G.C.

E(A/L) - Information & Communication Technology

Essential knowledge Pack - 2

Humans always try to find easy ways and means to do things. Even in the ancient times, they
tried to invent different kinds of tools to do different things. With regard to calculations, abacus is
known as one of the earliest calculating devices used. It is found that abacus was used for calculations
even 5000 years back in the history. Abacus was also called as a ‘counting frame’. In the computing
history, one is able to find many calculating devices with different technologies used at different times.

The evolution of computing devices is divided into a few eras.

1. Pre-mechanical era (before AD 1450)

2. Mechanical era (AD 1450 - 1840)
3. Electro mechanical era (AD 1840 - 1940)
4. Electronic era (AD 1940 onwards)

Electronic era is divided again into five generations.

1. 1st Generation computers (AD 1940 - 1956)

2. 2nd Generation computers (1956 - 1963)
3. 3rd Generation computers (1964 - 1975)
4. 4th Generation computers (1975 - 1989)
5. 5th Generation computers (1989 - present)

So it is clear that the computers we use today belong to the 5th generation.

There are different components used inside a computer. They are used for different purposes. Modern
computers perform arithmetic and logical operations by using a very special component called Central
Processing Unit (CPU) which is also known as a microprocessor or processor. In 5th generation
computers, an electronic component known as transistor is used to build up the microprocessors. So
100,000 (105) to 10,000,000 (107) number of transistors are used to build up a 5th generation
microprocessor. This is referred to as ULSI or Ultra Large Scale Integration. Modern Laptop, Notebook
and Ultrabook computers fall into this category.

A central Processing Unit or simply a processor consists of different key components.

(Source: www.learncomputerscienceonline.com)

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CPU performs a task similar to the human brain. A CPU manages all the arithmetic and logic functions
inside a computer and it controls all the activities of a computer. CPU is mounted to the main circuit
board of a computer which is known as the mother board.

The most important tasks of a CPU can be given as follows.

1. Performing arithmetic and calculations.

2. Performing logical operations.
3. Performing controlling functions of all hardware components connected to a computer.
4. Fetching data and program instructions from the main memory.
5. Decoding the program instructions.
6. Operating on data according to the program instructions.
7. Storing the processed data into the main memory.

Components of a CPU

1. Control Unit (CU)

CU directs all the operations of the processor. CU decides how to respond to the instructions of
a program during the program execution. It also provides timing and control signals. One of the
key tasks of a CU is to decoding the program instructions into commands for execution.
2. Arithmetic & Logic Unit (ALU)
ALU performs all the logical and mathematical functions. The commands decoded by the Control
Unit are executed inside the ALU. Data is actually processed by the ALU.
3. Memory Unit.
Inside a modern CPU, there are two types of memories.
a. Registers
b. Cache Memory – Level 1 (L1 cache)
Registers are known as the fastest memory available in a computer. It is mainly because it is
located inside the CPU chip. But it is a very expensive memory and increasing the size of
Registers has a number of limitations. During the program execution CPU makes use of
registers. CPU can access registers directly. In addition, level one cache memory (L1 cache) is
used by the CPU to store the data/instructions used very frequently during program
execution.

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