Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Institute of Science & Technology

COMPUTER SCIENCE DEPARTMENT

Total Marks: 04

Obtained Marks:

Introduction to Computing

Assignment # 02
Last date of Submission: 10th March, 2019

Question 01 Marks (02)

Describe the inner working details of CPU and memory, their types and organizations.
Answer 01

CPU
The computer does its primary work in a part of the machine we cannot see, a
control center that converts data input to information output. This control center,
called the central processing unit (CPU), is a highly complex, extensive set of
electronic circuitry that executes stored program instructions. All computers,

Introduction to Computing BSSE/1 SZABIST-ISB

 Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Institute of Science & Technology

COMPUTER SCIENCE DEPARTMENT

large and small, must have a central processing unit.

The central processing unit consists of two parts: The control unit and the
arithmetic/logic unit. Each part has a specific function.
The Control Unit
The control unit of the CPU contains circuitry that uses electrical signals to direct
the entire computer system to carry out, or execute, stored program instructions.
Like an orchestra leader, the control unit does not execute program instructions;
rather, it directs other parts of the system to do so. The control unit must
communicate with both the arithmetic/logic unit and memory.
The Arithmetic/Logic Unit
The arithmetic/logic unit (ALU) contains the electronic circuitry that executes all
arithmetic and logical operations.
The arithmetic/logic unit can perform four kinds of arithmetic operations, or
mathematical calculations: addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. As
its name implies, the arithmetic/logic unit also performs logical operations. A
logical operation is usually a comparison. The unit can compare numbers, letters,
or special characters. The computer can then take action based on the result of
the comparison. This is a very important capability. It is by comparing that a
computer is able to tell, for instance, whether there are unfilled seats on
airplanes, whether charge- card customers have exceeded their credit limits, and
whether one candidate for a political party has more votes than another.
Memory
In computing, memory refers to the physical devices used to store programs
(sequences of instructions) or data on a temporary or permanent basis for use in
a computer or other digital electronic device
Types of Memory
(1)External Memory
(2)Internal Memory
External Memory
External memory typically refers to storage in an external hard drive or on the
Internet. The main “memory” in the computer is the computer work-space, not its
storage facility.
External memory which is sometimes called backing store or secondary memory,
allows the permanent storage of large quantities of data. Some method of
magnetic recording on magnetic disks or tapes is most commonly used
The capacity of external memory is high, usually measured in hundreds of
megabytes or even in gigabytes
The most common form of external memory is a hard disc which is permanently
installed in the computer and will typically have a capacity of hundreds of
megabytes
Types of External Memory’s:
(1)Magnetic Tapes
Introduction to Computing BSSE/1 SZABIST-ISB
 Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Institute of Science & Technology

COMPUTER SCIENCE DEPARTMENT

(2)Hard disk
(3)Magnetic Disk
(4)Optical Drives (CD-R/W, CD-ROM
(5)INTERNAL MEMORY
Internal Memory
Internal memory typically refers to main memory (RAM), but may also refer to
ROM and flash memory. In either case, internal memory generally refers to chips
rather than disks or tapes.
In a computer, all of the storage spaces that are accessible by a processor without
the use of the computer input-output Internal memory usually includes several
types of storage, such as main storage, cache memory, and special registers, all of
which can be directly accessed by the processor.
Primary storage (or main memory or internal memory), often referred to simply
as memory, is the only one directly accessible to the CPU. The CPU continuously
reads instructions stored there and executes them as required. Any data actively
operated on is also stored there in uniform manner.
It’s also called ( Primary /Main/Temporary/Semiconductor) Memory type.
Types of Internal Memory
(1)RAM
(2)ROM

Introduction to Computing BSSE/1 SZABIST-ISB