Typical configuration of Computer system Organization

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Introduction
Computer: It is an electronic device designed to accepts the data, store in its
memory, process them and gives out the information
Hardware: Hardware consists of physical devices of the computer such as
Keyboard, Monitor, Processor, Motherboard etc.
Software: Software Consists of a set of instructions called programs that instruct
the computer the tasks to be performed.
User: Users are people who write computer programs or interact with the
computer.
Review of Block diagram of Computer System:

The computer system consists of four main units. They are

1.Input Unit
2. Central processing unit
3. Storage unit and
4. Output Unit
1. Input Unit: The user interacts with the computer via the input unit. The Input unit
accepts data from the user and converts it into a form understandable by the computer.
E.g.: Keyboard, Mouse etc.
2. CPU-Central processing unit: CPU controls, coordinates the operations of the
computer. It is responsible for processing of the input data. CPU consists of
• ALU (Arithmetic and Logic Unit): It performs arithmetic and logical operations.
• CU (control unit): It controls and schedules all sequence of task performed by the
computer.
3. Storage unit: It is used to store the data, programs and result. There are two types

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 • Primary memory - Store the data and instructions temporarily during processing.
E.g. RAM
• Secondary memory - Stores the data, instructions and output permanently.
E.g. Hard Disk
4. Output Unit: A device which is used to view and print the result. E.g. Monitor, Printer
etc.

Motherboard
The motherboard is the Printed circuit board (PCB) provides a platform for all the
components and peripherals to communicate with each other.

Characteristics of a motherboard:
a. Form factor: The shape, size and layout of a motherboard are called the form
factor. It refers to the motherboards geometry, dimensions, arrangements and electrical
requirements.
b. Chipset: It is a collection of microchips. They manage the communications and
data flow between the processor, memory and peripherals.
c. Processor Socket: It is a place where CPU (processor) is connected to
Motherboard of the computer system.

Types of Motherboards:
• XT: Extended technology motherboard.
• AT: Advanced technology motherboard.
• Baby AT: combination of XT and AT.
• ATX: Advanced Technology Extended.

Features of different types of motherboards

XT AT Baby AT ATX
Processor LIF-Low Insertion PGA-Pin Grid Slot type and
MPGA socket
socket Force socket Array socket PGA socket
DIMM- Dual inline SDRAM and DDR-RAM
RAM slot memory module SD-RAM Slots DDR RAM memory slots.
slot slots.
ISA and PCI-
ISA- Industry PCI and AGP
Expansion Peripheral ISA and PCI
standard Accelerated
slot component slots
Architecture Graphics Port.
Interconnect
power 12 Pin and 20 20 pin and 24
12 pin 20 Pin
connector Pin pin ATX
Components of Motherboard: The different components on the motherboard are:
a. Processor or CPU

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 b. BIOS-Basic Input/output System
c. CMOS - Complementary metal-oxide semiconductor
d. Slots
e. Disk controller
f. I/O Ports and Interfaces
g. BUS

a. The processor or CPU: It is a single Integrated Circuit chip and the main component
on the motherboard which processes data and gives the result.

b. BIOS: Basic Input/output System is a small chip on the motherboard holds a set of
instructions to load the hardware settings. It initializes and tests the system hardware
components referred to as a POST (Power on Self Test) and load the operating system to
RAM.

c. CMOS: CMOS - Complementary metal-oxide semiconductor is a battery-powered

memory chip to store the date, time and system setup parameters.

d. Slots: Slots are the connecting channels present on the motherboard where we can
insert additional Circuit boards like Expansion cards , memory module etc., to expand
the capabilities of the computer.

e. Disk Controllers: The disk controller is the circuit which enables the CPU to
communicate with a hard disk, floppy disk or other kind of disk drive

f. I/O Ports and Interfaces: The ports or interfaces are the Connectors on the
Motherboard which is used to connect various internal and peripheral components like
keyboard; mouse, etc.

g. BUS: bus is a collection of parallel wires that form a communication path to carry
address, data and control signals.

