Chapte

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Comp
uter 1
 Computer System
Computer systems include the computer along with
any software and peripheral devices that are necessary
to make the computer function.

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 Parts of The Computer System

•A complete computer system consists of mainly four

parts.
1. Hardware (The computer)
2. Software (Programs)
3. Data (Information)
4. User (People)

Hardware: Hardware means the physical structure

of a computer, the parts that can be touched by
us. All the components attached to the
computer like Keyboard, Mouse, Monitor,
Printers are hardware.
Software: Software is a set of instructions that makes the
computer perform tasks. In other words we can say that,
software tells the computer what to do. Here the program
refers to any piece of software.

Data: Data consist of individual facts or pieces of information

that by themselves may not make much sense to a
person. A computer primary job is to process these tiny
pieces of data in various ways, converting them into
useful information.

Users: Peoples are the computer operators, also known as

users. One can argue that some computer systems are
complete without a person’s involvement; however no
computer is totally autonomous.
1. Computer Hardware
– A generic name for the various devices that make up
a computer system
2. Computer Software
– Set of instructions that direct the computer
hardware to perform a particular task
 Hardware
• Any visible part of a computer which can be seen and touched is
known as hardware.
• Hardware components are involved in the data processing cycle
as an input, output or as both.
• On data processing cycle, there are hardware devices used to
enter data which are known as input devices and other hardware
devices used to display the information are known as output
devices but there are also devices used as both input and output
devices.
• Moreover others are involved in the processing cycle such as
CPU, RAM, ROM.

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 Hardware Components
1. Input Unit – feeds data & instruction to the computer system

2. Output Unit – displays / prints the results of the processing

3. CPU – is the brain of the computer that caries

out the processing of the data as per the instructions

4. Memory – stores data and programs within and/or outside the

computer system
5. Power supply – used to convert AC into DC and
provide
appropriate power for each of internal components of a PC.

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 Input Devices
• Input is all information put into a computer.
• Input can be supplied from a variety of sources:
– A person
– A storage device on computer
– Another computer
– A peripheral device
– Another piece of equipment, such as a
musical instrument or thermometer

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 Input Devices…
• Input devices gather and translate data into
a form the computer understands.
• Primary input devices:
– Keyboard - Most common input device; used to type
in commands and data.
– Mouse or trackball: enhances user’s ability to
input commands, manipulate text, images.

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 Input Devices…
• Scanners: are peripheral input devices which
allow users to import:
– Text
– Graphics
– Images
• Specialized software aids in translating
information into a format the computer can
understand and manipulate.

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 Input Devices…
• Digital Cameras: are peripheral input devices
that allow users to create pictures and/or
movies in a digital format.
– Some require specialized software to import
images into the computer.
– Some record digital images directly to a disk
that can be read by the computer.

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 Some input devices
• Mouse
• Keyboard
• Scanner
• Touch pad
• Light pen
• Joysticks
• Microphones
• Digital Cameras
• Touch Screen
• Bar Code Reader
• Trackball
• CD-ROM 44
 Output Devices
Used to display processed information
to the user either in softcopy or
hardcopy

Soft copy – output displayed on a

computer screen. It is the primary
output medium.
E.g. Monitor, speaker, LCD
projector

Hard copy – output produced on

paper or micro film.
E.g. Printers, plotters. 13
 Output Devices…
• Monitors: are the most commonly used output
device.
• Most monitors use a bitmap display.
– Allows user to resize the display.
– Divides the screen into a matrix of tiny square “dots”
called pixels.
– The more “dots” a screen can display, the higher the
resolution of the monitor.

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 Output Devices…
• Monitors are connected to a computer system
via a port integrated on the video adapter or
graphics card.
• Graphics cards convert digital data output from
software to analog data for display on monitors.

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 Output Devices…
Printer
• Most widely used output devices to
prepare printed paper documents
• There are Impact and Non-impact
printers
• Impact printers
Form characters by striking an inked
ribbon with hammers against paper
E.g. Dot matrix printers & ink
printers
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 Output Devices…
• Non-impact printers:
Form characters without physical
contact between a printer and
paper
E.g. Laser jet printers

Plotters
capable of drawing complex shapes
with multiple colors

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 Output Devices…
• Monitors
• Printer
• LED/LCD Panels
• Speakers
• Headphone
• Plotters
• Projectors

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 CPU
The brain of a computer system where calculations
and decisions are made.
 Central Processing Unit
• CPU or microprocessor is often described as the
brain of a computer.
• CPU is an integrated circuit or “chip” which processes
instructions and data.
It is the place where data processing takes place
• The system's memory also plays a crucial role in
processing data.
• Both the CPU and memory are attached to the
system's motherboard, which connects all the
computer's devices together, enabling them to
communicate.

