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Computer and Its Components

The document provides an overview of different types of computers, including mainframes, minicomputers, workstations, and PCs, along with their characteristics and uses. It details the four main components of a computer: the Central Processing Unit (CPU), memory, input/output system, and computer interconnection, explaining the roles of the control unit and arithmetic logic unit within the CPU. Additionally, it discusses data storage types, including primary and secondary storage, as well as various memory types such as RAM, ROM, and flash memory.

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5 views25 pages

Computer and Its Components

The document provides an overview of different types of computers, including mainframes, minicomputers, workstations, and PCs, along with their characteristics and uses. It details the four main components of a computer: the Central Processing Unit (CPU), memory, input/output system, and computer interconnection, explaining the roles of the control unit and arithmetic logic unit within the CPU. Additionally, it discusses data storage types, including primary and secondary storage, as well as various memory types such as RAM, ROM, and flash memory.

Uploaded by

rhile0511
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Computer and

Its
Components
Computers
• Mainframes and super computers are the
biggest computers – million dollar
machines, as big as a refrigerator or
bigger. An example is the IBM model 390.
Computers cont.
• Minicomputers are large, powerful machines
which are often found at the centre of networks
of “dumb” terminals and PC’s. For example,
IBM’s AS/400. A definition that was used in the
past, was that minicomputers cost between
$10,000 and $100,000.
Computers cont.
• Workstations are very powerful user machines. They
have the capacity to execute technical/scientific
programs and calculations, and typically use a UNIX
variant or Windows NT as their operating system.
Workstations used to be equipped with powerful RISC
processors, like Digital Alpha, Sun Sparc or MIPS(million
instructions per second), but today workstations can be
configured with one or more of Intel’s more powerful
CPU’s.
Computers cont.
• The PC is the baby of the family: Small,
cheap, mass-produced computers which
typically run Windows and which are used
for standard programs which can be
purchased anywhere.
The Four Components of a
Computer
• Central Processing Unit
• Memory
• Input/Output System
• Computer Interconnection
The Central Processing Unit:
The CPU: Processor
Organization
• To understand the organization of the CPU, let us consider
the requirements placed on the CPU, the things that it
must do:
• The CPU has two main parts:
1. Control Unit
•Oversees all the activities inside the computer and
monitors the execution of the programs

Performs the following:


1. Obtains instructions from the primary storage unit
2. Transmits direction to the appropriate components
of the computer system ordering them to perform
the required data processing operations:
The CPU
•2. Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU)

•Performs all computations and all logic


operations.
Accumulator – place where results are
placed in registers

Logic operation – comparing two pieces of


data, either alphabetic or numeric
MAKING THE PROCESSOR WORK
Machine language
•native tongue for Computers
•Instructions represented in the computers by
strings of binary digits

Machine Cycle
•The total of instruction time and the
execution time
MAKING THE PROCESSOR WORK cont.
Actions take place during Machine Cycle

•Instruction Time

•Fetch Instruction. The next machine language instruction


to be executed is retrieved or fetched from RAM memory
and loaded to the instruction register in the CU.

•Decode Instruction. The instruction is decoded and


interpreted.
MAKING THE PROCESSOR WORK cont.
Actions take place during Machine Cycle

•Execution Time

•Execution Instruction. Using whatever processor resources


(arithmetic and logic unit) are needed, the instruction is
executed

•Place results in memory. The instruction are placed in the


appropriate memory position or the accumulator.
Control Unit: CU
• Part of the hardware that is in-charge
• Directs the computer system to execute
stored program instructions
• Must communicate with memory and ALU
• Sends data and instructions from
secondary storage to memory as needed
Arithmetic Logic Unit
• Executes all arithmetic and logical operations
• Arithmetic operations
– Addition, subtraction, multiplication, division
• Logical operations
– Compare numbers, letters, or special
characters
– Tests for one of three conditions
• Equal-to condition
• Less-than condition
• Greater-than condition
Data Storage and the CPU
• Two types of storage:
– Primary storage (memory)
• Stores data temporarily
• CPU refers to it for both program
instructions and data
– Secondary storage
• Long-term storage
• Stored on external medium, such as a disk
The CPU and Memory
• CPU cannot process data from disk or input
device
– It must first reside in memory
– Control unit retrieves data from disk and moves it into
memory
• Items sent to ALU for processing
– Control unit sends items to ALU, then sends back to
memory after processing
• Data and instructions held in memory until sent
to an output or storage device or program is shut
down
Registers
• Special-purpose
• High-speed
• Temporary storage
• Located inside CPU Instruction
Memory
• Also known as primary storage and main
memory
– Often expressed as random-access memory
(RAM)
– Not part of the CPU
• Holds data and instructions for processing
• Stores information only as long as the
program is in operation
Memory Addresses
• Each memory location has an
address
– A unique number, much like a
mailbox.
• May contain only one instruction
or piece of data.
– When data is written back to
memory, previous contents of
that address are destroyed.
• Referred to by number
– Programming languages use
a symbolic (named) address,
such as Hours or Salary.
Memory Components

• Semiconductor Memory
• RAM and ROM
• Flash Memory
Semiconductor Memory
• Used by most modern computers
– Reliable, inexpensive, and compact
– Volatile: requires continuous electric current
• If the current is interrupted, data is lost
• Complementary Metal Oxide
Semiconductor (CMOS)
– Retains information when power is shut down
– Used to store information needed when the
computer boots
Random Access Memory
• Data can be • Types:
accessed • Static RAM (SRAM)
• Dynamic RAM (DRAM)
randomly
• Packaged on circuit boards
• Single in-line memory
modules (SIMMS)
• Dual in-line memory modules
(DIMMS)
Read-Only Memory
• Contains programs and data permanently
recorded into memory at the factory
– Cannot be changed by user
– Not volatile: contents do not disappear when
power is lost
• Programmable ROM (PROM) chips
– Some instructions on chip can be changed
Flash Memory
• Nonvolatile RAM
– Used in cellular phones, digital cameras,
and some handheld computers
– Flash memory chips resemble credit
cards
– Smaller than disk drive and require less
power

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