Computer Hardware (Cont.

PGDM Trimester I, 2013

A Peek Inside the Computer

Professionals must know computer components to understand its power and capabilities

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CPU consists of
Arithmetic-logic unit: performs mathematical calculations and make logical comparisons. Control unit: reads instructions, interpret them and directs the other components of the computer system to perform the functions required by the program. Registers are specialized, high-speed memory areas used to temporarily hold small units of program instructions and data immediately before, during and after execution.
It also store certain control information

Buses: Instructions and data move between computer subsystems and the processor via communications channels called buses
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Physical Characteristics of the CPU

Embedded with transistors Transistor is a semiconductor that can represent binary codes two states Digital circuits imprinted on silicon chips

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Physical Characteristics of the CPU

Moore's Law to mean the number of transistors on a 1-inch (2.5 centimeter) diameter of silicon doubles every x number of months. The number of months shifts as conditions in the microprocessor market change. Some people say it takes 18 months and others say 24
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How the CPU works?

2 1

3 4

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Machine Cycle
A computer executes an instruction during a machine cycle. It consists of instruction phase followed by execution phase. The time in which machine cycle occurs is measured in
nanoseconds(one billionth) or pecoseconds (one trillionth)

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Clock Speed
Clock speed is a measure of how quickly a computer completes basic computations and operations. It is measured as a frequency in hertz (Hz), and most commonly refers to the speed of the computer's Central Processing Unit There is a small quartz crystal inside of a CPU that vibrates at a particular oscillation or frequency. This frequency sets the "speed" of processes in the computer and is usually very high;
they are typically measured in megahertz (MHz) and gigahertz (GHz).

These cycles set the speed for all processes within a computer. This ensures that all components and memory are working together at a rate that remains harmonious. Different components and processes can also run as a fraction of the primary CPU speed, which allows each element of a computer to work on its own and still function with the primary frequency of the CPU.
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CPU Speed
CPU Speed is essentially the speed at which the computer can perform calculations which are fed to it through software program instructions loaded into volatile random access memory (RAM). Processor speed is limited by
the number of transistors built into a processor, parallel connections to other processors, the capacity of the bus to transmit data back and forth from the CPU to memory, and other hardware specifications.

The amount of RAM available and the design of the software that is accessing the system are also more critical than the actual CPU performance itself.

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Processor Benchmarks
iCOMP (Intel Comparative Microprocessor Performance) was an index published by Intel used to measure the relative performance of its microprocessors.

E.g.
Intel pentium III 933MHz: 3100 Intel pentium III 1.0 GHz: 3280

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Current Top Ten Lists (Single CPU / Multiple CPUs)

As reported in http://www.cpubenchmark.net/ #1 Intel Xeon E5-2690 @ 2.90GHz #2 Intel Xeon E5-2687W @ 3.10GHz #3 Intel Xeon E5-2680 @ 2.70GHz #4 Intel Xeon E5-2689 @ 2.60GHz #5 Intel Xeon E5-2670 @ 2.60GHz #6 Intel Core i7-3970X @ 3.50GHz #7 Intel Core i7-3960X @ 3.30GHz #8 Intel Xeon E5-1660 @ 3.30GHz #9 Intel Xeon E5-2665 @ 2.40GHz #10 Intel Core i7-3930K @ 3.20GHz #1 [Dual CPU] Intel Xeon E5-2690 @ 2.90GHz #2 [Dual CPU] Intel Xeon E5-2687W @ 3.10GHz #3 [Dual CPU] Intel Xeon E5-4650 @ 2.70GHz #4 [Dual CPU] Intel Xeon E5-2670 @ 2.60GHz #5 [Dual CPU] Intel Xeon E5-2660 @ 2.20GHz #6 [Dual CPU] Intel Xeon E5-2665 @ 2.40GHz #7 [Dual CPU] Intel Xeon E5-2680 @ 2.70GHz #8 [Dual CPU] Intel Xeon E5-2667 @ 2.90GHz #9 [Dual CPU] Intel Xeon E5-2650 @ 2.00GHz #10 [Dual CPU] Intel Xeon E5-2640 @ 2.50GHz

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Computer Peripherals
Definition: Generic name given to all input, output, and secondary storage devices that are part of a computer system, but are not part of the CPU. Ports and slots: These are devices used to provide hardware interfaces plugs and sockets - to connect devices to computers and components to provide a fully functional computer

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Peripherals

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Ports and Slots

scuzzy

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Characteristics and functionality

Speed, accuracy and Functions

Cost, Control and complexity

Nature of Data
Human readable Machine readable

Data Entry and Data Input Source Data Automation

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Online vs. Offline

Online devices are separate from but can be electronically connected to and controlled by a CPU

Offline devices are separate from and not under the control of the CPU

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Input Devices
Computers must receive input to produce output Provide a more natural user interface for computer users Input devices include machines used to enter instructions and data into computer Ergonomics: It is the study of the comfort and safety of human beings in their working environment.

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Input Technologies
Keying devices

Pointing Devices
Pen-Based Computing Speech Recognition Systems Optical Scanning Source data input devices

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Keying devices
Keyboard:
Contains keys that users press to enter data and instructions Includes letters, numbers, and punctuation etc. QWERTY and Dvorak: QWERTY standard
Dvorak facilitates faster typing

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An ergonomic split keyboard

Ergonomic keyboard: fits the natural position of forearms and prevents injury Virtual keyboards

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Others
Point-of-sale (POS) terminals

Punched card readers

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Graphical User Interface (GUI)

Definition:
Consists of Icons, menus, windows, buttons, bars, etc for user selection, issuing commands and responding to prompts

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Pointing Devices
Electronic Mouse Moving mouse
on pad moves cursor on screen. Pressing buttons on mouse activates activities represented by selected icons.

Trackball Stationary device with a

roller ball on top used to move cursor on screen.

Pointing Stick Small button-like

device which moves cursor in direction of pressure placed on stick.
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Pointing Devices
Touchpad Small rectangular
touch-sensitive surface which moves the cursor in the direction of finger moves on the pad.

Touch Screen Video

display screen that emits a grid of infrared beams, or a slight electric current that is broken when the screen is touched.

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Pen-based Computing
Definition:

Pressure-sensitive layer under slate-like liquid crystal display (LCD) screen and software that digitizes handwriting, hand printing, and hand drawing
Used in tablet PCs and PDA

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PDA accepting pen-based input

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Speech Recognition
Translating human speech into computer-readable data and instructions Receive input from microphone and process with software May increase noise level in offices

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Speech Recognition Systems

Discrete user must pause between each spoken word

Continuous software can recognize conversationally-paced speech

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Imaging or optical scanning

Optical Scanning: Devices that read text or graphics and convert them into digital input for your computer Imaging: converting documents into images
Saves paper More efficient retrieval and filing

Scanned document can be destroyed after scan

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Source Data Automation

Copy data directly from source
Bar-codes (UPC), credit cards, and checks

Use optical recognition devices, which detect positions of marks or characters (OMR/OCR) Magnetic-ink character recognition: detects magnetic ink on checks to automate part of check clearing.
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An optical scanning wand to read bar code

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MICR

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Other Input Technologies

Magnetic Stripe devices that read data stored in the magnetic stripe on the back of cards Smart Cards devices that read a microprocessor chip embedded in a card Digital cameras devices that allow you to capture, store, and download still photos and full motion pictures
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RFID

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