7/28/2009

Black&WhiteBusiness Computing2010 Chapter2 SystemUnit:InsidetheBox ComputerInformationSystems105

SystemUnit:InsidetheBox
Thesystemunit isthemainbodyofacomputer,containing a motherboard.Assortedcomputer componentslikepowersupplies, coolingfans,diskdrives,primarymemory,secondary memory, expansioncards,and muchmoreareplugged intothe motherboard.

MicrocomputerConfigurations
Ithasbecomecommonpracticetorefertoamicrocomputerasa box.Theboxitselfiscalled acase,orchassis which enclosesthe maincomponents ofthecomputer.

ArizonaStateUniversity W.P.CareySchoolofBusiness ComputerApplications&InformationTechnology

Black&WhiteBusiness Computing2010 Chapter2 SystemUnit:InsidetheBox ComputerInformationSystems105

SystemUnit:InsidetheBox
MicrocomputerConfigurations(cont.)
Ontheinside ofamicrocomputer,thecorecomponent isthe systemboard commonlyreferredtoasthemotherboard. A motherboardistheprimarycircuitboard,which isacomplexarray ofelectronicsthatconnectsandhelpsdifferent components ofthe computercommunicate withoneanother.Acircuitboard, sometimes i called ll daprinted i dcircuit i i b board d (PCB), (PCB) is i alogical l i land d economicalwaytoreplacewhatwouldbeloosewiring byapplying copperwiresdirectlytoasheetofnonconductive plastic. Amicroprocessor,sometimescalledamicroprocessorchipis plugged directlyintoaslotonthemotherboard andservesasthe brainsforthemicrocomputer.Contained withinthe microprocessoristhecentralprocessingunit(CPU).

ArizonaStateUniversity W.P.CareySchoolofBusiness ComputerApplications&InformationTechnology

Black&WhiteBusiness Computing2010 Chapter2 SystemUnit:InsidetheBox ComputerInformationSystems105

SystemUnit:InsidetheBox
MicrocomputerConfigurations(cont.)
Amicrocomputersspeedismeasuredbyclockrate whichisthe cyclespersecondthatacomputercanperformitsmostbasictasks, measuredingigahertz. Microprocessormanufacturers areconstantlytryingtoimprove processingspeed,andonenovelwayisthrough thedevelopmentof multicore chips,which aresimplymanychipsencased ononechip packageworkingtogether. RISC (Reduced Instruction SetComputer) architecturechipsare designed forefficiency, andwerethefirst64bitprocessors.

ArizonaStateUniversity W.P.CareySchoolofBusiness ComputerApplications&InformationTechnology

7/28/2009

Black&WhiteBusiness Computing2010 Chapter2 SystemUnit:InsidetheBox ComputerInformationSystems105

SystemUnit:InsidetheBox
MicrocomputerConfigurations(cont.)
Buslines arethepathways (orroadsinouranalogy)thattransfer dataandpowerbetweencomponents insideofacomputer, and sometimesbetweencomputers.Buslinesarecontrolledby softwarethatenables themtoconnectperipheral deviceslike computercardsandprinters. Buslinesaremeasured inbuswidth. Peripheralcomponent interconnect (PCI) Acceleratedgraphics port(AGP) Universalserialbus(USB) Highperformance serialbus(Firewire)

ArizonaStateUniversity W.P.CareySchoolofBusiness ComputerApplications&InformationTechnology

Black&WhiteBusiness Computing2010 Chapter2 SystemUnit:InsidetheBox ComputerInformationSystems105

SystemUnit:InsidetheBox
MicrocomputerConfigurations(cont.)
Computersareelectronicdevicesandelectricityhasonlytwo states;onoroff.Atwostatesystemonacomputeriscalled binary system.Binarymeanssomethingismadeupoftwoparts,andin thiscase,eithera1ora0.
Term Byte Kilobyte Megabyte Gigabyte Terabyte Size 8bits 1,024bytes 1,024kilobytes 1,024megabytes 1,024gigabytes Roughly Onecharacter 1,000bytes 1,000kilobytes 1,000megabytes 1,000gigabytes

ArizonaStateUniversity W.P.CareySchoolofBusiness ComputerApplications&InformationTechnology

Black&WhiteBusiness Computing2010 Chapter2 SystemUnit:InsidetheBox ComputerInformationSystems105

SystemUnit:InsidetheBox
MicrocomputerConfigurations(cont.)
Bytescanthenbeusedtorepresentcharacters likethealphabet or numbers.Itistheseonesandzerosthatarestoredinsecondary storage.MostmicrocomputersusetheAmericanStandard Code forInformationInterchange (ASCII)coding scheme. Acomputerpowersupplyunit (PSU)isthepartthatsupplies electricity.APSUistypicallyconverts100120voltor220240volt alternatingcurrent (AC)toalowervoltagedirectcurrent (DC)that canbeusedbytheinternal components ofthesystemunit.

