Chapter 3

CHAPTER THREE

COMPUTER SYSTEM COMPONENTS

You recall that a system is a group of components that work

together to attain a common goal. Likewise, computer system is
composed of Hardware Components (input, processing, memory
and output units) and Software Component (system, and
application software).

3.1. HARDWARE COMPONENTS

Hardware components are units that are visible (or physical);

Software components are non-visible programs, procedures and
associated documentations that make possible the effective
operation of computer system; firmware is software integrated into
hardware.
The Computer without software constitutes just the hardware
only. And as discussed in the previous chapter the hardware of the
computer can be divided into:
1. Input Unit constituting the various Input Devices.
2. Output Unit Constituting the various Output Devices.
3. Various Components within the CPU (Central Processing
Unit).

These system components are organized as shown in the following

figure.

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Figure 1 Organization of Computer System

3.1.1. Input Devices

Input Devices are those devices that are required to translate
data that is in human readable form, into a form the computer can
process. These devices allow direct interaction between human
and machine. The Input Devices can be divided into two major
categories:
A. Keyboard Devices
B. Non-Keyboard Devices – Pointing Devices

A. Keyboard Devices
A Keyboard converts letters, numbers and other characters
into electrical signals that are machine readable by the computer’s
processor. There are two types of keyboard

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(a)Special Purpose Keyboard

(b) General Purpose Keyboard

a) Special Purpose Keyboard contains limited number of keys

and they are used for specific applications.
For Example: 1. Billing Machines
2. ATM in Banks, etc.

b) General Purpose Keyboard is connected to the personal

computer and look like a typewriter keyboard to which some
additional keys are added. There are different categories of keys
available in the keyboard.

Standard typing keys (alphanumeric keys) are in the same

familiar QWERTY arrangement of letter, number and punctuation
keys found on any typewriter. QWERTY refers to the alphabet
keys in the top left row on a standard typewriter keyboard.
The Space Bar, Shift, Tab and Caps Lock keys do the same
things on the computer that they do on a typewriter.
An Exception is the “Enter” (bent left arrow) key. The Enter
key, sometimes called as the “Return” key, is used to accept the
commands given into the computer. In addition it is also used to
begin a new paragraph in word processing system.

Cursor movement keys: The Cursor, also called the insertion

point, is the symbol on the display screen that shows where data
may be entered next. The cursor movement keys, or arrow keys,
are used to move the cursor around the text on the screen. These
keys move the cursor left, right, up or down.
The keys labeled Page Up and Page Down move the cursor,
the equivalent of one page, up or down on the screen.

Numeric keypad: A separate set of keys, 0 through 9 known as the

numeric keypad, is laid out like the keys on a calculator. The
toggle key called Num Lock changes the function of some of the
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keys on the numeric keypad as a number entering key and cursor

movement key alternately.

Function keys are the keys labeled with an F and a number, such
as F1 and F2. Personal Computers have normally 12 Function
keys.
Editing keys: Space bar, Backspace, Delete, Insert are used to
change a text.

B. Non-Keyboard Devices
Pointing devices are Non-Keyboard devices used to control the
position of the cursor on the screen. Pointing devices include:
(a)Pointing Devices
(b) Other Input Devices

a) Pointing Devices
Mouse is a small, handy pointing device containing usually two
buttons:
 Primary button (Left button)
 Secondary button (Right Button) and
 Sometimes a scrolling button in the middle.
Mouse contains a rolling ball beneath it and on moving the mouse,
the cursor moves on the screen, as the ball rotates. The following
operations can be performed using the mouse.
 Selection (Single click)
 Giving Commands (Double click)
 Dragging Objects (By pressing mouse button)
 Dropping Objects (By releasing mouse button)

Track Ball is another pointing device and a variant of the mouse.

It contains a rotating ball on top of the stationery device. On
rotating the ball the cursor moves on the screen. The track ball
also contains two buttons and the operations are as similar for the
mouse. It requires less desk space when compared to the mouse.

