A Look Inside the Computer

A computer system is a combination of inter-related and

interdependent components that interact regularly to perform a task. It uses
various units for accepting the input, processing it, displaying the results and
storing them as required. A computer system functions effectively when all these
components perform their assigned job. The failure of any one component of the
system leads to the failure of the whole system. Information is communicated
between these separate units by the system bus. The system bus connects the
CPU to the other components that reside on the motherboard.

Major parts of a computer system:

• Hardware: Hardware are the tangible parts of the computer

system which can be physically handled. For computers, hardware
means the Central Processing Units (CPU) and all the peripherals.

• Software: A software is the set of instructions which tells the

computer what to do, how to do and when to do it. These are the logical
components which that make physical components work.
 • Data and Information: Data are the unorganized and
unprocessed facts. Information are the meaningful result derived from
the data processing.

Data Information

v Data are unprocessed facts. v Information is processed data.

v Data are used as the input. v Information is the output of

data.

v Data do not hold specific v Information carry a logical

meaning. meaning.

v Data are raw material. v Information is the product.

• Humanware: The computer users are the humanwares. A computer

system holds no purpose and meaning if there are no users to instruct
it and make it functional.
 Block diagram of Computer System
Data Flow
Control Flow

The Processor

Control Unit

Issues commands to all elements of

computer

It makes a sequence of control flow

and data flow

Arithmetic & Logic Unit

It performs mathematical and

logical calculations.

INPUT OUTPUT

Data and Information

Instructions
(Audible & Visible)

Main Memory

Holds data, instructions and

results of processing

Auxiliary / Storage Memory

To supplement the
main storage

Computer Hardware

Computer hardware are the physical parts which makes the entire
computer system. Hardware equipment can be magnetic, electronic, mechanical
and electrical devices. These hardware parts work together with the software and
programs to read the raw data, manipulate it, store and finally display the output.
The different hardware units are:

a. Input Devices
b. Central Processing Unit
c. Output Devices
d. Storage Devices

v Input Units: Input means to feed or put data into the computer system.
Inputs can be any data, program, commands or user responses. Input
devices are used to collect or capture data, check data and convert it into
binary form which can be understood by the CPU. Some common input
devices are keyboard, mouse, scanner, magnetic disk reader, joystick,
touchpad etc.

Keyboard
There are three types of keyboard as:
i. Standard Keyboard (84 keys)
ii. Extra Technology Keyboard (101 keys)
iii. Advanced Technology Keyboard (103 Keys)

Mouse
There are three types of keyboard as:
i. Mechanical Mouse
ii. Opto-mechanical Mouse
iii. Optical Mouse
 v Central Processing Unit: Processing hardware CPU is responsible to
process all the activities from data entry stage to output stage. It handles
all the actions of the computer system and makes the computer functional
that is why a CPU is known as the brain of the computer. Nowadays, the
CPU is built on a single chip is called microprocessor. It is usually mounted
on the motherboard and connected to various peripheral devices using bus
(Printer Wires).

The processing capability of CPU is measured in terms of MHz

or GHz. Clock speed determines how many instructions per second the
processor can execute.

For example: 3.2 GHz means the CPU can execute 3.2 billion cycles per
seconds.

Bandwidth of CPU means number of bits processed in single instruction.

Pic : Motherboard

Major components of CPU

i. Control Unit
ii. Arithmetic and Logic Unit
iii. Primary Memory

i. Control Unit: The CPU is called the brain of the computer system. In fact,
control unit is the brain inside the brain. It controls the overall operations
such as I/O operations, processing operations and memory managements. It
directs the movement of data flow and control flow in computer system.
 Functions of Control Unit

a. It gives command to transfer data from input devices to memory

units to ALU.
b. It also transfers results from ALU to memory and then to output
devices.
c. It stores program in the memory.
d. It analyzes each instructions and decodes what operation is to be
performed.
e. It manages the control flow and data flow.

ii. Arithmetic and Logic Unit: It is the main processing unit within the
microprocessor that’s why it is known as the fundamental building block of
CPU. It performs the mathematical and logical operations using the data
and instructions. It contains registers, capacitors and accumulators.

