Lesson 2 : Fundamentals of Personal Computers (PCs) 2.

1) Computer Hardware Computer Hardware refers to the physical machine that make up the computer installation. These are the tangible parts of the computer. The hardware comprises of Input devices, output devices, storage devices and the system unit. Hardware is the general term that is used to describe physical artifacts of a technology. Diagrammatically,

2.1.1Input Devices Any hardware component that allows you to enter data, programs, commands, and user responses into a computer is called an Input Device Keyboard, Pointing Devices Audio input (Voice Recognition) Handheld Computer Input Digital Cameras Video Input PC Video Cameras and Web Cams Reading Devices(Optical Character readers, MICR, MSR , Barcode readers). Input Devices for Physically Challenged Users 2.1.2 System Unit The System Unit houses Motherboard, CPU, Memory and Power Supply Unit The motherboard, or system board, is the main circuit board of the system unit The processor, also called the central processing unit (CPU), interprets and carries out the basic instructions that operate a computer. The CPUs components are: The control unit interprets the instructions The arithmetic/logic unit performs the logical and arithmetic processes Memory, also called random access memory, or RAM, consists of electronic components that store data, instructions, and information, as needed by the processor The Power Supply Unit provides power to the motherboard 2.1.3 Output Devices Output devices make the information resulting from processing available for use Examples Printers: Impact, Nonimpact, Photo Display Devices: CRT, LCD Audio Output Other Output Devices Data projectors Terminals Output Devices for Physically Challenged Users

2.1.4 Storage Devices Used to store instructions, data, and information when they are not being used in memory. Categories of Storage devices are: a) Magnetic disks - Use magnetic particles to store items on a disks surface Floppy disks Zip disks Hard disks b) Optical discs - Use the principles of light to write and read data to disks. CD-ROM, CD-R, CD-RW, DVD-ROM, DVD-R, DVD+R, DVD-RW, DVD+RW DVD+RAM d) Tapes They similar to VHS cassettes (2GB) e) Miniature mobile storage media: Commonly used with mobile devices such as cameras and phones. Example: Secure digital (64MB to 16MB), xD picture disk (64MB to 1 GB), CompactFlash (32MB to 64 GB) and Memory Stick (MS 256MB to 8 GB) 2.2 The Components of the System Unit Let us now present the components in the system unit, described how memory stores data, instructions, and information, and discuss the sequence of operations that occur when a computer executes an instruction. Included is a comparison of various microprocessors on the market today. The system unit, sometimes called the chassis, is a box-like case housing the electronic components of a computer that are used to process data. System unit components include the processor, memory module, cards, ports, and connectors. Many of the system units components reside on a circuit board called the motherboard. The motherboard contains many different types of chips, or small pieces of semiconducting material, on which one or more integrated circuits (IC) are etched. An integrated circuit is a microscopic pathway capable of carrying electronic current. Each IC can contain millions of transistors, which act as switches for electronic signals.

2.3 Central Processing Unit (CPU) Central Processing Unit (CPU), in computer science, microscopic circuitry that serves as the main information processor in a computer. A CPU is generally a single microprocessor made from a wafer of semiconducting material, usually silicon, with millions of electrical components on its surface. On a higher level, the CPU is actually a number of interconnected processing units that are each responsible for one aspect of the CPUs function. Standard CPUs contain processing units that interpret and implement software instructions, perform calculations and comparisons, make logical decisions (determining if a statement is true or false based on the rules of Boolean algebra), temporarily store information for use by another of the CPUs processing units, keep track of the current step in the execution of the program, and allow the CPU to communicate with the rest of the computer. How the CPU uses the four steps of a machine cycle to process data The central processing unit (CPU), also called a processor, significantly impacts overall computing power and manages most of a computers operations. The CPU contains the control unit and the arithmetic/logic unit. The control unit directs and coordinates most of the operations in the computer. For every instruction, the control unit repeats a set of four basic operations called the machine cycle: 1. fetching the instruction or data item from memory, 2. decoding the instruction into commands the computer understands, 3. executing the commands, and, if necessary, 4. storing, or writing the result to memory. The arithmetic/logic unit (ALU) performs the execution part of the machine cycle. Specifically, the ALU carries out three operations: 1. Arithmetic operations performing calculations, which include addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division