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Joystick is a pointing device that consists of a vertical handle

mounted on a base containing one or two buttons. The vertical
handle of the joystick can be rotated around 360 degrees. As the
handle is rotated the cursor also moves on the screen. Joystick is
often used for playing games.

In Touchpad the cursor is controlled with the fingers. About the

same size as a mouse, touchpad is a flat, rectangular device. As
fingers are moved over the surface of the touchpad the cursor
moves on the screen. The click operation is performed by tapping
the fingers on the surface of the pad.

The Light Pen is a light sensitive stylus or pen like device,

connected by a wire to the computer. There is a button in the Light
Pen. When the user brings the pen to the desired location in the
screen and presses the button, the computer identifies the
command and executes accordingly. It is mainly used for CAD
(Computer Aided Design) applications.

Digitizing Tablet is an electronic device with a flat surface and

specially designed stylus. A user can draw or write anything over
the flat surface using the stylus. It is used mainly for CAD and
graphics applications in designing cars, buildings, medical devices
and robots.

Touch Screen is a device that has mixed characteristics of being

input and output device. It displays the choice of commands, and
instructions. When you touch the screen using your fingers, the
unit senses the X-Y coordinate points and executes the command
at that point.

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Scanner: The keyboard can input only text through keys provided
in it. If we want to input a picture the keyboard cannot do that.
Scanner is an optical device that can input any graphical matter
and display it back. The common optical scanner devices are
Magnetic Ink Character Recognition (MICR), Optical Mark
Reader (OMR) and Optical Character Reader (OCR).

o Magnetic Ink Character Recognition (MICR): - This

is widely used by banks to process large volumes of
checks and drafts. Checks are put inside the MICR. As
they enter the reading unit the checks pass through the
magnetic field which causes the read head to recognize
the character of the checks.
o Optical Scanner: these scanners can read data (text,
image, and handwritten document) recorded on paper.
The scanning technology used is a light source and
light sensors. The common optical scanner devices are:
OMR, OCR and Barcode Reader.

 Optical Mark Reader (OMR): This technique is

used when students have appeared in objective
type tests and they had to mark their answer by
darkening a square or circular space by pencil.
These answer sheets are directly fed to a computer
for grading where OMR is used.
 Optical Character Recognition (OCR): - This
technique unites the direct reading of any printed
character. Suppose you have a set of hand written
characters on a piece of paper. You put it inside
the scanner of the computer. This pattern is
compared with a site of patterns stored inside the
computer. Whichever pattern is matched is called
a character read. Patterns that cannot be identified
are rejected. OCRs are expensive though better
the MICR.

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 Barcode Reader: Barcode is a printed code (bars

of different thickness and spacing between them)
on products that uniquely identifies that product.
Barcode is also called Universal Product Code
(UPC). Barcode Reader detects this combination
of marks or printed bars that represent data. UPC
is 10 digits long; the first 5 identify he
manufacturer (supplier); the next 5 identify the
specific product of that manufacturer; the number
on the left shows the category of product. Eg. 9
for Books.

Microphones are used to enter voice data. They let computers

listen to us. Without microphones, computers would not have
sound data in them.
Digital Cameras are photoelectrical devices that enter image data
to computers.

3.1.2. Output Devices

Results have to be received from the CPU after processing. Output

devices are used to receive the results from the CPU after
processing.
These output devices after receiving the results, translate the
information processed by the computer into a form that humans
can understand. There are various output devices:
A. Monitor or Display Devices
B. Printers
C. Other Output Devices

A. Monitor or Display Devices

The Monitors are also called as Display devices or soft copy
output devices. Any information displayed in the screen is called
the softcopy output. These monitors display information in the
human readable form. The size of the monitors (measured
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diagonally from one corner to another) differs from 12 inches to 17

inches. Size of the display area is 25 lines and 80 characters. In the
monitor a blinking object called CURSOR, helps to identify the
control. Cursor helps the user to identify the control of the
computer system and helps to find the present position of the
control. The display devices are of different types.
(a)Display devices using CRTs (Cathode Ray Tubes).
(b) Flat Panel displays like LCD (Liquid Crystal Display)
(c)EL (Electro Luminescent).
Monitors are also used as input devices by using LIGHT PEN,
TOUCH SCREEN, etc. Touch screen s allows the operator to
touch the screen to select his input thru his finger. BPL, HP,
ACER, IBM, TATUNG are the famous monitor manufacturers.

