DAR ES SALAAM INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY (DIT)

DEPARTMENT: COMPUTER ENGINEERING

MODULE: COMPUTER WORKSHOP TECHNOLOGY
MODULE CODE: COT 04113
CLASS: OD22
ASSIGNMENT: I

GROUP MEMBERS

S/N FULL NAME REGISTRATION NUMBER

1 MWESIGWA GEOFFREY 220222447159
2 JERRY VEDASTO KAMANZI 220121362075
3 ISAYA MICHEAL SANGA 220222403707
4 EZE CHINEDU JOEL 220242044933
1. (a) Describe the different parts of the CPU.
(b) How is the speed of CPU measured?

CPU –Central processing unit.

 The CPU is the main component of a computer system.
 It is the brain of the computer.
 It performs interpretation of inserted data and provides outcomes according to the user’s
choice.

Parts of the CPU.

i. Arithmetic Logic Unit(ALU)
This deals with all mathematical calculations or arithmetic calculation like addition, subtraction,
multiplication and division.

It performs logical operations such as less than, greater than and equal to.
Actually, all calculations and comparisons are performed in the arithmetic logic unit.
ii. Control Unit(CU)
 It is responsible for controlling the transfer of data among other units of a computer.
 It is considered as the CNS of the computer.
 It manages and controls all units of a computer.
 It obtains the instructions from the memory interprets them and directs the operation
of the computer.
 It also performs the physical transfer of data between memory and peripheral
devices.

iii. Registers
 These are small high speed circuits .(memory locations)
 They store data, instructions and memory addresses.

Types of registers
 General purpose registers
 Pointer registers
 Segment registers
 Index registers
 Flags registers
 Instructions registers

iv. Buses
 A bus is a group of 8 wires that transfer data between registers.
 A bus provides connection between two components to transmit signals between
them.
 Data is stored as a unit of 8 bits ie bit stands for binary digit ie 0 and 1
 Types of buses
 Data bus –moves data
 Address bus –moves address /memory location
 Control bus- sends control signals
v. Clock
 It measures and allocates a fixed time slot for processing each and every micro-
operation.
 CPU- executes instructions in synchronization with the clock pulse.
Different types of CPU.
i. Single core processor
 It is the oldest CPU
 Executes only one command at a time.
 Not efficient for multitasking.
 Work on FIFO(first come first serve)
 Multiple operations- poor performance
ii. Dual core processor
 It is a double core CPU that comprises of strong cores and functions better that
single core but not as robust as quad core.

iii. Quad core processor

 It has four cores linked together into a single Ic
 Caches and controllers are combined into one chip.
 Capable to perform different activities at the same time quickly than single core
processor.
 Capable of multitasking.

iv. Hexa core processor

 It has six cores linked together.
 Can execute tasks more rapidly than quad core and dual core
 Used in new smart phones.

v. Octa core processor

 It has 8 cores
 More efficient and rapid than hexa core.
 It has a set of quad core processors.
 Has the best ability to multi task.
 Mostly used in smartphone.

b) How is the speed of CPU measured?

 The CPU speed is measured by the clock CPU.
 It is measured in terms of Mega Hertz (MHz) or millions of cycles per second.
 CPU speed is also specified in terms of millions of instructions per second
(MIPS) or millions of floating point operations per second (MFLOPS)
2. Describe different types of hard disks.
(i) Solid Hard Drive (SSD)
(ii) Hard Disk Drive(HDD)

Hard Disk Drive

This is a data storage device with a magnetic metal disk,that serves as a storage medium for
the computer.
 Mainly the hard disks can be used to store operating systems, software programs and
other personal terms.
 The hard disks are also manufactured in different sizes of storage according to a variety
at different user’s preference.

Solid State Drive

 This is device that uses integrated circuits assemblies to store data.

 The integrated circuits are also refered to as “IC” or a micro chip that consists of a set of
electronic circuits fitted into a single component.

(b) How is data stored in Hard Disks?

 Data on a hard disk is stored in microscopic areas called magnetic domain on the magnetic
platter. Each domain stores either 1 or 0 value. (binary codes)
 The hard disk records its data in concentric circles or tracks , which are numbered from
outermost edge to the innermost edge of the platter. These tracks are subdivided into
smaller units called sectors which typically stores 512 bytes of data.
  The platter itself is a non-magnetic material typically aluminum alloy but its coated with a
layer of magnetic material.

