The Components in the System Units Part I

LESSON 2
The System Unit
- Electronic components of the computer that are used to process data
CPU
- CPU (processor) interprets and carries out the basic instructions that operate a computer.
The Components of CPU

1.) Control Unit

- A component of the CPU that directs and coordinates most of the operations in the computer.
- Fetch – get the next instruction from memory
- Decode – translate the instruction
- Execute – carry out the command
- Store – write the result to memory
2.) Arithmetic / Logic Unit
- Performs the execution part of the machine cycle
- Arithmetic (addition, subtraction, multiplication, division)
- Comparison (greater that, equal to, less than)
- Logical (AND, OR, NOT)

3.) Memory
- Temporary storage locations used by the CPU
- Storing location of where instruction was fetched
- Storing an instruction while it is being decoded
- Storing data while the ALU processes it
- Storing the results of a calculation

The System Bus

In computer communications, a bus is a group of wires or electronics pathways that connect

components. The system bus is the wires, or traces, on the motherboard that provide the main
communication path between the CPU and memory. The system bus enables data transfer between
the CPU, memory and other buses in the computer, which connect other system components such
as hard drives, and adapter cards.
Firmware

Firmware is specialized software stored in memory chips that stores OS-specific information
whether or not power to the computer is on. It is most often written on an electronically
reprogrammable chips so that it can be updated with a special program to fix any errors that might
be discovered after a computer is purchased, or to support updated hardware components.

The System Bios

A basic Input Output System (BIOS) is a set of instruction that is stored in ROM and that is used
to start the most basic services of a computer system. Every computer has a system BIOS, which
sets the computer’s configuration and environment when the system is powered on. It is located in
ROM chips on the system board. Computers may also include other devices that have their own
BIOS to control their functions.

UEFI

The Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) is a standard firmware interface for PCs that
was designed to improve software interoperability and address the limitations in BIOSs. Providing
legacy support for BIOS services, UEFI can support remote diagnostics and repair of computers,
even without an operating system being installed.
The Post

The Power-On Self-Test (POST) is a built-in diagnostic program that runs every time a personal computer
starts up. The POST checks your hardware to ensure that everything is present and functioning properly,
before the system BIOS begins the operating system boot process. If there is an error, then an audible beep
will alert you that something is wrong.

Hardware Component POST Test Criteria

Power supply Must be turned on, and must supply its power good
signal.
CPU Must exit Reset status mode, and must be able to
execute instructions.
System firmware Must be readable.
System firmware memory Must be readable.
Memory Must be able to be read by the CPU, and the first
64KB of memory must be able to hold the POST
code.
Input / output (I / O) bus or I / O controller Must be accessible, and must be able to
communicate with the video subsystem.

Assignment #2

1.) Research about different types of POST.

2.) Research about CPU clock speed, core, and thread.