The Components of the System Unit free essay sample

Box-like case that contains computer’s electronic components †¢ Sometimes called the chassis What are common components inside the system unit? †¢ Processor †¢ Memory module †¢ Expansion cards o Sound card o Modem card o Video card o Network interface card †¢ Ports and Connectors What is the motherboard? †¢ Main circuit board in system unit †¢ Contains chips, integrated circuits, and transistors †¢ Also called system board What chip packages are available? †¢ single edge contact (SEC) cartridge †¢ dual inline package (DIP) †¢ flip chip-PGA (FC-PGA) package pin grid array (PGA Central Processing Unit What is the central processing unit (CPU) ? †¢ Interprets and carries out basic instructions that operate a computer †¢ Also called the processor What are the components of the CPU? †¢ Control Unit †¢ Arithmetic/Logic Unit (ALU) What is the control unit? †¢ Directs and coordinates operations in computer †¢ Control unit repeats four basic operations: †¢ Fetch obtain program instruction or data item from memory †¢ Decode translate instruction into commands †¢ Execute carry out command †¢ Store write result to memory What is a machine cycle? Four operations of the CPU comprise a machine cycle †¢ Also called instruction cycle †¢ Instruction time (i-time) time taken to fetch and decode †¢ Execution time (e-time) time taken to execute and store An example of a machine cycle †¢ Student enters math problem (100 x 52) into computer’s memory †¢ Result in memory displays on monitor’s screen How is the CPU’s speed measured? †¢ According to how many millions of instructions per second (MIPS) it can process What are two designs used for the CPU? †¢ CISC (complex instruction set computing) o Supports large number of instructions CPU executes complex instructions more quickly †¢ RISC (reduced instruction set computing) o Supports smaller number of instructions o CPU executes simple instructions more quickly What is the arithmetic/logic unit (ALU) ? †¢ CPU component that performs execution part of the machine cycl e o Arithmetic (addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division) o Comparison (greater than, equal to, or less than) o Logical (AND, OR, NOT) What is pipelining? †¢ CPU begins executing second instruction before completing first instruction †¢ Results in faster processing What is a register? †¢ Temporary storage area that holds data and instructions o Stores location from where instruction was fetched o Stores instruction while it is being decoded o Stores data while ALU processes it o Stores results of calculation What is the system clock? †¢ Synchronizes all computer operations †¢ Each tick is clock cycle †¢ MHz megahertz (millions) †¢ GHz gigahertz (billions) What is a microprocessor? †¢ Single processor chip found in personal computers How do personal computer processors compare? †¢ Intel PC †¢ AMD PC †¢ Motorola Mac What is a coprocessor? Chip that assists processor in performing specific tasks †¢ One type is a floating-point coprocessor, also known as a math or numeric coprocessor What is parallel processing? †¢ Using multiple processors simultaneously to execute program faster †¢ Requires special software to divide problem and bring results together Data Representation How do comput ers represent data? †¢ Most computers are digital †¢ Recognize only two discrete states: on or off What is the binary system? †¢ Number system with two unique digits: 0 and 1 What is a byte? †¢ Eight bits grouped together 256 characters What are three popular coding systems to represent data? †¢ ASCII American Standard Code for Information Interchange †¢ EBCDIC Extended Binary Coded Decimal Interchange Code †¢ Unicode coding scheme capable of representing all world’s languages How is a character sent from keyboard to computer? †¢ Step 1: Press letter T †¢ Step 2: Electronic signal for letter T sent to system unit †¢ Step 3: Signal changed to its ASCII code (01010100) and stored in memory †¢ Step 4: After processing, binary code for letter T is converted to image on output device Memory What is memory? †¢ Temporary storage area for operating system, application programs, and data †¢ Consists of one or more chips on motherboard †¢ Each byte stored in unique address How is memory measured? †¢ By number of bytes available o KB o MB o GB o TB What are two types of system unit memory? †¢ volatile memory o Loses its contents when computers power is turned off †¢ nonvolatile memory o Does NOT lose its contents when computer’s power is turned off What is random access memory (RAM)? †¢ Memory chips that can be read from and written to by processor †¢ Most RAM is volatile The more RAM a computer has, the faster it operates What are two basic types of RAM chips? †¢ Dynamic RAM (DRAM) o Most common type o Also called main memory †¢ Static