System Unit

CHAPTER OUTCOMES
1. Differentiate among various styles of system units on desktop
computers, notebook computers, and mobile devices
2. Identify chips, adapter cards, and other components of a motherboard
3. Describe the control unit and arithmetic logic unit components of a
processor, and explain the four steps in a machine cycle
4. Identify characteristics of various personal computer processors on
the market today, and describe the ways processors are cooled
5. Define a bit and describe how a series of bits represents data
6. Explain how program instructions transfer in and out of memory
7. Differentiate among the various types of memory
8. Differentiate between a port and a connector, and explain the
differences among a USB port, FireWire port, Bluetooth port, SCSI
port, eSATA port, IrDA port, serial port, and MIDI port
9. Describe the types of buses in a computer
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THE SYSTEM UNIT

• The system unit is a case

that contains electronic
components of the
computer used to process
data

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THE SYSTEM UNIT

• The inside of the system unit on a desktop personal computer

includes:
Drive bay(s)

Power supply

Sound card

Video card

Processor

Memory
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THE SYSTEM UNIT

• The motherboard is
the main circuit board of
the system unit
• A computer chip
contains integrated
circuits

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SYSTEM UNIT : DESCRIPTION
COMPONENTS FUNCTION
Drive bays An area of reserved space in a personal computer where hard or floppy disk drives (or
tape drives) can be installed. The number of drive bays in a computer determines the total
number of internal mass storage devices it can handle.
Power supply A hardware component that supplies power to an electrical device. It receives power from
an electrical outlet and converts the current from AC (alternating current) to DC (direct
current), which is what the computer requires.
Sound card Converts digital data to sound.
Video card Also known as “Graphic card”, uses to generate output images to display
Processor Also known as central processing unit (CPU) interprets and carries out the basic
instructions that operate a computer
Contain a control unit and an arithmetic logic unit (ALU)
Memory card A user-replaceable module in a computer that holds RAM chips
Motherboard Also called the "system board," "main board" "base board" or "logic board," it is the primary
printed circuit board in a computer or other electronic device. In a modern desktop
computer, the motherboard contains the CPU and memory sockets as well as the chipset,
which houses the control circuits for all the peripheral devices. It also has a PCI-Express
slot for a high-end graphics card and PCI slots for additional peripherals. Laptop
motherboards have no expansion slots for more peripherals
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PROCESSOR

• The processor, also called the central processing unit

(CPU), interprets and carries out the basic instructions that
operate a computer
• Contain a control unit (CU) and an arithmetic logic unit
(ALU)

Multi-core Dual-core Quad-core

processor processor processor

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PROCESSOR

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PROCESSOR

• The control unit is the component of the processor that

directs and coordinates most of the operations in the
computer
• The arithmetic logic unit (ALU) performs arithmetic,
comparison, and other operations

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PROCESSOR

• For every instruction, a processor repeats a set of four

basic operations, which comprise a machine cycle

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11
PROCESSOR

• Most current personal computers support pipelining

• Processor begins fetching a second instruction before it
completes the machine cycle for the first instruction
• Processor that use pipelining are faster because they do
not have to wait for one instruction to complete the
machine cycle before fetching the next.

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PROCESSOR

• Pipelining is an implementation technique where multiple

instructions are overlapped in execution.
• The computer pipeline is divided in stages. Each stage
completes a part of an instruction in parallel. The stages
are connected one to the next to form a pipe - instructions
enter at one end, progress through the stages, and exit at
the other end.
• Because the pipe stages are hooked together, all the
stages must be ready to proceed at the same time.

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PROCESSOR

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PROCESSOR

A processor contains small, high-speed storage

location called registers. It temporarily hold data
and instructions.

