Types and components of

computer systems
Duration- 9 lessons
There will be a test at the end of this
topic
Date expected 26th august

Aziz Ahmad
Aug 2016

At the end of this topic you should be able to:

Define hardware, giving examples
Define software, giving examples
Describe the difference between hardware and software
Identify the main components of a general-purpose computer:
central processing unit, main/internal memory (including ROM and
RAM), input devices, output devices and secondary/backing storage
Identify operating systems, including those which contain a
graphical user interface, a command line interface
Identify different types of computer including Personal Computer or
desktop, mainframe, laptop, palmtop and Personal Digital Assistant
Describe recent developments in ICT

What is a computer?

Hardware and software

These are the main parts that make up a typical computer system
Hardware refers to the physical components that make up a
computer system
Software on the other hand are the programs that controls the
computer system
There are two types of software namely system software and
application software
system software are the programs that allows the hardware to
run properly eg. OS
application software are the programs that allows the user to
complete a specific task eg. Spreadsheet,

Computer hardware
Consists of the following
Input devices eg. keyboard
Output devices eg. Monitor, printer
Secondary storage devices Cd/DVDs, removable hard drive

The processor and internal devices

Central processing unit
Hard disk
Random access memory RAM
Read only memory ROM

CPU
Is the part of a computer system that
interprets and executes the commands from
the computer hardware and software
Its often referred to be the brain/heart of a
computer system
It consist of several integrated circuits in one
chip called microprocessor
In every device that requires control,
microprocessor have to be installed example
car engine management, smart TV

Internal hard drive (HDD)

The is the computers main
memory
Its where the application
software, operating system and
data files are stored
The advantage of having this is
for fast data and files transfer or
access

RAM
Is the internal chip/circuit where data is temporarily
stored when running an application
It is a volatile as all the data written to it will get lost
when power goes off or when the computer is switched
off

ROM
This on the other hand is a memory that stores
information that has to be permanent
Example of information stored is device configuration
that should always be there and should NOT be
removed or altered by any means
Consider Bluetooth dongle or flash drive as an example,
there is a ROM installed in it so every time you install it
to a computer that instruction is executed
It is a volatile storage

ROM
In a computer ROM there is some coding called boot file (BIOS)
BIOS- Basic Input Output System
This code tells a computer what to do every time it powered on
BIOS checks the hardware components, are they present and
functional? (POST)
POST- Power On Self Test

Then loads the operating system into RAM

The BIOS there for stores date and time and system
configurations in a non-volatile chip called CMOS
(complementary metal oxide semiconductor) which is usually
battery powered

Operating system
System software responsible for
Controlling the operation of input, output and backing storage
devices
Supervising the loading, running and storage of application
programs
Dealing with errors that occur in application program
Maintain security of the whole computer system
Mains computer log (usage)
Interfacing user with a computer system

Types of the computer interfaces are Command line interface

and Graphical user interface

Command line interface (CLI)

Requires user to type command in order to operate a
computer
Opening software of choosing options can only be done by typing
required code/command

Syntax and semantics should be followed when writing

such commands
And there for the user has to learn such languages
The advantage of using CLI is that it allows direct
communication between the user and the computer as
it does not need a compiler (translator)

Graphical user interface

User interacts with a system by using symbols or
pictures (icons) to operate a computer system
A block of code can be replaced by a single icon
Eg in windows based computers

Types of computers