CC113a

Freduard V. Manlapaz
Subject Instructor
 System Unit
 The system unit, also known as a "tower" or "chassis," is the main part
of a desktop computer. It includes the motherboard, CPU, RAM, and
other components. The system unit also includes the case that houses
the internal components of the computer.

 The term "system unit" is often used to differentiate between the

computer and peripheral devices, such as the monitor, keyboard,
and mouse. For example, if a repair shop asks you to bring in your
computer, it may be unclear whether you need to bring your monitor
and peripheral devices as well. If you are told to just bring your system
unit, it is clear you only need to bring the computer itself.

 Some modern computers, such as the iMac, combine the system unit
and monitor into a single device. In this case, the monitor is part of the
system unit. While laptops also have built-in displays, they are not
called system units, since the term only refers to desktop computers.
 Inside the System Unit
 Motherboard
 CPU
 Power Supply
 Cooling Fan
 Internal Speakers
 Drive Bay
 Expansion Slots
Inside the System Unit
 Expansion Cards
• Alternatively referred to as an add-on card, expansion
board, internal card, interface adapter, or card,
an expansion card is a PCB(Printed Circuit Board) that
fits into an expansion slot on a desktop computer.
• Expansion cards can sometimes be
called daughterboards.
• Some examples are memory chips, sound devices,
modems or graphics card etc.
Inside the System Unit
 Motherboard
• Alternatively reffered to as the
mb, mainboard, mboard, mobo, mobd, backplane
board, base board, main circuit board, planar
board, system board, or a logic board on Apple
computers. The motherboard is a printed circuit
board and foundation of a computer that is the biggest
board in a computer chassis. It allocates power and
allows communication to the CPU, RAM, and all other
computer hardware components.
 Motherboard
• A motherboard provides connectivity between the
hardware components of a computer, like the
processor (CPU), memory (RAM), hard drive,
and video card. There are multiple types of
motherboards, designed to fit different types and sizes
of computers.
Motherboard
What’s on the Motherboard?
 What’s on the Motherboard?
 Central Processing Unit - Alternately referred to as
a processor, central processor, or microprocessor,
the CPU (pronounced sea-pea-you) is the central
processing unit of the computer. A computer's CPU
handles all instructions it receives
from hardware and software running on the computer.
 The CPU is often referred to as the brain of the computer.
However, it is more appropriate to refer to software as the
brain and the CPU as a very efficient calculator. A CPU is
really good with numbers, but if it wasn't for the software it
wouldn't know how to do anything else.
 It is usually covered by a heat sink.
 Central Processing Unit
 Instruction - An operation performed by the CPU and
assigned a specific number
 Instruction set - The list of CPU instructions for the
operations.
 Control unit:
 Retrieves instructions from memory
 Interprets and performs those instructions
 Manages the machine cycle or processing cycle, the
four-part process performed by the CPU
 Computer Processing/Machine
Cycle
• Arithmetic logic unit (ALU)
 Performs arithmetic and logical operations .
 Involve adding, subtracting, multiplying, dividing.
 Logical operations involve comparisons between two or more data
items.

• Main Memory
 stores data in the CPU.

 Control unit:
 Retrieves instructions from memory.
 Interprets and performs those instructions.
 Manages the machine cycle or processing cycle, the four-part
process performed by the CPU.
 Machine Cycle
 The steps performed by the computer
processor for each machine language
instruction received. The machine cycle is a 4
process cycle that includes reading and
interpreting the machine language, executing
the code and then storing that code.
 Machine Cycle
 The computer can only do one thing at a time. Each
action must be broken down into the most basic steps.
One round of steps from getting an instruction back to
getting the next instruction is called the Machine
Cycle.

 Fetch - get an instruction from Main Memory.

 Decode - translate it into computer commands.
 Execute - actually process the command.
 Store - write the result to Main Memory.
Machine Cycle
 Example of Machine Cycle
to add the numbers 5 and 6 and show the answer on the screen requires the following
steps:
 Fetch instruction:
 "Get number at address 123456"

 Decode instruction.

 Execute:
 ALU finds the number. (which happens to be 5)

 Store:
 The number 5 is stored in a temporary spot in Main Memory.
Repeat steps for another number (= 6)

 Fetch instruction:
 "Add those two numbers"

 Decode instruction.

 Execute:
 ALU adds the numbers.

 Store:
 The answer is stored in a temporary spot.

 Fetch instruction:
 "Display answer on screen."

 Decode instruction.

 Execute:
 Display answer on screen
Units of Measure for Computer
Memory and Storage
 Two Types of Memory
 ROM (Read Only Memory) – Contain all system
programs that are used for start up operations of the
computer. When you buy a computer, these system
programs have already been built into the hardware
making it possible for you to use the computer. It is the
program in ROM that instruct the CPU to read anoter
program from a disk, thus performing a self-helping
start up when the computer is tuned-on. Since it is
hard wired into the computer, the program it contains
cannot changed nor deleted.
 Two Types of Memory
 RAM (Random Access Memory) – Stores data that an be read(retrieved
for use in processing) or written to (store data). It is the computer
scratch pad. In most computer the RAM holds:
1. The active parts of operating system, the fundamental program to
control the operation of the computer (example, a payroll program).
2. The Application program that is being executed;
3. Part of all the data used by the application program(example, data
being used in payroll system).
4. Representation of the data being shown on the video display.

To Describe the RAM, it is non-permanent type of memory, meaning

to say, that in case you happen to turn-off the computer while suing it,
all data in RAM will be erased. There is, of course, a way of storing data
almost permanently that is by the use of storage media.
 Storage
 Storage Device - is any hardware capable of holding
information either temporarily or permanently.

 There are two types of storage devices used with

computers: a primary storage device, such as RAM,
and a secondary storage device, such as a hard drive.
Secondary storage can be removable, internal,
or external.
Storage
 Outside of the System Unit
 Front panel

 Power switch - Used to turn the computer on.

 Drive activity light - Advises the user that the hard drive
is retrieving data

 Power-on light - Shows whether the power is on

 Front Panel
• Drive Bays
• Memory card reader
• Floppy Drive
• Productivity Ports
• Power Button
 Reset, standby
 Warm/cold boot
Outside of the System Unit
 Universal Serial Bus
 A Universal Serial Bus (USB) is a common interface
that enables communication between devices and a
host controller such as a personal computer (PC). It
connects peripheral devices.
 Designed to replace older parallel and serial ports
 Connects a variety of devices to the computer, including:
• Keyboards
• Mice
• Printers
• Digital cameras
Universal Serial Bus
 Input and Output Devices
 Input Device - is any hardware device that sends
data to a computer, allowing you to interact with
and control it.

 The most commonly used or primary input

devices on a computer are
the keyboard and mouse. However, there are
dozens of other devices that can also be used to
input data into the computer.
 Input and Output Devices
 Output Device - is any peripheral that receives data
from a computer, usually for display, projection, or
physical reproduction. For example, the image shows
an inkjet printer, an output device that can make
a hard copy of any information shown on your
monitor, which is another example of an output
device. Monitors and printers are two of the most
common output devices used with a computer.
Ref:
 https://techterms.com
 https://www.computerhope.com
 Computer Fundamentals by Mary A. Soriano