Components of a Computer

System
Fundamentals of Computer
Software and Application
Lesson 2
Computer Systems

Changing data into information involves

the procedure of input, processing,
output, and storage (IPOS)
Input, output, and processing devices
grouped together represent a computer
system
Computer Systems
Hardware
refers to the tangible, physical
computer equipment that can be seen
and touched
Software
or programs, consists of all the
electronic instructions that tell the
computer how to perform a task
People ware
the people who designs, develops, or
uses computer systems
Basic Operations of a Computer
System Components

The system unit, the case, or system

cabinet
- the box that houses the main system
components such as the processor chip
(CPU), the memory chip, and the
motherboard with power supply, as well
as some secondary storage devices
System Components

Motherboard
Also called the system board
The main circuit board in the computer
mounts into the case, and is a circuit board that
contains many integral components.
o the central processing unit
o memory
o basic controllers
o expansion ports and slots
System Components

Motherboard
System Components

Processor
The brain of the computer
A tiny piece of silicon that contains
millions of miniature electronic circuits
Speed of processing is expressed in
megahertz (MHz) or gigahertz (GHz)
System Components

Arithmetic/logic unit (ALU)

- Performs arithmetic computations and
logical operations
Control unit
- The boss, coordinates all of the
processors activities
Uses programming instructions
Controls flow of information through
the processor
System Components

Memory
Random Access Memory (RAM)
Represent primary storage or temporary storage
They hold data before processing and
information after processing before it sent along
to an output or storage device
When computer is turned off whatever is on RAM
disappears (volatile)
System Components

Process used by RAM is I-cycle and E-cycle

which creates a machine cycle
System Components

Memory: Read-only memory (ROM)

Also found on motherboard and
throughout system
Contains specific information for
computer operations
Instructions remain even when power
is off (non-volatile)
Units of Measure
Unit Equivalent
8 bit 1 byte
1 kilobyte (KB) 1, 024 bytes
1 megabyte (MB) 1,048,576 bytes
1 gigabyte (GB) 1,073,741,824 bytes
1 terabyte (TB) 1,099,511,627,776 bytes
1 petabyte (PB) 1,125,899,906,842,624 bytes
System Components

Putting the Components Together

1. The memory chips are plugged into the
motherboard.
2. The processor chip is plugged into the
motherboard.
3. The motherboard is attached to the system
cabinet.
4. The power supply unit is connected to the
system cabinet.
5. The wire for the power switch is connected to
the motherboard.
System Components

Putting the Components Together

System Components

Basic Controllers
Device that controls the transfer of
data to peripheral devices, such as
printers and monitors
System Components

Ports and Connectors:

Port
an interface with a peripheral device
Serial devices transfer data 1 bit at a time
Parallel devices transfer at 8 bits (1 byte) at
a time
USB port
Can connect up to 127 different peripherals with
one connector
Replacing serial and parallel ports in
computer
System Components

Ports and Connectors:

FireWire
A newer type of external bus
Also known as IEEE 1394 and IEEE 1394b
System Components
System Components

Ports and Connectors:

SCSI
- (pronounced skuzzy) a standard
interface for connecting peripherals such
as disk drives and printers
IrDA
- a wireless standard using infrared light
System Components

Ports and Connectors:

Bluetooth
- uses radio waves and provides short-
range data and voice communication
System Components

Ports and
Connectors:
Expansion slots
are openings on
the motherboard
where an
expansion board
can be inserted
Data Representation

Computers communicate using a binary

system of 1s and 0s
Standardized coding for all computers:
Most popular: ASCII which is the
American Standard Code for
Information Interchange
Another type: EBCDIC which is the
Extended Binary Coded Decimal
Interchange Code