Computer Hardware Components: CPU, Memory, and I/O:

To,

Computer Engineering Dept

By, B.A.M.Venkatesh 08CO17 3 rd Semester , B.Tech,

Basic Concepts of Computer Hardware

PRIMARY MEMORY

INPUT DEVICE

CPU (CENTRAL PROCESSING UNIT)

OUTPUT DEVICE

 This model of the typical digital computer is often called the von Neumann computer. y y Programs and data are stored in the same memory : primary memory. The computer can only perform one instruction at a time.

 Input/Output (I/O):
Refers to the process of getting information into and out of the computer. Input : Those parts of the computer receiving information to programs. Output : Those parts of the computer that provide results of computation to the person using the computer.

Sources of Data for the Computer

 Two types of data stored within a computer:
Original data or information: Data being introduced to a computing system for the first time. Computers can deal directly with printed text, pictures, sound, and other common types of information.

Previously stored data or information: Data that has already been processed by a computer and is being stored for later use.

These are forms of binary data useful only to the computer. Examples : Floppy disks, DVD disks, and music CDs.

Input Devices
 Two categories of input hardware:
Those that deal with original data. Those that handle previously stored data.

 Input hardware:
Those that deal with original data. Keyboard Mouse Voice recognition hardware Scanner Digital camera Digitizing : The process of taking a visual image, or audio recording and converting it to a binary form for the computer. Used as data for programs to display, play or manipulate the digitized data.

 Keyboard :
In computing, a keyboard is an input device, partially modeled after the type writer keyboard which uses an arrangement of buttons or keys, to act as mechanical levers or electronic switches. A keyboard typically has characters engraved or printed on the keys and each press of a key typically corresponds to a single written symbol.

It is usually attached to the computer by a PS/2 port and a mini-DIN connector plug. A USB keyboard connects to a PC using the USB port.

 Mouse : In computing, a mouse (plural mouses, mice, or mouse devices) is a pointing device that functions by detecting two-dimensional motion relative to its supporting surface. Physically, a mouse consists of an object held under one of the user's hands, with one or more buttons. The mouse's motion typically translates into the motion of a pointer on a display, which allows for fine control of a Graphical User Interface.

 Connecting Hardware to the computer:

Hardware needs access through some general input/output connection. Port : The pathway for data to go into and out of the computer from external devices such as keyboards. There are many standard ports as well as custom electronic ports designed for special purposes. Ports follow standards that define their use. SCSI, USB: Multiple peripheral devices (chain). RS-232, IDE: Individual peripheral devices.

Peripheral device: A piece of hardware like a printer or disk drive, that is outside the main computer.

 USB Port:
USB stands for Universal Serial Bus. Most personal computers sold today have a USB port connection somewhere in the front or back of the computer that transports information directly to the motherboard.

USB allows a PC user to hot-swap (connect and disconnect) peripheral devices to and from a PC without having to re-boot the computer s operating system or open the PC s case to add an expansion card component. The type of peripheral devices supported by USB includes keyboards, mice, digital web cameras, joysticks, scanners, and printers.

Hardware needs software on the computer that can service the device. Device driver : Software addition to the operating system that will allow the computer to communicate with a particular device.

 Common Basic Technologies for Storing Binary Information:

Electronic Magnetic Optical

 Electronic Circuits :
Most expensive of the three forms for storing binary information. A flip-flop circuit has either one electronic status or the other. It is said to flip-flop from one to the other. Electronic circuits come in two forms: Permanent Non-permanent

 Magnetic Technology
Two parts to most of the magnetic forms of information storage: The medium that stores the magnetic information. Example : Floppy disk. Tiny spots on the disk are magnetized to represent 0s and 1s. The device that can read that information from the medium. The drive spins the disk. It has a magnetic sensing arm that moves over the disk. Performs nondestructive reading.

 Optical
Uses lasers to read the binary information from the medium, usually a disc. Millions of tiny holes are burned into the surface of the disc. The holes are interpreted as 1s. The absence of holes are interpreted as 0s.

 Secondary Memory Input Devices

These input devices are used by a computer to store information and then to retrieve that information as needed. External to the computer. Commonly consists of floppy disks, hard disk drives, or CD-ROMs.