B. Printers
Printers are also called as Hardcopy output devices. Using
printers any information consisting of text, symbols, pictures
(graphics), etc. can be printed in paper for future reference. Any
printed information is called the Hardcopy. There are different
types of printers

(a)Impact Printers
(b) Non-Impact Printers

a) Impact Printers are those printers that print information using

the striking mechanism, that is, by creating an impact against an
inked ribbon in a paper. The different types of impact printers are
 Dot Matrix Printers
 Line Printers

Dot Matrix Printers contain a print head of small pins that strike
an inked ribbon forming characters or images. Impact printers can
produce carbon copies and are noisy. Print heads are available
with 9 or 24 pins, with 24 pins head offering the best quality of

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output. Dot Matrix printers can print about 40 – 300 characters per
second and some graphics with poor quality.

DMP PRINTER ADVANTAGES

 Robustness, economy
 Multiple copies can be considered
 High speed, heavy duty, long life

Line Printers are very high speed printers. Line printer, print a
whole line of text at once, rather than a single character at a time.
These printers may print up to 3000 lines per minute.

b) Non-Impact Printers
Non-Impact Printers are now becoming very popular
because of their quality output. They form characters and images
without making direct physical contact between the printing
mechanism and the paper. There are two types of Non-Impact
printers:
 Laser Printer
 Inkjet Printer

Inkjet Printers form images with little dots of ink. Inkjet printers
spray small droplets of ink from four nozzles at high speed on the
paper. Heating causes bubble expands, pushes a drop of ink
through nozzle and forces on paper. Inkjet printers have resolution
around 300 – 720 dpi (dots per inch). Consumable required for
printing are paper and ink cartridges.

Advantages of Inkjet Printers are Noiseless, Quality Output,

Graphical Output, Mono Color or Multi Color Output, Feather
Touch handling, Economy. Color is based on primary colors like
Red, Blue and Green.

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Disadvantages of Inkjet Printers are

 Multiple copies are not possible at a single pass
 Speedy dry of ink cartridge - if not used for sometime - not
rugged
 Colors from inkjet are not permanent & constant fading one.

Laser Printers form images with dots over a drum using toner
powder and then images transferred from drum to paper. Laser
printers produce very sharp and fine images with a resolution
around 300 – 1200 dpi (dots per inch). They are very expensive
and fast when compared to inkjet printers.

Advantages – Laserjet Printers

 Laser quality
 Quality based on dpi
 Sharp output

Disadvantages - Laserjet printers

 Multiple copies at a single pass is not possible
 High consumable cost
 Continuous stationary cannot be used as in DMP
 Heavy Investment

Other Output Devices

A Plotter is also a printer that produces hard copy output. Plotters
produce high quality color graphics output by using pens for
creating images. Plotters help to draw maps from stored data.
Plotters are ideal for Engineering, Drafting and many other
applications that require intricate graphics.

Robot is the most intriguing output device. Robotic device consists

of arms that can perform a preprogrammed task. Robots are

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mostly used in manufacturing tasks such as spray painting or

assembling parts. Advanced robots are used in scientific research
such as space and undersea exploration.
Speakers are sound producing output devices. They are used in
multimedia systems. They are ideal for virtual classrooms, together
with display.

