Computer Systems

Computer System involves 3 stages

Input, Process, Output

Also a need to store data

Input Devices

Central Processing Unit (CPU)

Output Devices

Backing Storage Devices

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Hardware and Software

Hardware is the physical parts of a computer. parts you can touch . Examples: Hardware includes, peripherals printers , scanners and modems .

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Hardware and Software

Computer programs that tell (instruct) the hardware how to work. Files: Anything that can be stored is also called software. Saving a wordprocessed letter, or a spreadsheet, as a computer file.

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Hardware
Hardware - any part of a computer that you can touch.
An individual piece of hardware is called a device. The basic hardware of any computer consists of:
central processing unit (CPU)
memory, input, output and backing storage devices.

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Components (1)
Motherboard. CPU/Processor. Memory/RAM. Video Card/Graphics Adapter. Sound Card. Modem. Hard Drive Ports.

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The central processing unit (CPU)

where the searching and sorting of data, calculating and decisionmaking goes on. The CPU contains the Cache Memory Control Unit Arithmetic and Logic Unit (ALU). The Control Unit fetches instructions from the main memory, decodes them and causes them to be executed by the ALU. The ALU performs calculations and makes decisions using these instructions.
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CPU

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Random Access Memory (RAM)

RAM is the computers working memory. RAM temporarily stores programs and data that are being used The contents of RAM can be changed and are lost when the computer is turned off. Memory which is wiped clean when the computer is turned off is called volatile memory.
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RAM Memory

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Read Only Memory (ROM)

ROM memory chips stores the program that runs when the computer is turned on which loads the operating system (e.g. Windows) from disk. The contents of ROM cant be changed and are not lost when the computer is switched off. Memory which isn't wiped clean when the computer is turned off is called non-volatile memory.
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BITS and BYTES

Computers store and process data. These are electronic charges represented by binary numbers. A single unit in binary is a bit which stands for binary digit. Computer memory is measured in bytes. One byte is made up of eight bits. One byte can store one character.
0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1

The eight bit binary code in this byte represents the letter A
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BITS and BYTES (cont.)

The size of a computers memory is normally measured in kilobytes (Kb), megabytes (Mb) or gigabytes (Gb). The table below shows some of the main units of size that we use to measure computer memory.
Measurement kilobyte megabyte gigabyte Size (bytes) 1,024 1,048,576 1,073,741,824 Symbol Kb Mb Gb
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Switches and binary

Computers only understand switches being turned on and off these become signals Programmers interpret each combination of signals to do different things (e.g. to put things on the screen) How powerful a computer is depends on how many different signals it can receive. 8 bit computers could receive 255 signals Each time a switch is added, the number of signals doubles Signals are added in multiples of 8
32 bit
4,000,000,000,000
1

16,000,000
0 1 0

24 bit
0
0 0

65,000
0
0 1

16 bit
0
0

255
0
0

8 bit
0
0

?0
1

1
1

0
0

0
0

1
0

01
1

0
0

0
0

0
0

1
1 0

1
1

0
0 0

0
0

0
0

0
1

1
0

64 bit

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Mobile Computing
Laptops/Notebooks Palmtops PDAs

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Microcomputers
Microcomputers are sometimes called PCs, or personal computers or desktops.

A typical PC system consists of:

A base, or tower unit that contains a CPU and backing storage devices, normally a CD/DVD drive, and a hard disk drive. Input devices, normally a mouse and keyboard. Output devices, typically a screen, printer and speakers.

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Mainframe computers

Expensive - cost millions of pounds to buy and install. They can process massive amounts of data extremely quickly, which is stored on hundreds of disk drives. hundreds of terminals and users connected to it at the same time.
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