CPU structure: It consists of two chipsets used to manage data communication between
CPU and motherboard.
1. North Bridge or chipset: It is a chipset that communicates and control the high
speed devices like CPU, memory slot, L2 cache, AGP.
2. South Bridge or chipset: It is a chipset that manages slower devices such as
USB, serial port, audio port, ISA slots in computer system.

Different types of Slots: There basically two types.

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 a) Expansion slots: Expansion slots are the provisions on the motherboard to add
Expansion cards, to expand the capabilities of the computer. There are three types
of expansion slots.

1. ISA Slot:
▪ ISA Stands for Industry Standard Architecture introduced by IBM
▪ It is used to connect Internal Modem, Sound card etc.
2. PCI Slot:
▪ PCI stands for Peripheral Component Interconnect introduced by IBM
▪ It is used to connect graphic accelerated card, sound cards, internet
modems, and SCSI cards.
3. AGP Slot:
▪ AGP Stands for Accelerated Graphics Port.
▪ It is used to connect AGP card and 3D accelerators which make graphics
applications run faster

b) Memory slots: Memory slots are used to install main Memory Modules (RAM).
There are two types SIMM & DIMM
1. SIMM: Stands for Single Inline Memory Module
2. DIMM: Stands for Dual Inline Memory Module.

Different types I/O Ports

1. Serial Port:
▪ Serial port has 9 pins and is also called as COM port or RS-232-C port.
▪ This port Transfers data serially 1 bit at a time.
▪ It is used to connect serial devices like mouse, modem, old printers etc.
2. Parallel port:
▪ Parallel port has 25 pins and is also called printer port or LPTI port.
▪ This port transfers 8 bit of data on parallel path.
▪ They are used to connect devices like printer, scanners etc.
3. USB port:
▪ USB - Universal Serial Bus is a “Plug-and-Play” I/O Interface. I.e. a new
device can be added to the computer without adding an adopter card or even
turning off the computer.
▪ USB is faster than serial and parallel port, transfers data at 12 mbps. And
support up to 127 devices.
▪ It can connect devices like Keyboard, mouse, printer, Scanner etc.
4. PS/2 port:
▪ PS/2 - Personal System/2 port was introduced by IBM.
▪ It uses synchronous serial signals for communication.
▪ It is used to connect Keyboard & Mouse.

5. VGA port:

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 ▪ VGA - Video Graphics Array/Visual Graphics Adapter.
▪ It is an I/O port with 15 connecting holes.
▪ It is used to connect monitor, projector etc.
6. SCSI port:
▪ SCSI – small computer system interface port
▪ It is used to connect high speed hard disk, high end scanners and CD ROM
drives.

Types of BUS:
1. Internal: It connects different components on motherboard like processor,
RAM etc. It is also called as system bus.

2. External: It serves as an interface for peripheral devices like HDD, CD-ROM

etc. to connect with the processor. It is also called expansion BUS. There are
three types based on functionality:
• Control bus: The control BUS is used by the processor to send control signals
to different components and to co-ordination with the TCU.
• Data bus: Data BUS provides the path to transfer data and Instructions
between CPU and memory.
• Address bus: Address BUS provides the transfers of physical address of the
data and instructions in the main memory.

Memory
A Computer memory refers to the electronic storing space for instructions and
data. The memory in computer can be of two basic types
1. Internal
2. Secondary memory

Internal Memory:
Internal memory includes Registers, Cache memory and primary memory; it
stores data and instructions on which the processor is currently working.

Registers: The registers are high speed temporary storage areas inside the CPU. It stores
the data and instruction at the time of processing.
Cache Memory: The cache memory is a very high speed memory placed between Ram
and CPU. It is used to increase the speed of processing. This stores the data frequently
used by the CPU.
During the processing, the CPU first checks for the required data and instruction
in the cache memory before going to the RAM. It is less capacity and very expensive.

There are different types of cache memory

L1 Cache: Built inside the CPU.
L2 Cache: Present on a separate chip on the motherboard.

