LEARNING AREA 2 : COMPUTER SYSTEM

2.1.1 Define computer system Define, State, What,

.1 P01 Give

Computer System
• defined as combination of components designed to process data and
store files.
• consists of four major hardware components; input devices, output
devices, processor and storage devices.

2.1.1 State the meaning of input, processor, P01 Define, State,

.2 output and storage What,Give

Input
• any data or instruction that you enter into the memory of a computer.(text,
Graphic,audio and video.)

Processor
• controls the operation of the computer.
• It interprets and carries out the basic instructions that operate a
computer
• manages most of a computer's operations.
• consists of two subcomponents; the Control Unit (CU) and the Arithmetic
Logic Unit (ALU).

Output
• the result of data processing activity , presented external to the system.
• Example output devices monitor and speaker
• Example, text based, audio based, video based and graphic based.

Storage
• A place where data or instruction is saved in an electromagnetic form for
access by a computer processor.
• Example hard disk, floppy Disk, RAM, ROM.

2.1.1 Describe the information processing P02 Describe, Explain,

.3 cycle which includes input, process, P04 State, Label, List
output and storage using a block Draw, Match, Arrange,
diagram. Rearrange
2.1.2 State the relation of data State, Give, Define,
.1 representation : bit, byte and P01 Relate,
character P02 State, Give, What

Bit -
• the smallest unit of data a computer can process.
• Bit is a short for binary digit.
• The binary system has a base of 2 with the two digits (0 and 1

Byte
• Byte is a unit of information built from bits.
• One byte is equals to 8 bits.
• Eight bits that are grouped together as a unit.
• A byte provides enough different combinations of 0s and 1s to represent
256 individual characters.
Character
• One byte represent one character
• e.g 01010101 ( one byte) = A ( a character)

2.1.3 Explain the function of ASCII code Define, State, What

.1 P01 Explain, State, List,
P02 Give

Function of ASCII code

• to achieve compatibility between various types of data processing
equipment
• making it possible for the components to communicate with each other
successfully.
2.1.4 Describe the units of data P02 Explain, State
.1 measurement: A00 Convert, Change,
Bit, Byte, KB, MB, GB, TB Calculate, Solve

Why is 1024 bytes = 1KB? 1 KB = 210 bytes

20 = 1
21 = 2 1 MB = 220 bytes
22 = 4
1 GB = 230 bytes
23 = 8
24 = 16 1 TB = 240 bytes
25 = 32
26 = 64
27 = 128
28 = 256
29 = 512
210 = 1024

2.1.5 Describe the units of clock speed P02 Explain, State

.1 measurement: A00 Convert, Change,
MHz, GHz Calculate, Solve

What is computer speed? -

• It means how fast it can process data

How do you measure computer speed ?

• the speed of the clock is measured by how many cycle per second the
clock make
• system clock controls the speed of all the operation

What is the unit used?

• hertz

• 1 hertz = 1 cycle
1 second

• 1 Megahertz ( 1 Mhz) = 1000000 ( 1 million) cycle

1 second
• 1 Gigahertz ( 1 Ghz) = 1000,000000 ( 1 thousand million) cycle
1 second
2.2.1 Identify the input devices used for P02 State, Give,What,
.1 text, graphic, audio and video P05 Which
Identify, List
Match, Select, Label,
Identify

Input devices

N0 Elements examples
1 text Keyboard, virtual keyboard, optical
reader, bar code reader
2 audio Microphone, midi keyboard
3 graphic Scanner, digital camera
4 video Video camera, cctv, web cam
5

2.2.2 Identify the output devices used for P02 State, Give,What,
.1 text, graphic, audio and video P05 Which
Identify, List
Match, Select, Label,
Identify

Output devices

N0 Elements examples
1 text Printer, monitor, lcd
2 audio Speaker
3 graphic Monitor, printer, plotter, lcd
4 video Monitor, lcd
5

2.2.3 Identify the location of the CPU, P02 Identify, State, Name
.1 expansion slot, expansion cards, RAM Match, Label
 slot, ports and connectors on the
motherboard.

PORTS

EXPANSION
CARDS

CPU

CPU SOCK

EXPANSION SLOTS

RAM SLOT
2.2.4 Explain types and functions of: Define, State, Give,
.1 P01 What
• Primary storage (RAM, ROM) P02 Explain, Give, State,
• Secondary storage (magnetic P06 What
medium, opical medium, flash Match, Label,
memory) Differentiate,
Categorise

PRIMARY STORAGE (RAM, ROM)

i. Random-Access Memory (Ram)

• RAM is installed inside computers. RAM is also known as a working

memory.
• The data in RAM can be read (retrieved) or written (stored).
• RAM is volatile which means the programs and data in RAM are lost when
the computer is powered off.
• A computer uses RAM to hold temporary instructions and data needed
to complete tasks. This enables the computer's CPU (Central Processing
Unit) to access instructions and data stored in the memory very quickly.
 • RAM stores data during and after processing.

Ii. Read-Only Memory (Rom)

• ROM is another type of memory permanently stored inside the computer.