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 Components of CPU
1. Processor: The procedure that transforms raw data into
useful information is called processing. The processor is
like the brain of computer system. A personal
computer’s processor is usually a Single or a set of
chips contained on a circuit board
2. Memory devices: Memory devices are of two types:
*RAM is like an electronic scratch pad inside the
computer. RAM is a volatile memory.
*ROM is a non-volatile memory. ROM permanently
stores its data, even when the computer is shut off.
3. C U (control unit): All the computer’s resources are
managed from the control unit. It act as a traffic signal
directing the flow of data through the CPU as well as to
and from other devices.
4. A L U (Arithmetic logic unit): The work of the ALU is to
perform arithmetic and logical operations. Arithmetic
operation include addition, subtraction, multiplication,
and division. Logical operation include comparison,
such as determining whether one number is equal to,
greater than, or less than another number.
 The Control Unit
Controls the entire operation of the
computer.
Directs the flow of data through the CPU,
and to and from other devices.

The control unit stores the CPU's

microcode, which contains the instructions
for all the tasks the CPU can perform.

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The Arithmetic Logic Unit
The actual manipulation of data takes
place in the ALU.
Performs the arithmeticoperationsand
the logical comparisons
Controls the speed of calculations;
Larger & powerful computers speed are
measured in:
Pico seconds
Nano seconds, etc.

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 Computer Memory
• Computer memory refers to devices that are
used to store data or programs (sequence of
instructions) on temporary or permanent basis.

• You can store data on your hard disk, that used

to store data permanently, while data which is
being processed is stored in RAM (Random
Access Memory)

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How computer memory is measured?
• Bit:1 or 0 level of storage
• Byte: A byte consists of eight bits.
• Kilobyte: A kilobyte (KB) consists of 1024 bytes.
• Megabyte: A megabyte (MB) consists of 1024
kilobytes, approximately 1,000,000 bytes.
• Gigabyte: A gigabyte (GB) consists of 1024
megabytes, approximately 1,000,000,000 bytes.
• Terabyte: A terabyte (TB) consists of approximately
1,000,000,000,000 bytes.

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 Types of Computer Memory
 Computer memory or storage devices are
classified into two broad categories:
i. Primary memory / storage
 Internal storage
 RAM and ROM
ii. Secondary memory / storage
 External storage
 CD / DVD, Hard disk, floppy disk, magnetic
tape

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 Primary
Memory
Two types of primary memory:
• Main memory (RAM):
 The main working area of the computer
 The CPU can utilize only those instructions
and data that are stored in main memory
• ROM:
 Stores small programs permanently

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 RAM
• Stands for Random Access Memory
• “Waiting room” for computer’s CPU.
• Working place of computer used
to store data temporarily.
• Holds instructions for processing
data, processed data, and raw data.
• The amount of RAM in a PC has a
direct impact on the system's
speed.

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 RAM…
• The more RAM a PC has, the more
program instructions and data can
be held in memory, which is faster
than storage on disk.
• Ram is measured by:
– Capacity (in Megabytes or Gigabytes)
– Speed (in Nanoseconds)

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 RAM…
• All software applications will have RAM
specifications listed on their packaging.
• Many applications list both a minimum and a
recommended amount of RAM necessary to run
the software.
• Be cautious about buying software for a system
based on minimum requirement.

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 ROM
• Read Only Memory (ROM) as the name
suggests is a special type of memory chip
which holds software which can be read but
not written to.
• A good example is the ROM-BIOS chip, which
contains read-only software.
• Often network cards and video cards also
contain ROM chips.

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 Secondary Storage Devices
 Storage devices designed to retain data
and instruction in a more permanent
form.
 Non-volatile storage media.
 Capacity and speed are important considerations
when selecting a new storage device for a PC.
 Currently used ones:
• hard disks,
• floppy disk,
• optical disk (CD)
• Versatile disk (DVD)
• Flash disk 34