ArizonaStateUniversity W.P.CareySchoolofBusiness ComputerApplications&InformationTechnology

7/28/2009

Black&WhiteBusiness Computing2010 Chapter2 SystemUnit:InsidetheBox ComputerInformationSystems105

SystemUnit:InsidetheBox
MicrocomputerConfigurations(cont.)
Systemunitsneedtostore,retain,andprocessmemory.Thereare twotypesofmemory; primarystorage (volatile) secondarystorage (nonvolatile)

Inthesystemunit,primarystorageisrandomaccessmemory (RAM)intheformofRAMchipsets thataremountedonthe motherboard.RAMallowsdataandinformation tobeaccessedin anyorder;hence thewordrandom,withoutphysical movement oftheRAMchipset.Secondary storagedevicestypicallyspinand requireamovingread/writehead.

ArizonaStateUniversity W.P.CareySchoolofBusiness ComputerApplications&InformationTechnology

Black&WhiteBusiness Computing2010 Chapter2 SystemUnit:InsidetheBox ComputerInformationSystems105

SystemUnit:InsidetheBox
MicrocomputerConfigurations(cont.)
Whenacomputerisstarted,itrequiresthesamecritical programminginformation everytimethecomputeristurned on. Theprogramming information toperformthestartuptaskresides inachip pcalledacomplimentary p ymetaloxide semiconductor,or CMOS chip.CMOSdoesnotloseitscontentsandisthereforenon volatilememory. Motherboardshaveotherformsofmemoryplugged intothemin theformofROMchips (Readonly memory).ROMchipsare preprogrammedand requirenouserintervention and serveto performspecialized internal taskslikestartingthecomputer.

ArizonaStateUniversity W.P.CareySchoolofBusiness ComputerApplications&InformationTechnology

Black&WhiteBusiness Computing2010 Chapter2 SystemUnit:InsidetheBox ComputerInformationSystems105

SystemUnit:InsidetheBox
ExpansionSlots&Cards
Motherboardshaveexpansionslots toreceiveexpansioncards.An expansioncardisaspecialized circuitboardplugged intoa motherboardsexpansion slotthataddsfurtherfunctionality toa computer,likenetworkingandconnectivity. A port isaspecific outletthatservesasaconnection connection, orinterfacesbetween a computerandotherdeviceslikedigitalcameras,keyboardsor printersandprovidessignaltransfer,orcommunication betweenthe computerandthedevice. PortsuseasystemcalledPlugandPlaywhicharedesigned soa deviceautomatically workswhenitisplugged intoasystemunit, whichhasnotalwaysbeenthecase.Thetwomostpopular ports whicharePlugandPlayareFireWire andUniversalSerialBus (USB).
ArizonaStateUniversity W.P.CareySchoolofBusiness ComputerApplications&InformationTechnology

7/28/2009

Black&WhiteBusiness Computing2010 Chapter2 SystemUnit:InsidetheBox ComputerInformationSystems105

SystemUnit:InsidetheBox
InputDevices
Devicesthatplugintocomputersystemsunitscanbecategorized aseitheraninput device,oranoutput device,andareoftencalled peripheraldevices.Acomputerunderstands machinecode or machinelanguage.Machine language isabinary systemofones andzerosrepresenting patternsofbitsthatrepresentinstructions a computers CPU canunderstand. d d Input isdataandinformation thatentersacomputersystemand translated forprocessing.Thedataorinformation canbeassimple astyping aresumwithakeyboardorscanning aphotograph with aflatbedscanning device.Output isdataandinformation that exitsacomputer systemandtranslated forahuman to comprehend.

ArizonaStateUniversity W.P.CareySchoolofBusiness ComputerApplications&InformationTechnology

Black&WhiteBusiness Computing2010 Chapter2 SystemUnit:InsidetheBox ComputerInformationSystems105

SystemUnit:InsidetheBox
InputDevices
Themostcommoninputdeviceisakeyboard. Escape:TheEscape(Esc)keydiscontinue acomputers operation. Return:TheReturnkey,orEnterkeyfinishesandkeyboard entry. y Function:Function keysareusedasshortcuts. Alternate:TheAltisusedincombination withotherkeysto modifyinput. Arrow:TheArrowkeysallowausertopositionthecursorina specificdirection. Amouse isapointing devicethatcontrolsandpositionsthescreens cursor.Depending onthecontext,thecursorcanbeintheshapeof anarroworaninsertionline.
ArizonaStateUniversity W.P.CareySchoolofBusiness ComputerApplications&InformationTechnology

Black&WhiteBusiness Computing2010 Chapter2 SystemUnit:InsidetheBox ComputerInformationSystems105

SystemUnit:InsidetheBox
InputDevices
Microphone:Amicrophoneisasoundsensing devicethatallows userstorecordsoundand instructionsthatcanbetranslatedand storeddigitallytoacomputer.Manymicrophoneshavetheabilityto directtheoperation ofacomputerthrough speechrecognition software. Digitalcameras:Adigital cameraisanelectronicinputdevicethat recordsandstoressingle photographs digitallytoacomputer.Video cameras areinput devicessimilartodigitalcamerasbutcapture motionpictures. Imagescanners:Imagescanners, oftencalled opticalscanners are devicesthatanalyze, convert,andtranslateimages,printed text,or handwriting toadigital formatasystemunitcanrecognize and store.
ArizonaStateUniversity W.P.CareySchoolofBusiness ComputerApplications&InformationTechnology

