CHAPTER 3:

BASIC
HARDWARE II :
SYSTEM UNIT
Concepts and Applications of Information
Technology
THE SYSTEM UNIT

■ The system unit is the case that houses the

electronic components of the computer
system.
■ Sometimes called the chassis
 Components of System Unit
Common components inside the system unit:
■ Motherboard
■ Processor
■ Memory
■ Bus Line
■ Adapter cards
■ Power supply
■ Ports
■ Drive bays
I. MOTHERBOARD

 Main circuit board of the system unit

 Contains expansion slots, processor chips, and
memory slots
 Also called system board
II. PROCESSOR
(CENTRAL PROCESSING
UNIT – CPU)
 The computer does it primary work in a part of
the machine we cannot see.
 The control center, called CPU is a highly
complex, extensive set of electronic circuitry
that executes stored program instruction.
 All computers, large and small must have at
least one CPU
 CPU consists of two parts : the control unit
and Arithmetic/logic Unit
How data is
processed
a) Control Unit

■ The CU contains circuitry that uses electrical

signals to direct entire computer system to
carry out, or execute stored program
instructions.
■ The CU not executes the program
instructions, but just directs other part of
system to do so. The CU must communicate
with ALU and memory.
b) Arithmetic/Logic Unit (ALU)

■ The ALU contains the electronic circuitry that

executes all arithmetic and logical operations
■ The ALU performs four kinds of arithmetic
operations. comparison, and logical
operations
Machine Cycle
 Machine Cycle

 This section will explain the way CPU

executes one instruction in a computer
program. Many PC can execute instructions in
less than one millionth of a second.
 Each time the CPU executes an instruction, it
takes a series of steps. The complete series of
steps is called a machine cycle.
 Machine Cycle

 A machine cycle can be divided into two

smaller cycles.
 These are :
 instruction cycle.
 execution cycle.
a) Instruction Cycle

CPU takes two steps:

 Fetching
 Before the CPU can execute an instruction,
the control unit must retrieve or fetch a
command or data from the computer's
memory.
 Decoding
 Before a command can be executed, the
control unit must decode the command into
instruction set.
b) Execution Cycle

CPU also takes two steps:

 Executing
 When the command is executed, the CPU
carried out the instructions in order by
converting them into macrocode.
 Storing
 The CPU may be required to store the result
of an instruction in memory.
The Steps In A Machine Cycle
Data Representation

■ A computer circuit represents the 0 or the 1

electronically by the presence or absence of
an electrical charge
Data Representation…cont

 Most computers are digital

 Recognize only two discrete states: on or off
 Use a binary system to recognize two states
 Use number system with two unique digits: 0
and 1, called bits (short for binary digits)
a) Byte

 Byte - eight (8) bits grouped together as a unit

 Provides enough different combinations of 0s
and 1s to represent 256 individual characters
 (numbers, uppercase and lowercase letters,
punctuation marks, and other)
c) ASCII (American Standard Code
for Information Interchange)

■ ASCII (American
Standard Code
for Information
Interchange) is
the most widely
used coding
scheme to
represent data
III. MEMORY

■ Electronic components that store instructions,

data, and results
■ Consists of one or more chips on motherboard
or other circuit board
■ Each byte stored in unique location called an
address, similar to seats in a concert hall
MEMORY

■ The system unit contains two types of

memory:

Volatile memory Nonvolatile memory

Loses its contents when power is Does not lose contents when
turned off power is removed

Example: ROM, flash memory,

Example: RAM
and CMOS
Storage Sizes
a) Random Access Memory
(RAM)
■ Also known as primary storage, primary
memory, main storage, internal storage and
main memory.
■ Memory keeps the instructions and data for
whatever programs you happen to be using at
the moment.
■ Most RAM is volatile, it is lost when
computer’s power is turned off
Random Access Memory
(RAM)
■ Memory chips that can be read from and
written to by processor
■ The more RAM a computer has, the faster it
responds
 Random Access Memory
(RAM)
 Types of RAM
 Dynamic
RAM
•Must be continuously
refreshed by CPU or it loses its
contents
•Most commonly used for
personal computer memory
because of its size and cost
advantage
Static RAM
•Retains its contents with
intervention from CPU
•Faster and more expensive than
DRAM
•Often used in cars, household
appliances and handheld
electronic devices
Random Access Memory
(RAM)
b) Cache