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 Processor
L2 Cache memory RAM
Register L1 cache Dis
memory k

Primary Memory: Primary memory is the main memory directly accessed by the
processor which stores the data and instructions to be processed by the CPU. There are
different types of primary memory.

a. RAM: RAM is the main memory directly accessed by the processor which stores the
data and instructions to be processed by the CPU. This is a volatile memory and is faster
than secondary memory. There are different types of RAM:

i. DRAM: DRAM stands for Dynamic Random Access Memory. This type of RAM that
needs to be refreshed periodically otherwise the contents will be lost.

ii. SRAM: SRAM stands for Static Random Access Memory. This is a type of RAM
which does not need to be refreshed periodically, hence faster than DRAM.

iii. SDRAM: SDRAM stands for Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory.
This is a type of DRAM which is synchronized with the system or CPU clock. This
increases efficiency by reducing CPU waiting time.

iv. DDR-SDRAM: DDR Stands for Double Data Rate SDRAM. The DDR-SDRAM
data transfer rate is double when compared to SDRAM.

b. ROM: This is a type of primary memory which can only be read, hence called read
only. Once written the data cannot be erased. The information is burnt in ROM at
manufacturing time. This is a non-volatile memory. E.g. BIOS/CMOS chip.

Clock speed: Clock speed is a measure of the processors operating speed.

Power supply: There are two types of power supply connected to a computer system.
1. SMPS - Switch mode power supply
2. UPS - Uninterrupted power supply

1. SMPS: A SMPS is an electronic power supply present inside the cabinet which
supplies power needed by the system components. An SMPS converts 230 volts AC
power from the Main power outlet to 12 volts DC power needed by the system
components. It also includes a power connector and a cooling fan.

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2. UPS: An UPS is a power supply used to maintain the power for the system in the
event of power failure. It enables us to save data and then shutdown the system
gracefully. There are two types of UPS. They are.

a. Online UPS: An online UPS is a type of UPS which provides continuous power supply
from its own inverter, even when the main power supply is functioning properly.

b. Standby UPS: An Offline-UPS monitors the power line and switches to battery power
as soon as it detects problem in the main power supply. It is also called as Stand-by
UPS.

Typical configuration of Computer system:

1. Processor: Intel core i5/i7 Quad core Desktop processor with 3.0 GHz
2. Motherboard: Intel / gigabyte motherboard
3. RAM: 8GB DDR3
4. Hard disk: Seagate 1TB, 7200rpm.
5. Monitor: 21.5” diagonal anti glare LCD
6. Key board: multimedia USB keyboard.
7. Mouse: Logitech USB optical mouse.
8. Cabinet: ATX cabinet with 500 Watts SMPS
9. DVD-RW: slim Tray-load super Multi DVD writer.
10. Speakers: HP USB powered compact speakers.

Abbreviations:
1. ALU - Arithmetic Logic Unit
2. CU - Control Unit
3. XT - Extended technology
4. AT - Advanced technology
5. ATX - Advanced Technology Extended
6. CPU - Central Processing unit
7. PGA - Pin grid array
8. BIOS - Basic Input/output System
9. POST - Power On Self Test
10. CMOS - Complementary metal-oxide semiconductor
11. SIMM - Single Inline Memory Module
12. DIMM - Dual Inline Memory Module
13. ISA - Industry Standard Architecture
14. PCI - Peripheral Component Interconnect:
15. AGP - Accelerated Graphics Port:
16. IDE - Integrated Digital Electronics:
17. USB - Universal Serial Bus:
18. SCSI - Small Computer System Interface:
19. RAM - Random Access Memory

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20. DRAM - Dynamic random access memory
21. SRAM - Static random access memory
22. SDRAM - Synchronous dynamic random access memory
23. DDR-SDRAM - Double data rate synchronous dynamic random-access Memory
24. ROM - Read-only memory
25. SMPS - switched-mode power supply
26. UPS - Uninterruptible power supply

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