Fig: The Fetch-Execute cycle

iii. Primary memory: The only memory unit that has direct connection with
the computer’s processor.
 Computer Memory

Cache Magnetic Magnetic Optical Flash

Registers Memory RAM ROM Tape Disk Disk Memory

PROM Floppy CD
Disk Pen drive
L1 SRAM
EPROM DVD

Hard
L2 DRAM EEPROM Disk Blue Ray SSD
Disk

The computer memory is a data storing device. It enables a computer

system to store the data and programs either temporarily or permanently. A
memory system can be logically divided into two categories as:

i. Primary memory
ii. Secondary memory

i. Primary memory: Primary memory is the fast and less capacity memory
of the computer system. They are mainly used to store the data during the
time of processing. It holds the data and instructions which can be accessed
by the microprocessor quickly.

RAM, ROM, Cache memory and Registers are the examples of primary
memory.
v RAM: Random Access Memory is a form of computer data storage
which stores data and allows the processor to access it in any order (random)
required. RAM is called volatile memory because its contents are lost as soon
as the computer is turned off.

Actually RAM are also built on a semi-conductor chip using

transistors and capacitors.

Types of RAM are: SRAM & DRAM

Static Random Access Memory Dynamic Random Access Memory

• It does not need periodic • It needs periodic refreshing.

refreshing.

• It consumes less electrical power. • It consumes high electrical

power.

• It is faster than DRAM. • It is slower than SRAM.

• It is expensive. • It is cheaper than SRAM.

• Mostly it is formed using • Mostly it is formed using

transistors. capacitors.

v ROM: Read Only Memory is a class of memory device which is non-

volatile in nature as data stored in ROM are retained even after the power
is cut off. Data stored in ROM cannot be modified, or can be modified slowly
or with difficulty, so it is mainly used to distribute firmware.

Types of ROM are:

Ø PROM (Programmable Read Only Memory)

Ø EPROM (Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory)
Ø EEPROM (Electronically Erasable Programmable Read Only
Memory)
Difference:

Random Access Memory Read Only Memory

• Its contents will be erased when • Its contents won’t be erased when
power is off. (volatile) power is off. (non-volatile)

• It has higher storage space than • It has less memory space than
ROM. RAM.

• It is faster than ROM. • It is slower than RAM.

• It is cheaper. • It is expensive.

• Types: SRAM & DRAM • Types: PROM, EPROM &

EEPROM.

v Cache Memory: It is an extremely fast memory built into a computer’s

CPU or located next to it on a separate chip. The CPU uses cache memory
to store instructions that are repeatedly required to run a program which
results in performance improvements.
ii. Secondary Memory: Auxiliary memory devices are the slower and
cheaper memory units which provides the permanent data storage facilities.
CPU does not access its contents directly. The content in it must be loaded
into the RAM and to processor for processing. Some examples of secondary
memory devices are hard drives, CDs, DVDs, pen drive etc.

Difference:

Primary Memory Secondary Memory

• It is directly connected to the • It is not directly connected to the

processor. processor.

• It is expensive than secondary • It is less expensive than primary

memory. memory.

• It is semi-conductor memory. • It is optical or magnetic memory.

• It is faster than secondary • It is slower.

memory.

• It has low storage capacity. • It has high storage capacity.

Output Units

Output device is any peripheral device that receives and displays the
result obtained from the primary memory. Output can be any audible or visible
data and information. The output produced by the monitor and speaker are
softcopy output whereas the output printed on a paper is known as hardcopy
output.
Functions of output units:

a. It accepts the results produced by computer in binary coded form.

b. It converts the results from machine code to human
understandable form.

Some examples: Monitor, Printer, Plotter, Speaker etc.

Software

It is a collection of computer programs, procedures and documentation

that performs different task on a computer system. Software is defined as
instructions and associated data, stored in electronic format, that directs a
computer to accomplish a task.

Software is the means which, by which, computer systems speak with

computer users. It gives soul to the computer system.

Computer software can be classified into two types as:

1. System Software
2. Application Software

Programs Software

• It is the set of instructions to • It is collection of instructions,

perform specific job. program and data that can
perform multiple tasks.

• It is component of software. • It is a logical unit which drives

the computer system.

• It defines process in the • It defines both process and data.

computer.

• Eg: a program to calculate SI, • Eg: MS Word, Adobe Photosoph

area of circle etc. etc.
Random Access memory

Read Only Memory