RAM (SRAM) o Used for special applications such as cache o Faster and more reliable than DRAM chips How much RAM is needed? †¢ Software package usually indicates RAM requirements How much RAM is needed? †¢ Depends on type of applications you intend to run on your computer What is cache †¢ Helps speed computer processes by storing frequently used instructions and data †¢ Also called memory cache, cache store, or RAM cache L1 cache built in processor †¢ L2 and L3 cache not built in processor †¢ L2 advanced transfer cache most common What is read-only memory (ROM)? †¢ Memory chips that contain data, instructions, or information that is recorded permanently †¢ Data can only be read; cannot be modified in ROM †¢ ROM is nonvolatile — Contents not lost when computer is turned off o BIOS (basic input/output system) o Stored on ROM †¢ Sequence of instructions computer follows to load operating system and other files when you turn on the computer Types of ROM †¢ Firmware ROM chips manufactured with permanently written data, instructions, or information †¢ PROM (programmable read-only memory) o Blank ROM on which you can place items permanently †¢ EEPROM (electrically erasable programmable read-only memory) o Type of PROM containing microcode programmer can erase What is flash memory? †¢ Nonvolatile memory that can be erased electronically and reprogrammed †¢ Used with handheld computers and digital cameras, cellular phones, and automobile What is CMOS? †¢ Complementary metal-oxide semiconductor memory Stores information about the computer o type of disk drives o keyboard o monitor o current time and date †¢ Uses battery to retain information when computer is turned off What is memory access time? †¢ Speed at which processor can access data from memory directly †¢ Measured in nanoseconds (ns), which is one billionth of a second †¢ It takes 1/10 of a second to blink your eye; a computer can perform up to 10 million operations in same amount of time Expansion Slots and Expansion Cards What is an expansion slot? An opening, or socket, where circuit board is inserted into motherboard †¢ Expansion card inserted in expansion slot How are expansion cards used? What is Plug and Play? †¢ Computer automatically can configure cards and other devices as you install them What is a PC card? †¢ Credit card-sized device used to add capabilities to notebook computers †¢ PCMCIA Personal Computer Memory Card Inter national Association †¢ Uses include modem, additional memory, and storage o Memory – Type I o Modem – Type II o Hard Drive – Type III What is a flash memory card? Adds memory to handheld computers, digital music players, cellular telephones, and similar devices Ports What is a port? †¢ Connects external devices to system unit o keyboard port o USB port o serial port o monitor port o game port o network port o mouse port o parallel port o speaker port o microphone port What are different types of connectors? What is a serial port? †¢ Transmits one bit of data at a time †¢ Used to connect slow-speed devices, such as mouse, keyboard, mode What is a parallel port? †¢ Connects devices that can transfer more than one bit at a time, such as a printer What is a universal serial bus port (USB) ? †¢ Connector that supports newer peripherals and plug and play †¢ Can connect 127 devices †¢ Other popular ports include 1394, MIDI, SCSI, and IrDA Buses What is a bus? †¢ Channel that allows devices inside computer to communicate with each other †¢ On the motherboard †¢ System bus connects processor and RAM †¢ Bus width determines number of bits transmitted at one time †¢ Word size determines number of bits processor can interpret and execute at a given time o Usually same as bus width What is an expansion bus? Allows processor to communicate with peripherals o ISA – most common, slowest o Local Bus – high-speed, connects higher speed devices o AGP – designed by Intel to improve 3-D graphics Bays What is a bay? †¢ Open area inside system unit used to install additional equipment Power Supply What is a power supply? †¢ Converts alternating current (AC) to direct current (DC) †¢ Some peripheral devices have AC adapter Mobile Computers What is a mobile computer? †¢ Notebook, which weighs between 2. 5 and 8 pounds, or handheld What ports are on a notebook computer? Keyboard/mouse port †¢ IrDA port †¢ Serial port †¢ Parallel Port †¢ Video port †¢ USB port How is data transferred from a handheld computer? †¢ An IrDA port allows the handheld computer to communicate wirelessly with other computers or devices †¢ Handheld computers also can rest in a cradle, so you can transfer data to your desktop computer Putting It All Together What are suggested processor, clock speed, and RAM requirements based on the needs of various types of users? †¢ Pentium ® 4 or Itaniumâ„ ¢ or Athlonâ„ ¢ 1 GHz or higher †¢ 256 MB RAM