3.1.3. Components within the CPU

The Central Processing Unit is the Computing part of the

Computer and is also called as the Brain of the Computer. The
various components within the CPU can be identified as following:

(a)Control Unit
(b) Arithmetic and Logic Unit (ALU)
(c)Memory Unit

In a personal computer or microcomputer, the control unit and the

ALU together, is a small chip called the Microprocessor or the
Processor. This Processor and other components necessary to
make the computer to function are housed in a main circuit board
called the Mother Board or the System Board. In micro computers
the processor works hand in hand with memory unit and other
components to carry out processing. Finally, the various
components within the CPU can be consolidated as

(a)The Processor (Control Unit and Arithmetic & Logic Unit)

(b) Memory Unit.

a) The Processor executes the given instructions and manipulates

data into information. As mentioned earlier the processor can be
further divided into two components
 Control Unit
 Arithmetic & Logic Unit

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The Control Unit directs the Instructions in the form of electronic

signals, to the rest of the computer that are input unit, ALU,
memory and output unit. The Control unit can be defined as ‘the
section of the CPU that selects, interprets and sees to the
execution of program instructions’

The Arithmetic & Logic Unit performs all Arithmetic and Logical
operations and controls the speed of those operations. The ALU
can be defined as ‘the part of a computing system containing the
circuitry that does the adding, subtracting, multiplying, dividing
and comparing.’

Control and Arithmetic & Logic Unit are separate from

memory, because memory varies from control and ALU depending
upon the user's requirement. As a separate device the control and
ALU units are known as the Processor. Processors used in
Microcomputers are known as Microprocessors. The speed of the
Processor is summed by 2 things
 The number of Operating cycle it executes in a time period
 And the amount of data it can process in one cycle.

During one operating cycle, "the processors transfers an amount

of data from memory to the arithmetic unit, performs a calculation
on an amount of data, Transforms an amount of data from memory
to an output device, or Reverse data into memory from an input
device". A clock called RTC - Real Time Clock - coordinates the
activity of all of the devices controlled by the processor. The
speed of the clock governs the number of cycles a processor can
execute each second. Minimum speed of the processor operates at
about 1 million cycles per second.

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b) The Memory Unit is known as the main memory or primary

memory or internal memory or Random Access Memory (RAM)
of the computer. Memory can be defined as ‘Descriptive of a
device or medium that can accept data, hold them and deliver
them, on demand at a later time. Data recorded in memory
remain there as long as electrical current is available to sustain the
memory pattern of ‘+ve’ and ‘-ve’ charges. If power drops
information stored in memory is destroyed. That is, if power is
off, information stored in memory will be destroyed. That is why,
main memories are said to be volatile.

The main memory is nothing but a sequence of storage

locations or cells for storing huge amount of data. Each storage
location is identified by an, unique address. Each memory cell
stores one character of data. Size of the memory is measured in
terms of Kilo Bytes and mega bytes. Kilo stands for 1000 AND
Mega stands for 1000000. But in computer kilo stands for 1024
bytes because computer has binary devices. Most of the number
found in the internal operations of computers is power of 2.
Therefore, in a Kilobyte there are 2 10 = 1024 bytes and indicated
with K as KB. Therefore, computer with 512k means 512000
bytes, but it is really 512 x 1024 = 524,248 bytes. A computer with
capacity of 1 M or 1 MB has 1,048,576 or 220 memory locations

This main memory is used for storing

 Data - for processing
 Instructions - to process the data
 Results - the processed data.

There is also another type of Memory called Read Only

Memory (ROM). Information once stored cannot be modified.
Information stored in this memory can be used only for reading
purpose. Hence, the name Read Only Memory. ROM is also
called as BIOS. The expansion of the word BIOS is BASIC
INPUT OUTPUT SYSTEM. PHONIX, AMI, AMD are some
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BIOS–ROM manufacturer’s name. There are different types of

ROMs

 PROM – Programmable Read Only Memory

 EPROM – Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory
 EEPROM – Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only
Memory

Programmable read only memory – once programmed it cannot

be modified. That is, when a PROM is loaded with program then it
becomes a ROM. If in a PROM it is possible to write then it is
called EPROM – Erasable Programmable read only memory. But
as a rule nobody will modify, as it requires special devices to
modify. All ROM, PROM, EPROM are called FIRMWARE - that
is, Software built into the Hardware.

The Memory which can store data or information permanently

for future use is called secondary storage devices. Normally, these
secondary storage devices are very huge in storage capacity and
economical when compared to the main memory or RAM.