Comparison operations comparing data items to determine if the first item is greater than, equal to, or less than the other item 3. Logical operations working with conditions and logical operators such as AND, OR, and NOT 2.4 Motherboards The motherboard inside the pc is sometimes called the main board, or the system board. It is made up from several components including the central processing unit (CPU), the memory slots, a video section, and some others but these ones are the main parts to be able to get the pc working. Every component on the motherboard deals with a specific activity. Motherboard, in computer science, the main circuit board in a computer. The most important computer chips and other electronic components that give function to a computer are located on the motherboard. The motherboard is a printed circuit board that connects the various elements on it through the use of traces, or electrical pathways. The motherboard is indispensable to the computer and provides the main computing capability. Personal computers normally have one central processing unit (CPU), or microprocessor, which is located with other chips on the motherboard. The manufacturer and model of the CPU chip carried by the motherboard is a key criterion for designating the speed and other capabilities of the computer. The CPU in many personal computers is not permanently attached to the motherboard, but is instead plugged into a socket so that it may be removed and upgraded. Motherboards also contain important computing components, such as the basic input/output system (BIOS), which contains the basic set of instructions required to control the computer when it is first turned on; different types of memory chips such as random access memory (RAM) and cache memory; mouse, keyboard, and monitor control circuitry; and logic chips that control various parts of the computers function. Having as many of the key components of the computer as possible on the motherboard improves the speed and operation of the computer. Users may expand their computers capability by inserting an expansion board into special expansion slots on the motherboard. This is called computer upgrade. Expansion slots are standard with nearly all personal computers and offer faster speed, better graphics capabilities, communication capability with other computers, and audio and video capabilities. Expansion slots come in either half or full size, and can transfer 8 or 16 bits (the smallest units of information that a computer can process) at a time, respectively. The pathways that carry data on the motherboard are called buses. The amount of data that can be transmitted at one time between a device, such as a printer or monitor, and the CPU affects the speed at which programs run. For this reason, buses are designed to carry as much data as possible. To work properly, expansion boards must conform to bus standards such as integrated drive electronics (IDE), Extended Industry Standard Architecture (EISA), or small computer system interface (SCSI).

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2.4.1 Categories of Motherboards Motherboards are divided into the following two main categories: a) Integrated motherboards b) Non-integrated motherboards a) Integrated motherboards Integrated motherboards come with all the essential components built in to them. The major advantage of this type of motherboard is that all major functional components built into it. This means that all the functions that your pc needs are all ready from the get-go on a single circuit board. As the price of pc technology has dropped over the years, there has been a big push towards integrating almost every aspect of a pc onto the motherboard. Although the only drawback is that if one of the components breaks you will have to replace the whole motherboard. However, this rarely happens. Another drawback is that sometimes the expansion slots for future upgrades of the motherboard or new components can be limited. b) Non-integrated motherboards Non-integrated motherboards don't have most of the main components built into them, but they normally have more expansion slots to allow you to add your own. This can be preferable for high performance PC users. They may want a more advanced sound card, or a top of the range network card, or video card if you are a serious pc gamer. The downside of this type of motherboard is that you need a larger case, and experience plugging components into the main board. 2.4.2Designs of the Motherboard Form Factors are the design of the motherboard. It is how the components of the main board are laid out, and especially what type of case they fit into, and so what power supply they will be using. ATX ATX stands for Advanced Technology Extended. ATX was designed by Intel to allow easier expansion, and a higher degree of compatibility among component manufacturers, while still allowing the main components of a pc integrated into the motherboard. Its like the best of both integrated and non integrated motherboards. There is specific design changes that have taken place over the years in motherboards and since the ATX is one of the most recent, you can see that the journey of motherboards has sometimes been drastic difficulties, including where the expansion slots are in relationship to the processor. It used to be that some motherboards couldn't have new components added to them, as there was no room because of

other parts of the board. The power supply connector for an ATX board is a 20-pin, and can support soft power off. Micro ATX The Micro ATX Form Factor motherboard is much smaller than ATX. The maximum motherboard size is 9.6" 9.6". Micro ATX uses a compact design, which is favoured by pc manufacturers, who like to focus on space saving pc's and designs for their customers. Typically their customers are not pc enthusiast who prefer to get their hands dirty. This is the reason and shift from a few years ago when a pc was an enormous tower, to the slim-line versions that you see now. Normally the board will have more USB peripheral slots to allow external devices to be connected. There is also an even smaller version of the Micro ATX which is called the Flex ATX. This is a motherboard at the size of 9.6" 7.5". Don't expect to be able to add a pumping hot hardcore graphics card to motherboards like this. BTX The BTX Form Factor is the smoothest and most quiet of motherboard designs. It was designed to make sure that heat that is generated from the components is not concentrated in one place, and the motherboard can be kept cool by the primary airflow from the pc power supply. NLX NLX or New Low Profile Extended Form Factor, was the first effort of motherboard manufacturers at fitting slim-line cases. The way this was done was to add riser expansion slots, which meant that the components would be parallel against the motherboard. This style was not popular amongst consumer of manufacturers, and quickly became replaced. Thats the reason you have probably never heard of it. However, the concept may return in the future, once the issues of heat, and expansion are solved. It certainly is a good way to compact components into a small amount of space.