MARIANO MARCOS STATE UNIVERSITY

College of Engineering

COMP01
COMPUTER FUNDAMENTALS
AND PROGRAMMING

COE Bldg. #16S Quiling Sur, City of Batac, Ilocos Norte

 coe@mmsu.edu.ph  (007)600 0358 www.mmsu.edu.ph
 MARIANO MARCOS STATE UNIVERSITY
College of Engineering

LESSON 3
COMPUTER SYSTEM

COMPUTER SYSTEM
 A system of interconnected computers that share a central storage system and
various peripheral devices such as a printers, scanners, or routers. Each computer
connected to the system can operate independently, but has the ability to communicate
with other external devices and computers.

 ARCHITECTURE COMPONENTS:
 Hardware
 Processes data by executing instructions
 Provides input and output
 Software
 Instructions executed by the system
 Data
 Fundamental representation of facts and observations
 Communications
 Sharing data and processing among different systems

 HARDWARE COMPONENTS:
 Input/Output Devices
 Peripheral devices that are external to the computer unit.
 Storage Devices
 Can be primary or secondary storage devices.
 CPU
 ALU: arithmetic/logic unit
 CU: control unit
 Interface unit
 Memory
 Short-term storage for CPU calculations

COE Bldg. #16S Quiling Sur, City of Batac, Ilocos Norte

 coe@mmsu.edu.ph  (007)600 0358 www.mmsu.edu.ph
 MARIANO MARCOS STATE UNIVERSITY
College of Engineering

 Example of Hardware Components:

 MONITOR
 The most common type of OUTPUT DEVICE, a monitor lets you see what
the computer is up to, which makes giving it instructions much easier!
 PROCESSOR
 Also known as the C.P.U. (Central Processing Unit) but better known as
a COMPUTER to most people. This is where the data you enter into the
computer is put to work to produce the desired result (Games, Text, Music, etc.)
 KEYBOARD
 One of the two most common type of INPUT DEVICE, the keyboard
allows you to put data into the computer.

 MOUSE
 The other very common type of INPUT DEVICE, a mouse lets you tell the
computer what you want it to do. The most common mouse functions are
POINTING, CLICKING AND DRAGGING.
 Most mice are joined to the computer by a cord but there is a CORDLESS
variant which uses batteries to power a radio link. Some mice are lazy and lie
on their backs. We call them TRACKERBALLS OR SENSORS.
 JOYSTICK
 Yet another INPUT DEVICE, a joystick is used to send information to the
computer. It is basically a mouse which controls the movement of the pointer. Because
it is easy to use, it is popular with players of computer games but it also allows some
people to control the pointer much more easily.
 SCANNER
 Another INPUT DEVICE, a scanner is used to copy documents or pictures
by changing the image into a form of data which can be sent to a computer and stored
in electronic form.
 PRINTER
 The most common OUTPUT DEVICE, a printer makes hard copies of your
documents, pictures or photographs. There are several types of printer. Laser printers
use a low-powered laser beam to melt toner powder onto the page.
 Speaker/s
 Speakers external to a computer, which disable the lower fidelity built-
in speaker. They often have a low-power internal amplifier. Computer speakers range
widely in quality and in price.
 The computer speakers typically packaged with computer systems are
small, plastic, and have mediocre sound quality. Some computer speakers have
equalization features such as bass and treble controls.

COE Bldg. #16S Quiling Sur, City of Batac, Ilocos Norte

 coe@mmsu.edu.ph  (007)600 0358 www.mmsu.edu.ph
 MARIANO MARCOS STATE UNIVERSITY
College of Engineering

 Microphone
 Web Camera
 Headphone/Headset
 FLOPPY DISK
 This is a STORAGE DEVICE. Floppy discs were one of the first ways of
storing electronic data. Their big advantage is that they are portable and can be carried
from one computer to another. Their disadvantage is their small storage capacity which
means that they are now an endangered species which will shortly become extinct.
 CD’s
 Much more modern STORAGE DEVICE. C.D. (stands for Compact Disc)
are used for storing electronic data. Each C.D. can carry over 600 times as much data as
a FLOPPY DISC. This makes them excellent for storing music, photographs and video
footage which need lots of electronic ‘space’.
 CD-Rom Drives
 This device is usually built into the case of a computer system. It allows
the computer to access the data stored on a C.D. It is very similar to a Floppy Disc Drive
but spins (and accesses data) much more quickly.
 FLASHDRIVE
 A small, portable flash memory card that plugs into a computer’s USB
port and functions as a portable hard drive. USB flash drives are touted as being easy-to-
use as they are small enough to be carried in a pocket and can plug into any computer
with a USB drive. USB flash drives have less storage capacity than an external hard drive,
but they are smaller and more durable because they do not contain any internal moving
parts.
 USB flash drives also are called thumb drives, jump drives, pen drives,
key drives, tokens, or simply USB drives.
 EXTERNAL HARD DRIVE
 An external hard drive has three main purposes: to expand your
computer's storage capacity, to back up your data, and to share data between
computers. It's also easy to use. Most of the time, you just need to plug it into the
computer and use it as an internal hard drive.
 CPU
 ALU: arithmetic/logic unit
 Performs arithmetic and Boolean logical calculations
 CU: Control Unit
 Controls processing of instructions
 Controls movement of data within the CPU

COE Bldg. #16S Quiling Sur, City of Batac, Ilocos Norte

 coe@mmsu.edu.ph  (007)600 0358 www.mmsu.edu.ph
 MARIANO MARCOS STATE UNIVERSITY
College of Engineering

 Interface unit
 Moves instructions and data between the CPU and other hardware
components
 Bus: bundle of wires that carry signals and power between different
components
 Memory
 Also known as primary storage, working storage, and RAM (random
access memory)
 Consists of bits, each of which hold a value of either 0 or 1 (8 bits = 1
byte)
 Holds both instructions and data of a computer program.

COE Bldg. #16S Quiling Sur, City of Batac, Ilocos Norte

 coe@mmsu.edu.ph  (007)600 0358 www.mmsu.edu.ph