Examples of secondary storage devices are:

 Hard disks
 Magnetic Tapes
 CD-ROM (Compact Disk – Read Only Memory)
 Floppy Disks, Etc.

HARD DISKS are also called as Non-removable disk or Rigid

Disk fixed inside the computer. It can contain more volume of
data. Removable, smaller size hard disks are called Winchester
Disk. Brand names of the hard disks are SEAGATE, SAMSUNG,
KANESK, LARSON AND TUBRO.
Hard disks are available in many sizes such as

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 20MB, 40MB, 100MB, 540MB, 1GB, 20GB, 40GB [TODAY]

ONWARDS

Two different hard technologies are there

 IDE- INTEGRATED DIGITAL ELECTRONICS
 SCSI – SMALL COMPONENT SYSTEM INTERFACE
IDE hard disks are cheaper and slower. SCSI hard disks are costly
and faster

FLOPPY DISKS are also called floppies – flexible diskettes or

removable disks used for backup purpose. They are encased
permanently in a protective envelope, which is insulated into the
disk drive.

Depending upon the size three types are available such as

o 8 inch, 5.25 inch, 3.5 inch

Depending upon the density and sides the following types are
there
o SSSD – SINGLE SIDE SINGLE DENSITY
o SSDD – SINGLE SIDE DOUBLE DENSITY
o DSSD – DOUBLE SIDE SINGLE DENSITY
o DSDD – DOUBLE SIDE DOUBLE DENSITY
o DSHD – DOUBLE SIDE HIGH DENSITY

Depending upon the storage capacity

o 640 kb floppies, 720 kb floppies, 1.2 mb floppies, 1.44 mb
floppies

Advantages of these floppies

o Portable, Cheaper cost, Easy to handle

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Disadvantage of these floppies

o Small memory capacity, Not Reliable.

MANUFACTURERS OF FLOPPY DISKETTES ARE

o IMATION, SONY, AMKETTE, DYSAN, KOREX

The following terms are used to denote the capacity of the

memory

Bit – Binary digit – Either 0 or 1 – Smallest unit of

measurement.
Byte – Group of 8 Bits is called a Byte. The memory
capacity is generally
expressed in multiples of Byte.
Kilo Byte (KB) – 1024 Bytes make 1 KB.
Mega Byte (MB) – 1024 KB make 1 MB – 1 Million
Bytes.
Giga Byte (GB) – 1024 MB make 1 GB – 1 Billion Bytes.
Tera Byte (TB) – 1024 GB make 1 TB – 1 Trillion Bytes.

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3.2. SOFTWARE COMPONENTS

Data are nothing but raw facts and figures without any
meaning. They are to be processed. Information is nothing but
meaningful data after processing.
To convert or process any raw data into meaningful
information software is required. Software is very, very important
to any computer and it is compared as “breathe life” into the
computer.

Definition: Computer software is nothing but the step-by-step

instructions given to the computer in the form of programs or
procedures or routines in order to accomplish any specified task or
to process the raw data and convert it into meaningful information.
In short the software is nothing but the intelligence of the
computer.

Software is “Soft” because you can’t touch the instructions,

the way you touch the computer equipment – the “hard” ware.

Software is of two different types as it is, for the computer and for
the user.
1. System Software – controls and coordinates the computer
hardware.
2. Applications Software – designed to solve a specific
problem.

3.2.1. System Software

System Software called the Boss of the computer, manages
the computer’s basic operations, allows the computer to run
applications software and allows the user to interact with the
computer. System software tells the computer how to interpret
data and instructions; how to communicate with peripheral
equipments like mouse, keyboard, printers etc; and how to use the

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hardware in general. There are many number of system software,

but let us consider only a few for our discussion. The different
types of system software are

(a)Operating Systems
(b) Device Drivers
(c)Language Translators
(d) Utility Programs

a) Operating System is system software containing a set of

programs called the supervisor that manage the basic operations of
a computer. Flexibility of the computer usage depends on
Operating System. Without the operating system loaded into the
computer, all hardware and other software are useless.