• ROM is non-volatile. It holds the programs and data when the computer
is powered off.
• Programs in ROM have been pre-recorded. It can only be stored by the
manufacturer; once it is done, it cannot be changed.
• Many complex functions, such as start up operating instructions, translators
for high-level languages and operating systems are placed in ROM memory.
• All the contents in ROM can be accessed and read but cannot be
changed.

DIFFERENCES BETWEEN RAM AND ROM

RAM ROM
Data and Stores during and Stored by manufacturer
program after
processing
Content Stores information Stores instructions
temporarily (Information)
permanently
Processing time Very fast, but uses Fast, but uses very little
a lot power
of power
Volatility Volatile-data lost Non-volatile-data not lost
when power is off when power is off

SECONDARY STORAGE

• Example magnetic mediumlo(floppy and hard disk), optical

medium(cd and dvd), flash memory(pen drive)
• As alternative storage to keep data and documents.
• store programs and data for future use.
• It is non-volatile

TYPES OF SECONDARY STORAGE

• Magnetic medium such as the floppy disk and hard disk

• Optical medium such as cd and dvd
• Flash memory such as pen drive
STATE THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN PRIMARY AND SECONDARY STORAGE

PRIMARY SECONDARY STORAGE

STORAGE
Mobility Fix in the Transferable between
computer computer
Capacity Limited capacity Unlimited ( up to 200
( 512MB, 2GB) GB)
Examples ROM, RAM Floppy disk, hard disk ,
thumb drive, DVD
Price expansive Cheaper then
primarystorage
Accesibility Easy , fast, direct Need to be connected to
the computer

2.3.1 State the various types of OS used on P02 State, Give, What, List,
.1 different platforms Name

What is operating system?

• Operating System is a set of program

• to coordinate all the activities among the computer hardware devices and
application software.
• Example Linux, DOS, Macintosh, Windows XP.

State types of OS and their platform

No Types of OS Platform
1 Windows XP Windows
2 Redhat, Ubuntu, SuSe Linux
3 Mac OS, Mac OS X Macintosh

2.3.1 State the functions of OS P02 State, Give, What, List,

.2 Name

Functions of OS
• It coordinates all the activities among the computer hardware devices and
supports application software.
• Example Linux, DOS, Macintosh, Windows XP
2.3.1 State the different interfaces of OS P02 State, Give, What, List,
.3 Name

State the differences interfaces of OS

DOS ( DISK OPERATING SYSTEM) GRAPHICAL USER INTERFACE (GUI)

Not user friendly as user have to
memorise and understand command line
Text based
User must have computer skill to
communicate with the computer
User friendly – use graphics or icons
that is meaningfull to user
Graphic based / icon based
Anyone can use as it is icon based

2.3.2 Differentiate between the types and P02 State, List, Give,
.1 usage of application software (word P05 Identify
processing, spreadsheet, Differentiate,
presentation, graphic) Categorise, Classify

TYPES AND USAGES OF APPLICATION SOFTWARE

Word Processing
• Word Processing an office application
• that enables user to create, edit, format and print textual document.

Spreadsheet
• A program that processes information in the form of tables.
• Tables cells can hold values or mathematical formula.

Presentation
• An application software that allows a user to create visual aid for
presentation
• to communicate ideas, messages and other information to a group.

Graphics Editing

• Program that can edit digital representation or non-text information

• Example as drawing, charts and photograph.
2.3.3 Differentiate between the types and P02 State, List, Give,
.1 usage of utility programs (file P05 Identify
management, diagnostic and file Differentiate,
compression) Categorise, Classify

ANTIVIRUS

• Antivirus is a program that protects a computer against viruses

• It identify and remove any computer viruses found in a memory or storage
media or files.

DIAGNOSTIC UTILITY

• Diagnostic utility is a utility program that compiles technical information

about computer’s hardware and system software programs
• It prepares a report about any identified problems.

FILE MANAGER

• File manager is a utility program that performs functions related to files and
disk management.

SCREEN SAVER
• Screen saver is a utility program that enables a display device’s screen to
show a moving image or blank screen if no mouse activity occurs for a
specified time.

FILE COMPRESSION
• Remove redundant elements gap and unnecessary data from storage.
• It helps to reduce the size of the file. Example WinZip, PKZIP.

2.3.4 Differentiate between proprietary and P02 State, List, Give,

.1 open source software P05 Identify
Differentiate,
Categorise, Classify
 Contoh Soalan SPM `

Window XP Linux
MS Office Redhat
Adobe Photoshop Open
Norton Antivirus Office.org
Solaris GIMP
Open LDAP

Figure 11(a) Figure 11(b)

State four differences between the software listed in Figure 11(a) and Figure 119b)

Ans

Figure 11 (a) proprietary software Figure 11 (b) Open Source Software

Source code nomarlly not provided Source code provided
Source code cannot be modified or Source code can be modified or
enhamced by user enhamced by user
Must have licence to use No licence required
Offer supports if software fail and System depends on supports from others
mulfunctions user to improve the software
expensive May be free or sold at free
Has warranty No warranty