Chapter 2

2. Computer System
 Outline:
 Overview of Computer System
 Components of Computers
 Hardware components of computer
 Software components of computer

1 03/29/2024
 2.1. Computer System
 Computer: is an electronic device that can accept data and instructions,
store & process it to produce the required result.
 COMPUTER: Stands for “Common Oriented Machine Particularly Used for
Trade, Education and Research”.
 Computer system: group of Hardware & software components, designed
and assembled to perform a specific function or group of functions.
 Computer system Components:  Computer
1. Hardware  Software and
2. Software  peripheral devices

2
3. Users (optional) 03/29/2024
 A. Computer Hardware
 Physical components of the computer that can be seen and touched.

 Hardware consists of all the machinery and equipment in a computer system exist inside or

outside the computer.

 Hardware contains three components:-

1. Input device
2. Output device

3. System unit(processing and storage device)

3 03/29/2024
 1. Input device
 Input devices allow people to put data into the computer in a form that the computer can

use. Input devices are:-

1.Keyboard: contains Alphanumeric, Numeric, Function, Modifier and Cursor
movement keys
2. Pointing Devices:-like mouse, trackball, track pad (or touchpad), touch screen,
joystick, pens
3. Digital Camera
4. Scanner:
5. Speech recognition
6. Microphones
4 03/29/2024
 2. Output Devices
 Output devices translate information processed by the computer into a form that humans

can understand print, sound, graphics or video.

5 03/29/2024
 3. System unit (processing and storage device)
 The system unit is also known as case.

 Consists the following components:-

1. Motherboard (CPU, Memory chips)

2. Power supply

3. Secondary storage devices (i.e., floppy-disk drive, hard-disk drive, and CD or DVD
drive.).

6 03/29/2024
A. Motherboard (system board)
 Motherboard is the main circuit board in the system unit.

 The primary function of mother board is to serve as the base up on which a computer

component is built.
 Major components of Motherboard
CPU
RAM
ROM
Slot
Chips and CMOS battery

7 03/29/2024
 CPU (Central Processing Unit)

 It is the brain of the computer, b/c computing part of the computer;

 It controls and manipulates the data to produce information.

 In a PC CPU is usually a single, fingernail-size “chip” called a microprocessor with electrical

circuits printed on it.

 The main components of a CPU are:-

 Control Unit (CU):- directs the operation of the entire system.

 obtains instructions, interprets and execute

 Arithmetic and Logic Unit (ALU):- executes the computer's commands by doing arithmetic or the

logical comparisons.
 Registers:- special purpose, high speed temporary memory units.
8 03/29/2024
  Memory: is the storage unit of a computer system.

1. RAM (Random Access Memory): is volatile & temporary storage memory

2. ROM (Read Only Memory): is a Non-volatile memory whose contents cannot be

changed by the user & contains minimum instructions that the computer needs to get
started.
 permanent storage memory

9 03/29/2024
 B. Power Supplies
 It converts normal household electricity, alternating current (AC) into electricity that can be

used by the computer, direct current (DC).

C. Secondary Storage Devices

 Hard-disk drive

 Floppy-disk drive:-uses laser technology to store information into a removable media known as

diskettes or floppy disks.

 Compact Disk (CD) drive:- includes CD-ROM, CD-R(recordable) and CD-RW(rewritable)

 Digital Versatile/video Disk (DVD) drive:- includes DVD-ROM, DVD-R(recordable), DVD-

RW(rewritable)

10 03/29/2024
 B. Computer Software
 The sets of instructions that instruct the computer to do d/t tasks.

 It is the driving force behind the working of computer.

Types of Software
 Software is generally divided into two main categories:

1. System:- concerned with the various operations of a computer system

2. Application: concerned with providing various services to the users.

11 03/29/2024
 I. System Software
 a set of master programs that keep the computer system working.

 The basic components of system software are: -

1. Operating System: is a bridge between computer hardware & user.

2. Language Software: contains two components low level (machine and assembly)
language and high level language.

A. Machine Language:- 0 and 1. only computer understandable.

B. Assembly Language:- represented by letters & symbols instead of number.

C. High-level Language: Natural language

12 03/29/2024
 II. Application Software
 Application software allow users to perform specific tasks.

 There are two main categories of application software:

1. Pre-Written: designed for common needs of various businesses.

 e.g. Word Processing, Electronic Spreadsheets, Presentation Software, DBMS,
Communication Software, Desktop Publishing.

2. Customized: These are created for a specific application of a specific environment.

 e.g. Software required by a student registration.

13 03/29/2024
 Types of Application Software
A. General purpose: useful in controlling general activities.
e.g. MS-WORD, MS-EXCEL and DTP software.

B. Specialty: used for a special purpose.

e.g. Peachtree AutoCAD.

C. Entertainment: allow computer to be used as an entertainment tool.

e.g., Games.

D. Educational: allow computer to be used as teaching/learning tool.

e.g., Library searches etc.

14 03/29/2024
 n !
ti o
en
A tt
u r
y o
or
u f
Yo
n k
a
Th
????
stion
Que

15 03/29/2024