Jumawan, Aaron Paul C.

10-21-23
BSMT I – Mercury ICT Assignment

1. Main components of computer system – Hardware and Software

- According to Fawcett (2020) “Hardware and software are essential parts of a
computer system”. These components work together to perform various tasks and
execute programs.
In addition, hardware is anything physically connected to a computer, including:
Central Processing Unit (CPU), Memory (RAM) , Storage Devices, Input Devices, Output
Devices, Motherboard, Graphics Processing Unit (GPU), and Network Interface Cards (NICs).
On the other hand, software consists of programs and data that instruct the
hardware on what to do, including: Operating System (OS), Application Software, System
Software, Programming Software, and Firmware.
Overall, the interaction between hardware and software is essential for the
operation of a computer system.

2. Types of computers
- A computer is a device that transforms data into meaningful information. It
processes the input according to the set of instructions provided to it by the user and gives the
desired output. (GeeksforGeeks, 2023)
Computers have various types and they can be categorized in two ways on the basis
of size and on the basis of data handling capabilities. Including:
1. Personal Computers (PC): It is a computer designed for individual use.
2. Super Computers: The most powerful and fastest computers in the world.
3. Mainframe Computers: Large and powerful computers designed for processing vast
amounts of data and handling complex computations.
4. Workstation Computers: It is designed for technical or scientific applications.
5. Server Computer: It is designed to provide services, data, or resources to other computers
in a network.
6. Analog Computer: Particularly designed to process analog data.
7. Digital Computer: Designed in such a way that they can easily perform calculations and
logical operations at high speed.
8. Hybrid Computer: Made by combining two different things. Similarly, the hybrid computer is
a combination of both analog and digital computers.
9. Embedded computers: are small, specialized computers integrated into various devices
and systems, such as appliances, cars, medical equipment, and industrial machinery.
10. Tablets and Smartphones: are the types of computers that are pocket friendly and easy
to carry is these are handy.

3. CPU and GPU

 - CPU (Central Processing Unit): It is often referred to as the "brain" of a computer. It
is designed for general-purpose computing tasks and handles a wide range of instructions
and operations. It is responsible for executing the instructions of computer programs and
managing various system tasks, such as file management, input/output operations, and
running the operating system. They typically have a few powerful cores (processing units)
optimized for sequential tasks, making them well-suited for tasks that require complex
decision-making and sequential processing, like running your operating system and many
everyday applications.
- GPU (Graphics Processing Unit): is specialized for rendering graphics and
performing highly parallel tasks. Originally designed for rendering images and video,
modern GPUs are capable of handling a wide range of computational tasks, including scientific
simulations, and deep learning. It has a large number of smaller cores optimized for
parallel processing. This design allows them to handle tasks that can be broken down into
many smaller, independent calculations simultaneously. GPUs are particularly important for
graphics-intensive applications like video games, 3D rendering, and video editing, but their
parallel processing capabilities make them invaluable for many other computational tasks.

4. Operating and application systems

- Operating System (OS): It is a system software that acts as an intermediary
between the hardware and application software. It manages computer hardware and
provides various services for computer programs. Key functions of an operating system
include managing hardware resources like the CPU, memory, and storage; providing a user
interface for interaction with the computer; facilitating communication between software and
hardware; and ensuring system security. Popular operating systems include Microsoft
Windows, macOS (for Apple computers), Linux, and various mobile operating systems like
Android and iOS.
- Application Software: also known as apps or programs, are software applications
that users interact with to perform specific tasks or functions on a computer or other
digital devices. It serves a wide range of purposes, from productivity and creativity (word
processors, spreadsheet programs, graphic design software) to entertainment (video games,
media players) and specialized tasks (accounting software, 3D modeling tools). These
software applications are built on top of the operating system and rely on the OS to manage
hardware resources and provide services like file handling, networking, and user interface
management.

References:
GeeksforGeeks. (2023). Types of computers. GeeksforGeeks. Retrieved from
https://www.geeksforgeeks.org/types-of-computers/
Fawcett, A. (2020). Computer science 101: Hardware vs software components. Retrieved from
https://www.educative.io/blog/hardware-vs-software-components-computer#vs