Central Processing Unit

• The CPU is the brains within your computer.

• It performs most of the calculations within the
computer and is responsible for the smooth running
of your operating system (Microsoft Windows) as
well as your application programs, such as word-
processors, spreadsheets and databases.
• The CPU's speed is measured in MHz or GHz.
• Note that 1000 MHz is equal to 1 GHz.
CPU has three major parts
 1. Arithmetic and Logic Unit (ALU)
• is the part of the CPU that executes the
computer's commands by doing arithmetic or the
logical comparisons.
• The data and instructions, stored in the primary
storage prior to processing are transferred as and
when needed to the ALU, where processing takes
place.
• Data may move from primary storage to ALU and
back again to storage many times before the
processing is over.
 2. The Control Unit
 The control Unit controls the whole computer
system by performing the following functions:
• directs and coordinates all operation called for by
the program
• Activates the appropriate circuits necessary for
inputs and output devices.
• Causes the entire computer system to operate in
an automatic manner.
•  
 Registers
• these are the memory areas in the CPU that
store data and instructions while the CPU
processes them.
• The size of the registers, also called word size,
determines the amount of data with which
the computer can work at one time.
 The CPU has two major functions:

• It co-ordinates and controls the computer’s

activities, retrieving files, interpreting data etc
• It performs arithmetic and Logic operations
using bits.
 Computer Memory

• Computer memory refers to devices that are

used to store data or programs (sequence of
instructions) on temporary or permanent basis.
• You can store data on your hard disk, that used
to store data permanently, while data which is
being processed is stored in RAM (Random
Access Memory).
• Data stored in RAM is temporary, because it is
available as far as there is power.
 Conti..
• Normally when people talk about memory in
relation to a PC, they are talking about RAM.
• The different types of computer memory
applicable are RAM, ROM and/or ROM-BIOS.
 RAM
• Random Access Memory (RAM) is the main
'working' memory used by the computer.
• When the operating system loads from disk
when you first switch on the computer, it is
copied into RAM.
• a modern computer can effectively house as
much RAM as you can afford to buy.
 ROM

• Read Only Memory (ROM) as the name

suggests is a special type of memory chip
which holds software which can be read but
not written to.
• A good example is the ROM-BIOS chip, which
contains read-only software. frequently
network cards and video cards also contain
ROM chips.
 How computer memory is measured

• It is important to realize that the term digital

computer refers to the fact that ultimately the
computer works in what is called binary.
• To use the jargon (terminology) humans work
in base 10.
• Bit: All computers work on a binary numbering
system, i.e. they process data in ones or zeros.
• This 1 or 0 level of storage is called a bit. Often
hardware is specified as a 32-bit computer,
which means that the hardware can process 32
bits at a time.
• Software is also described as 16 bit, 32 bit or
64 bit software.
• Byte: A byte consists of eight bits.
• Kilobyte: A kilobyte (KB) consists of 1024 bytes
• Megabyte: A megabyte (MB) consists of 1024 kilobytes,
approximately
• 1,000,000 bytes.
• Gigabyte: A gigabyte (GB) consists of 1024 megabytes,
approximately
• 1,000,000,000 bytes.
• Terabyte: A terabyte (TB) consists of approximately
1,000,000,000,000
• bytes.
 Word

• refers to the number of bits or bytes that a

computer process at a time or a transmission
media transmits at a time.
• We say that a computer is 8-bits, 16 bits, 32
bits or a 64 bits computer to indicate that the
amount of data it can process at a time.
• The large the word length a computer has the
more powerful and faster it is.
 Computer Storage Devices

• A computer storage device is any type of

hardware that stores data.
• The most common type of storage device,
which nearly all computers have, is a hard
drive\hard disc.
• The computer's primary hard drive stores the
operating system, applications, and files and
Folders for users of the computer.
 Conti..
• the hard drive is the most ever-present of all
storage devices, several other types are
common as well.
• Flash memory devices, such as USB keychain
drives and I pod are popular ways to store
data in a small, mobile format.
• zip drive, jazz drive floppy ,CD are some other
types of storage devices.
 Internal hard disks
• The hard drive is what stores all your data.
• It houses the hard disk, where all your files
and folders are physically located.
• A typical hard drive is only slightly larger than
your hand, yet can hold over 100 GB of data.
• Speed: Very fast. The speed of a hard disk is
often quoted as "average access time" speed,
measured in milliseconds. The smaller this
number, the faster the disk is.
• Capacity: Measured in Gigabytes. A Gigabyte is
equivalent to 1024 Megabytes.
• Cost: Hard disks costs are falling rapidly and
normally represent the cheapest way of storing
data.
 External hard disks

• Another type of hard drive is an external hard drive that is

placed outside the computer.
• This is helpful for computers that have no space inside the
cabinet for installing extra hard drive.
• Internal parts of the computer can be protected by means
of this and extra powering is required.
• A big advantage of this type of drive is that backup of data
is easier.
• The hard disk size is 3.5" or 2.5" where the later has less
capacity but power consumption is less and easy to move.
• Speed: Normally slower than internal disks,
but more expensive versions offer the same
performance as internal hard disks.
• Capacity: Same as internal disks.
• Cost: More expensive than internal disks.