The system clock controls the timing (speed) of

all computer operations

• The pace of the system clock is called the clock speed, and
is measured in gigahertz (GHz)
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PROCESSOR

• The leading manufacturers of

personal computer processor
chips are Intel and AMD

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PROCESSOR (CPU)
• Traditional : 1 core per chip
• Advanced : Multi core, Dual core, or Quad core
Intel
• Intel Platinum Dual core
• deliver great desktop performance, low power
enhancements, and multitasking for everyday computing
• Intel i3 processor
• provide 4-way multitasking capability, runs at fixed speed
ideal for typical tasks and media playback but not games
• Intel i5 processor
• with Intel Turbo Boost Technology, delivers extra speed
when you need it. Like the i3 integrated graphics is
included but is only ideal for normal use not for gaming
• Intel i7 processor
• for the most demanding applications with cache and
faster clock speeds. Quad-core processors feature 8-way
threading, four cores will run faster, and more L3 cache,
but will consume more power. High-end use, video and
gaming with dedicated video card
AMD
• AMD A4
• have 2 processor cores and include a Radeon graphics
chip. Aimed for use with lower end systems
• AMD A6
• 6 processors dual core, includes turbo function similar to
Intels allows for the processor to adapt to the task
needed. Integrated graphics, on par with Core i3 range
• AMD A8
• 4 processor cores is comparable to the i3 and low i5, its
graphic part is faster than Intels version, can handle light
gaming with ease
• AMD A10
• 4 processors these quad cores are comparable with the
Intel i5, and some i7s should benefit from better battery
life
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PROCESSOR

• Determine how you plan to use a new computer before selecting a

processor

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PROCESSOR

• A processor chip generates heat that could cause the chip

to burn up.
• required additional cooling technologies to dissipate
processor heat.

Liquid cooling technology Heat sinks

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PROCESSOR

• Parallel processing uses multiple processors or processor

cores simultaneously to execute a single program or task
- Massively parallel processing involves hundreds or
thousands of processors
• divides a single problem into portions so that
multiple processors work on their assigned portion
of the problem at the same time.
• requires special software that recognized how to
divide the problem and then bring the results back
together again.
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PROCESSOR

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DATA REPRESENTATION

• Human speech is analog because it uses continuous (wave form)

signal that vary in strength and quality.
• Most computers are digital.
• They recognize only two discrete status: on and off. This is
because computer are electronic devices powered by electricity.
– The digit 0 represents = OFF
– The digit 1 represents = ON

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DATA REPRESENTATION

The computer uses a binary system because it recognized only two

states.
• It has just two unique digits, 0 and 1, called bits.
• A bit is the smallest unit of data the computer can process and
it not very informative.
• 8 bits = 1 byte (a byte) provide enough different combinations
of 0s and 1s to represent 256 individual characters likes:
✓ Numbers
✓ Uppercase and lowercase letter of the alphabet
✓ Punctuation marks and others.

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DATA REPRESENTATION

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DATA REPRESENTATION

Two popular coding systems to

represent data
• ASCII (American Standard
Code for Information
Interchange) - is the most
widely used coding scheme to
represent data

• EBCDIC (Extended Binary

Coded Decimal Interchange)

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MEMORY

• Memory consists of electronic components that store

instructions waiting to be executed by the processor, data
needed by those instructions, and the results of
processing the data
• Stores three basic categories of items:

The operating system

Data being processed and
and other system Application programs
the resulting information
software

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MEMORY

• Each location in memory has addresses

• Memory size is measured in kilobytes (KB or K), megabytes
(MB), gigabytes (GB), or terabytes (TB)

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MEMORY
The system unit contains two types of memory:

Volatile memory Nonvolatile memory

Loses its contents when Does not lose contents

power is turned off when power is removed

Examples include ROM,

Example includes RAM flash memory, and
CMOS

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MEMORY

The amount of RAM necessary in a computer often

depends on the types of software you plan to use

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MEMORY

Memory cache speeds the processes of the computer

because it stores frequently used instructions and data

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MEMORY

• Read Only Memory (ROM) - refers to memory chips

storing permanent data and instructions.
• The data on ROM chips cannot be modified.
• non-volatile - which means its contents are NOT lost when
power is removed from the computer.