 When a command is made to store some data on a disk ,the following chain of commands
occurs:
i. The data flows into the caches where it is encoded using special mathematically
derived formulae.
ii. Free sectors in the disk are selected and the actuator moves the heads over those
sectors just prior to writing.
iii. Once over the data track, the heads must not write the data until the selected free
sectors on that track pass beneath the head.
iv. When it’s time, a pattern of electrical pulses representing the data pass through a
coil in the writing element of the recording head.

(c) List different types of hard disk interface.

1. Parallel advanced technology attachment (PATA)
 Also known as integrated drive electronics (IDE)
 PATA drives have usually 40 pins.
 PATA drives offer 133mb/sec.
 They send 8 bit data at a time.
 Two drives can be connected in a PATA cable.
 One as a master and the other as a slave.

2. Serial advanced technology attachment (SATA)

 SATA drives have 7 pins.
 SATA drives offer 300mb/sec transfer rate.
 SATA drives send data bit by bit.
 Only one drive can be connected in a SATA cable.

3. Small computer system interface (SCSI)

 They have usually 50 to 68 pins.
 The data transfer rate is 640mb/sec.
 16 drives can be connected in a single SCSI cable.

4. Serial attached SCSI (SAS)

 The data transfer rate is 805mb/sec.
 128 drives can be connected in a single cable.
3. Describe different types of monitors
i. LCD MONITORS

 They use liquid crystals to convey image /the required data to the user.
 These monitors emit a minimum amount of heat and electricity compared to other
types of monitors hence they are economically beneficial.

ii. LED MONITORS

 LED is an abbreviation to mean light emitting diode.

 These are the latest innovations of screen monitors of higher contrast and color.
 They are durable in comparison to other types of monitors.

iii. OLED MONITORS

 OLED stands for “Organic Light emitting diode”

 These monitors are basically made up of organic materials and they are able to
convert electric current into light.
 Advantages of these monitors
 They are able to produce high contrast images but the only disadvantage is that
they have a low lasting expectation.

iv. PLASMA MONITORS

 These monitors work under the plasma technology which involves the use of
“electrically charged ionized gas” called plasma.
 The plasma monitors execute /illuminates image pixels through fluorescent lights
(such as R,R,B light patterns)

v. CRT MONITORS

 CRT is the abbreviation for “Cathode Ray Tube”

 These are the most outdated monitors in the market because they are comprised
heavy components and also they consume a huge amount of electricity hence
these monitors aren’t able to fit in modern day preferences.

4. Describe different types of RAM.

i. Static Random Access Memory (SRAM)
 This is used to store primary caches.

ii. Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM)

 Stores temporary data under memory cells.

iii. Fast Page mode dynamic Random Access Memory (FPM RAM)
 Locates data by columns and rows.

iv. Extended Data Out Dynamic Random Access Memory(EDO RAM)


  This is an improved modernized type of RAM that stores and processes data quite faster
than the FPM RAM

v. Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory (SDRAM)

This is the type of RAM that uses the burst mode concept that involves rapid movement
of bit through the assigned columns.
 The idea of having data into the assigned columns is to provide it in a sequence form
needed by the CPU.
vi. Double Data Rate Synchronous Dynamic RAM
vii. Rambus Dynamic Random Access Memory
viii. Credit card memory
ix. CMOS RAM
x. Video RAM (VRAM)

5. List all internal components of a computer.

i. Processor (CPU)
 This is also referred as the brain of the computer.
 It interprets every data that is processed at any time.

ii. Motherboard
 This is the main circuit board made of a thin plate that holds different computer
components such as the processor, connectors and other appliances.

iii. RAM
 This is a volatile data storage device that accesses the required data provided the
computer is in active state.

iv. Hard Drive

 This is a non-volatile data storage device made of a magnetic coated disk known
as the platter, that stores data in magnetic domains through a system of binary
codes of 0 and 1.

v. Sound card
 This is a sound chip built onto the motherboard that is responsible of providing the
audio output.

vi. Network card

 This is an internal component that allows your computer to communicate over a
network and access internet services.

vii. Graphics processing unit (GPU)

 This enhances graphics interpretation and renders it to the monitor.

viii. Control unit(CU)

  This component serves an essential role of monitoring the recruited data to the
CPU for interpretation and processing purposes and eventually this component
also monitors the final output after the CPU has completed its functions.

6. Describe the term cooling system.

The cooling system of a computer mainly deals with the process of regulating the waste
heat that is emitted by several components of the computer in order to maintain a
suitable temperature for optimal performance.
Therefore, this system stands to be massively essential since over heating might lead to
the failure of some components such as the integrated circuits.