
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14 views16 pages

Unit 2 Ict Intro

The document provides an overview of computer hardware, detailing its three main components: Input/Output Unit, Central Processing Unit (CPU), and Memory Unit. It explains the functions of each component, including how the CPU processes data and the roles of primary and secondary memory in data storage. Additionally, it highlights the importance of cache memory in enhancing processing speed.

Uploaded by

Peter Parker
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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UNIT 2

INTRODUCTION
TO

COMPUTERS
ICT 111

MR CHOLA A
:

http://chola07.github.io/chola-Resume/
THE COMPUTER HARDWARE

Components of Computer Hardware The computer system


hardware comprises of three main components —
1. Input/Output (I/O) Unit,
2. Central Processing Unit (CPU), and
3. Memory Unit.
The I/O unit consists of the input unit and the output unit. CPU
performs calculations and processing on the input data, to
generate the output. The memory unit is used to store the data,
the instructions and the output information. The figure below
illustrates the typical interaction among the different components
of the computer.
Input/Output Unit The user interacts with the computer via the I/O unit. The
Input unit accepts data from the user and the Output unit provides the
processed data i.e. the information to the user. The Input unit converts the
data that it accepts from the user, into a form that is understandable by the
computer. Similarly, the Output unit provides the output in a form that is
understandable by the user. The input is provided to the computer using input
devices like keyboard, trackball and mouse. Some of the commonly used
output devices are monitor and printer.
THE CPU

Central Processing Unit (CPU) or the processor is also often called the brain of
computer. CPU consists of Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU) and Control Unit (CU). In
addition, CPU also has a set of registers which are temporary storage areas for
holding data, and instructions. ALU performs the arithmetic and logic
operations on the data that is made available to it. CU is responsible for
organizing the processing of data and instructions. CU controls and coordinates
the activity of the other units of computer. CPU uses the registers to store the
data, instructions during processing.
THE CPU
• CPU executes the stored program instructions, i.e. instructions and
data are stored in memory before execution. For processing, CPU gets
data and instructions from the memory. It interprets the program
instructions and performs the arithmetic and logic operations required
for the processing of data. Then, it sends the processed data or result
to the memory. CPU also acts as an administrator and is responsible
for supervising operations of other parts of the computer. The CPU is
fabricated as a single Integrated Circuit (IC) chip, and is also known as
the microprocessor. The microprocessor is plugged into the
motherboard of the computer (Motherboard is a circuit board that has
electronic circuit etched on it and connects the microprocessor with
the other hardware components).
THE CPU

• Arithmetic Logic Unit ALU consists of two units—arithmetic unit and logic
unit. The arithmetic unit performs arithmetic operations on the data that
is made available to it. Some of the arithmetic operations supported by
the arithmetic unit are— addition, subtraction, multiplication and
division. The logic unit of ALU is responsible for performing logic
operations. Logic unit performs comparisons of numbers, letters and
special characters. Logic operations include testing for greater than, less
than or equal to condition. ALU performs arithmetic and logic
operations, and uses registers to hold the data that is being processed.
THE CPU

• Registers are high-speed storage areas within the CPU, but have the least
storage capacity. Registers are not referenced by their address, but are
directly accessed and manipulated by the CPU during instruction execution.
Registers store data, instructions, addresses and intermediate results of
processing. Registers are often referred to as the CPU’s working memory.
THE CPU

• Control Unit The control unit of a computer does not do any actual processing
of data. It organizes the processing of data and instructions. It acts as a
supervisor and, controls and coordinates the activity of the other units of the
computer. CU coordinates the input and output devices of a computer. It
directs the computer to carry out stored program instructions by
communicating with the ALU and the registers.
THE MEMORY UNIT
The memory unit consists of cache memory and primary memory.
Primary memory or main memory of the computer is used to
store the data and instructions during execution of the
instructions. Random Access Memory (RAM) and Read Only
Memory (ROM) are the primary memory. In addition to the main
memory, there is another kind of storage device known as the
secondary memory. Secondary memory is non-volatile and is used
for permanent storage of data and programs. A program or data
that has to be executed is brought into the RAM from the
secondary memory.
Cache Memory
The data and instructions that are required during the processing of data are
brought from the secondary storage devices and stored in the RAM. For
processing, it is required that the data and instructions are accessed from the
RAM and stored in the registers. The time taken to move the data between RAM
and CPU registers is large. This affects the speed of processing of computer, and
results in decreasing the performance of CPU.
Cache memory is a very high-speed memory placed in between RAM and CPU.
Cache memory increases the speed of processing. Cache memory is a storage
buffer that stores the data that is used more often, temporarily, and makes them
available to CPU at a fast rate. During processing, CPU first checks cache for the
required data. If data is not found in cache, then it looks in the RAM for data.
Primary Memory
Primary memory is the main memory of computer. It is used to store data and
instructions during the processing of data. Primary memory is semiconductor
memory. Primary memory is of two kinds—Random Access Memory (RAM) and
Read Only Memory (ROM). RAM is volatile. It stores data when the computer is
on. The information stored in RAM gets erased when the computer is turned off.
RAM provides temporary storage for data and instructions.
ROM is non-volatile memory, but is a read only memory. The storage in ROM is
permanent in nature, and is used for storing standard processing programs that
permanently reside in the computer. ROM comes programmed by the
manufacturer.
Secondary Memory
The secondary memory stores data and instructions permanently. The
information can be stored in secondary memory for a long time (years), and is
generally permanent in nature unless erased by the user. It is a non-volatile
memory. It provides back-up storage for data and instructions. Hard disk drive,
floppy drive and optical disk drives are some examples of storage devices.
The data and instructions that are currently not being used by CPU, but may be
required later for processing, are stored in secondary memory. Secondary
memory has a high storage capacity than the primary memory. Secondary
memory is also cheaper than the primary memory. It takes longer time to
access the data and instructions stored in secondary memory than in primary
memory.
THE END !

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