7/28/2009

Black&WhiteBusiness Computing2010 Chapter2 SystemUnit:InsidetheBox ComputerInformationSystems105

SystemUnit:InsidetheBox
InputDevices
Webcams:Awebcam,shortforwebcamera isarealtime,typically lowresolutionvideocameraattached tothecomputerwhosevideo imagescanbetranslated toasystemunit. Barcodereaders:Abarcodereaderisaninput deviceforreading barcodesprinted onvarioussurfaces. RadioFrequencyIdentification (RFID):AnRFIDorRFIDtagisan inputdevicethatcanbeapplied toaproductforidentification and transmitstheproducts information through radiowaves.

WhatsortofimpactwillRadio FrequencyIdentificationtags haveonbusiness?

ArizonaStateUniversity W.P.CareySchoolofBusiness ComputerApplications&InformationTechnology

Black&WhiteBusiness Computing2010 Chapter2 SystemUnit:InsidetheBox ComputerInformationSystems105

SystemUnit:InsidetheBox
OutputDevices
Whenacomputerprovidesdataandinformation toanenduser, itis calledoutput.Outputcantakemanyformsliketext,images,and soundsand canbeprovidedbyalargearrayofperipheral output devices. Acomputerdisplayscreen,referredtoasamonitoristhemost commonoutputdeviceandoneofmanywaysasystemoutputsits dataandinformation. CathodeRayTube (CRT):Becauseoftheirreliabilityandlowcost, CRTsusedtobethemostcommoncomputermonitor. FlatPanelMonitors:Mostflatpanel monitorsuseLiquidCrystal Displays (LCD)which useathentransistor,orseriesoftransistorsto displayimagesandtextonitsscreen.

ArizonaStateUniversity W.P.CareySchoolofBusiness ComputerApplications&InformationTechnology

Black&WhiteBusiness Computing2010 Chapter2 SystemUnit:InsidetheBox ComputerInformationSystems105

SystemUnit:InsidetheBox
OutputDevices
Themostimportantfeatureofamonitorisresolution.Computer monitorsaremadeupofsmalldotscalledpixels,whichisasingle dotonagraphic ortextimage.Resolutionisthendefined bythe amountofpixelsinside adefined dimension onamonitor, commonlyreferredtoasdotsperinch (dpi). Aprinters outputisdelivered intheformofaprinted document, photograph, barcodeormanyothertangible formats.Printersare alsomeasuredindpi. LaserPrinter InkjetPrinter Plotter

ArizonaStateUniversity W.P.CareySchoolofBusiness ComputerApplications&InformationTechnology

7/28/2009

Black&WhiteBusiness Computing2010 Chapter2 SystemUnit:InsidetheBox ComputerInformationSystems105

SystemUnit:InsidetheBox
Motherboard

ArizonaStateUniversity W.P.CareySchoolofBusiness ComputerApplications&InformationTechnology

Black&WhiteBusiness Computing2010 Chapter2 SystemUnit:InsidetheBox ComputerInformationSystems105

SystemUnit:InsidetheBox
Box,Case,Chassis

ArizonaStateUniversity W.P.CareySchoolofBusiness ComputerApplications&InformationTechnology

Black&WhiteBusiness Computing2010 Chapter2 SystemUnit:InsidetheBox ComputerInformationSystems105

SystemUnit:InsidetheBox
Microprocessor

ArizonaStateUniversity W.P.CareySchoolofBusiness ComputerApplications&InformationTechnology

7/28/2009

Black&WhiteBusiness Computing2010 Chapter2 SystemUnit:InsidetheBox ComputerInformationSystems105

SystemUnit:InsidetheBox
RAMChipset

ArizonaStateUniversity W.P.CareySchoolofBusiness ComputerApplications&InformationTechnology

Black&WhiteBusiness Computing2010 Chapter2 SystemUnit:InsidetheBox ComputerInformationSystems105

SystemUnit:InsidetheBox
SecondaryStorage

ArizonaStateUniversity W.P.CareySchoolofBusiness ComputerApplications&InformationTechnology

Black&WhiteBusiness Computing2010 Chapter2 SystemUnit:InsidetheBox ComputerInformationSystems105

SystemUnit:InsidetheBox
ExpansionSlots&Cards

ArizonaStateUniversity W.P.CareySchoolofBusiness ComputerApplications&InformationTechnology

7/28/2009

Black&WhiteBusiness Computing2010 Chapter2 SystemUnit:InsidetheBox ComputerInformationSystems105

SystemUnit:InsidetheBox
Keyboard

ArizonaStateUniversity W.P.CareySchoolofBusiness ComputerApplications&InformationTechnology

Black&WhiteBusiness Computing2010 Chapter2 SystemUnit:InsidetheBox ComputerInformationSystems105

SystemUnit:InsidetheBox
Mouse

ArizonaStateUniversity W.P.CareySchoolofBusiness ComputerApplications&InformationTechnology