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MEMORY

• Flash memory is a type of nonvolatile memory that can be

erased electronically and rewritten.
• CMOS technology provides high speeds and consumes little
power
• Most computers use flash memory to hold their startup
instructions because it allows the computer easily to
update its contents.
• Flash memory chips also store data and programs on
many mobile computer and devices, such as smart phone,
PDA, portable media players, and digital camera.
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MEMORY

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MEMORY

• Access time is the amount of time it takes the processor to

read from memory
• Measured in nanoseconds

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EXPANSION SLOTS AND ADAPTER CARDS

• An expansion slot is a
socket on the motherboard
that can hold an adapter
card
• An adapter card enhances
functions of a component of
the system unit and/or
provides connections to
peripherals
• Sound card and video
card

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EXPANSION SLOTS AND ADAPTER CARDS

• With Plug and Play, the computer automatically can configure

adapter cards and other peripherals as you install them

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EXPANSION SLOTS AND ADAPTER CARDS

• Removable flash memory includes:

• Memory cards, USB flash drives, and PC Cards/ExpressCard modules

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PORTS AND CONNECTORS

• A port is the point at which a

peripheral attaches to or
communicates with a system unit
so that the peripheral can send
data and receive information from
the computer.
• A connector joins a cable to a
port. A connector at one end of a
cable attaches to a port on the
system unit, and a connector at
the other end of the cable
attaches to a port on the
peripheral. 38
PORTS AND CONNECTORS

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PORTS AND CONNECTORS

• A USB port can connect up to 127 different peripherals

together with a single connector
• You can attach multiple peripherals using a single USB
port with a USB hub

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PORTS AND CONNECTORS

• Other types of ports include:

Firewire Ports similar to a USB port in that it can connect multiple types of devices that require faster
data transmission speeds, such as digital video cameras, digital VCDs, color printer,
scanner, digital camera and DVD drive. It allows to connect up to 63 devices together.
Bluetooth port It uses radio waves to transmit data between two devices. Bluetooth devices have to
be between about 33 feet of each other.
SCSI port A special high speed parallel port that allows you to attach SCSI peripherals such as
disk drive and printer.
eSATA Port It allows you to connect an external SATA hard disk to a computers. eSATA
connections provide up to 6 times faster data transmission speeds than external hard
disk.
IrDA port Transmit data via infrared light waves. To ensure nothing obstructs the path of the
infrared light wave, you must align the devices.
Serial port It is a type of interface that connects device to the system unit by transmitting data one
bit at a time.
MIDI port It allows people to connect the system unit to a musical instrument, such as electronic
keyboard. 41
PORTS AND CONNECTORS

A Bluetooth wireless port adapter A smart phone might with a notebook

converts a USB port into a Bluetooth communicate computer using an IrDA
port port

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PORTS AND CONNECTORS
• A port replicator is an external device that
provides connections to peripherals
through ports built into the device
• A docking station is an external device
that attaches to a mobile computer or
device

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BUSES

• A bus allows the various devices both inside and attached to the
system unit to communicate with each other.
• Buses are used to transfer bits:
• from input devices to memory, from memory to the processor, from the
processor to memory, and from memory to output or storage device.
• Buses consists of two parts:
• Data bus is used to transfer actual data
• Address bus is used to transfer information about where the data should
reside in memory. •
• The size of a bus, called the bus width, determine the number of
bit that the computer can transmit at one time.
• 32 bits bus can transmit 32 bits (4 bytes) at a time.
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BUSES

2 types of buses: System Bus &

Expansion Bus
• System Bus
• It is part of the motherboard and
connects the processor to the main
memory.
• Expansion Bus
• It allows the processor to
communicate with peripherals.

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BAYS

• A bay is an opening inside the

system unit in which you can
install additional equipment.
• A drive bay is a rectangular
opening that typically holds disk
drives.

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POWER SUPPLY

The power supply converts the wall

outlet AC power into DC power

Some external peripherals have an AC

adapter, which is an external power
supply
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TAKING CARE OF YOUR COMPUTER

• Clean your computer or mobile device once or twice a year

• Turn off and unplug your computer or mobile device before
cleaning it
• Use compressed air to blow away dust
• Use an antistatic wipe to clean the exterior of the case and a
cleaning solution and soft cloth to clean the screen

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