■ Helps speed computer processes by storing

frequently used instructions and data
■ Also called memory cache
c) Read-Only Memory (ROM)

■ Memory chips that store permanent data and

instructions
■ Nonvolatile memory, it is not lost when
computer’s power is turned off
■ Contains programs and data permanently
recorded into memory at the factory
– Cannot be changed by user
– Not volatile: contents do not disappear
when power is lost
d) Flash Memory

■ Nonvolatile memory that can be erased

electronically and rewritten.
■ Used with PDAs, smart phones, printers,
digital cameras, automotive devices, audio
players, digital voice recorders, and pagers
■ Nonvolatile RAM
– Used in cellular phones, digital cameras,
and some handheld computers
– Flash memory chips resemble credit cards
– Smaller than disk drive and require less
e) CMOS

■ Complementary metal-oxide semiconductor

memory
■ Used in some RAM chips, flash memory chips, and
other types of memory chips
■ Uses battery power to retain information when other
power is turned off
■ Stores date, time, and computer’s startup information
IV. EXPANSION SLOT

■ Expansion Slot – An opening, or socket, on the

motherboard that can hold an adapter card expansion
slot
EXPANSION SLOT

■ With Plug and Play, the computer automatically can

configure adapter cards and other peripherals as you
install them
V. ADAPTER CARD

■ Adapter Cards – Enhances system unit or provides

connections to external devices called peripherals
■ Also called an expansion card
VI. REMOVABLE FLASH
MEMORY
■ We can change removable flash memory device
without having to open the system unit or restart the
computer
■ Removable flash memory includes memory cards,
USB flash drives, and PC Cards/ExpressCard
modules.
REMOVABLE FLASH
MEMORY
■ An ExpressCard module adds memory, storage,
sound, fax/modem, communications, and other
capabilities to notebook computers

ExpressCard or PC Card

ExpressCard Slot
REMOVABLE FLASH
MEMORY
■ A flash memory card and USB Flash drive allows
users to transfer data from mobile devices to desktop
computers
PORTS AND
CONNECTORS
■ Port connects external devices to system unit
■ Connector joins cable to peripheral
PORTS AND
CONNECTORS
■ Port connects external devices to system unit
■ Connector joins cable to peripheral
■ Types of ports:
1. Serial port
■ Transmits one bit of data at a time
■ Connects slow-speed devices, such as mouse, keyboard,
modem
Type of Ports:

Serial port Parallel port USB ports

• Transmits one • Connects • A USB port can
bit of data at a devices that can connect up to
time transfer more 127 different
• Connects slow- than one bit at a peripherals
speed devices time (printer) together with a
(mouse, single connector
keyboard,
modem)
FireWire ports
• Connects multiple types of
devices that require faster
data transmission speeds
Special-purpose ports
• Allow users to attach
specialized peripherals or
transmit data to wireless
devices
• MIDI (Musical Instrument
Digital Interface) port,
eSATA port, SCSI port, IrDA
(Infrared Data Association)
port, Bluetooth port
■ On a notebook computer, the ports are on the back,
front, and/or sides

46
BUS
■ Channel that allows devices inside computer to
communicate with each other
■ System bus – connects processor and RAM
■ Bus width determines number of bits transmitted at
one time
■ Expansion bus – Allows processor to communicate
with peripherals
BAY
■ Opening inside system unit used to install additional
equipment
■ Drive bays typically hold disk drives
POWER SUPPLY
■ Converts AC Power into DC Power
■ Fan keeps system unit components cool
FACTORS FOR SELECTING
SYSTEM UNIT
A core is the processing unit that
receives instructions and
performs calculations, or actions,
based on those instructions. Eg:
single-core, dual core, quad core
A processor’s cache is a small
amount of very fast memory that
is used for temporary storage.
This allows a computer to
retrieve the files that are in the
processor’s cache very quickly.
FACTORS FOR SELECTING
SYSTEM UNIT

Integrated graphics The CPU speed The thermal design

processing units are determines the rate power specification
designed to perform at which your assigned to a CPU
the calculations computer can run explains how much
related to graphics. programs. The heat the processor is
higher the speed, the going to give off.
faster the processor
is.