When the computer is switched on the operating system is

automatically loaded into the main memory or RAM of the
computer. This process of loading the operating system into the
RAM of the computer is called Booting the computer. Can be
classified as
1. Single user OS [MS-DOS,PC-DOS,NOVELL-DOS]
2. Multi user OS [NOVELL, WINDOWS, UNIX, XENIX,
OS/2,NT]
3. Real time OS [EMBEDDED OPERATING SYSTEMS] -
RTOS

BASIC FUNCTIONS OF AN OS ARE:

o INPUT OUTPUT MANAGEMENT
o MEMORY MANAGEMENT
o FILE MANAGEMENT
o AND JOB CONTROL

All these function together as a group of programs known as

system programs under the control of the supervisor yields the
computer operating system.
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INPUT OUTPUT MANAGEMENT

Controls spooling and buffering, multitasking and overlapping,
time sharing and network.
MEMORY MANAGEMENT
Control the allocation of RAM for various purposes like
background and foreground program execution priorities and
virtual memory system.
FILE MANAGEMENT
Under which files are stored on secondary storage devices, where
can be copied, sorted, displayed and removed among other
functions.
JOB CONTROL
Which include executing programs on demand from the user using
utilities and other programs, and developing batch programs of
command statement for automatic execution for the OS function.

b) Device Drivers: Each and every device (input or output)

connected to the computer requires relevant software, which makes
the device to communicate or interact with the CPU. The software
that makes the devices to communicate or interact with the CPU is
called the device driver.

The device drivers for commonly used device may be

available along with the operating system itself. The device
drivers for the optional devices used with the computers may be
supplied by the device manufacturer. Without these device drivers
any device connected to the computer is useless and cannot be
used.

c) Language Translators: Humans need to communicate with

computers. Computers cannot understand data or information in
human readable form. The data or information in human readable
form has to be converted into computer understandable form. To
communicate with computers and to instruct the computers to

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accomplish any specific task, humans have developed many

computer languages. These computer languages are of two types
 High Level Language like Basic, Fortran, Pascal, C, C++,
PL/1, Java, etc.
 Low Level Language like Assembly Language

Both these high level language and low level language require
language translators to convert the instructions in the human
understandable form into machine understandable form.
Compilers and Interpreters are the language translators required to
translate high level language into machine understandable form.
Compilers are a computer program that produces a machine
language program from a source program that’s usually written in
a high-level language by a programmer. The compiler is capable of
replacing single source program statements, with a series of
machine language instructions or with a subroutine. Otherwise, it
can be defined as Compiler helps to convert instruction
understandable by humans into instructions understandable by
computers

Assembler is the language translator required to translate the

assembly language into machine understandable form.

d) Utility Programs are generally used to support, enhance or

expand existing programs in a computer system. Examples of
utility programs are

 Backup – to duplicate the data or information for safety.

 Data Recovery – to restore data that is physically damaged or

corrupted.

 Virus Protection – Antivirus software which will eliminate

viruses from affected

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Files or protect files from being infected

from viruses.

 Data Compression – To compress huge files and save

memory storage.

3.2.2. Application Software

Computer Software has become a multibillion-dollar
industry. Thousands and thousands of companies have entered the
applications software industry, and they have developed a wide
variety of products. Basically, there are four categories of
application software.

a) Productivity Software: The purpose of this software is to make

the users more productive at performing general tasks. For
example, word processing, spread sheets, presentation, database
managers, accounting etc.

b) Home / Personal software: The purpose of this software is

mainly for domestic and personal use. For example, cook books,
medical guide, gardening, etc.

c) Education / Reference software: The purpose of this software

is mainly to learn any subject or to refer for additional information.

For example: Encyclopedia, Dictionaries, Computer Based

Tutorials (CBT), etc.

d) Entertainment software: The purpose of this software is for

entertainment and time passing. For example games.

Application software can be acquired directly from a

software manufacturer. If it does not satisfy the needs completely,
a software can be developed for own purpose, either by having

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professionals within the organization or by hiring outside

consultants.

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