 Foppy Disks : A floppy disk is a data storage medium that is composed of a disk of thin, flexible ("floppy")magnetic storage medium encased in a square or rectangular plastic shell. Floppy disks are read and written by a floppy disk drive or FDD, the initials of which should not be confused with "fixed disk drive," which is another term for a (nonremovable) type of hard disk drive. they have now been largely superseded by USB flash drives ,external hard drives, CD s , DVD s , and memory cards (such as Secure Digital).

 Hard Disks :
A hard disk drive (often shortened as hard disk, hard drive, or HDD) is a nonvolatile storage device that stores digitally encoded data on rapidly rotating platters with magnetic surfaces. Strictly speaking, "drive" refers to a device distinct from its medium, such as a tape drive and its tape, or a floppy disk drive and its floppy disk. Early HDDs had removable media; however, an HDD today is typically a sealed unit (except for a filtered vent hole to equalize air pressure) with fixed media.

 CD-ROMS : For many years the CD-ROM (CD-Read Only Memory) drive was the standard CD Media component installed in a PC. However, the CD-RW (CD-ReWritable) drive has recently become the CD-Media drive of choice. CD Media drives use laser technology to read information from a CD and, in the case of CD-RW drives, to burn information to a CD. CD media drives are most often internal devices that attach to a motherboard with a 40-pin ribbon cable. CD Media Drives can also be external devices and installed to the PC via a USB port.

 Standard CD-RW Media Drive :

Secondary memory uses binary. The usual measurement is the byte.

A byte consists of 8 binary digits (bits). The byte is a standard unit. The four most important characteristics of storage devices: Speed and access time Cost / Removable versus non-removable Capacity Type of access

 Speed (Access time) - How fast information can be taken from or stored onto the computer memory device s medium. Electronic circuits: Fastest to access. 40 billionths of a second.

Floppy disks: Very slow in comparison. Takes up to 1/2 second to reach full speed before access is even possible.

 Cost :
Megabyte: A Million bytes. Gigabyte: A billion bytes. Two parts to a removable secondary storage device: The cost of the medium. (Cheaper if bought in quantity) The cost of the drive.

 Capacity - The amount of information that can be stored on the medium.

 Type of Access :

Sequential - Obtained by proceeding through the storage medium from the beginning until the designated area is reached (as in magnetic tape). Random Access - Direct access (as in floppy and hard disks).

Primary Memory
 Primary storage or memory:
y Is where the data and program that are currently in operation or being accessed are stored during use. Consists of electronic circuits : Extremely fast and expensive. Two types:

RAM (non-permanent) Programs and data can be stored here for the computer s use. Volatile: All information will be lost once the computer shuts down. Random Access Memory (RAM), or just memory, is a generic term for a

variety of different computer memory types. These include SRAM, DRAM, SDRAM, RDRAM, VRAM, WRAM,and DDR SDRAM. (See an A+ certification guidebook for a thorough, technical description of all the different types of RAM just mentioned.) The CPU uses RAM to hold software programs and data accessed from a separate media source, most often a hard disk drive. The more RAM a computerhas, the faster the machine can potentially operate, depending of course on the motherboard form factor and the power of the CPU. Memory chips are packaged into units called modules. Single Inline Memory Modules (SIMMs) were some of the first memory modules, followed by and eventually replaced by Dual Inline Memory Modules (DIMMs). ROM (permanent) Contents do not change.

The Central Processing Unit

 The Central Processing Unit ( CPU)
Often referred to as the brain of the computer.

The CPU handles almost all software instructions and all math calculations. It also handles communication between the devices attached to a PC. The speed of a PC is determined by the power of its CPU. Intel, the maker of the Pentium Processor, is the leading CPU manufacturer. A second company, Advanced Micro Devices (AMD), manufactures the Athlon Processor. The CPU is usually the largest chip on a motherboard. The chip either sits in a horizontal socket called a Zero Insertion Force (ZIF) socket, or as a vertical chip standing in a CPU insertion slot. This second type of insertion technology is usually found on newer motherboards and is usually referred to as Single Edge Connector (SEC) configuration. Responsible for controlling all activities of the computer system. The three major components of the CPU are:

1. Arithmetic Unit (Computations performed) Accumulator (Results of computations kept here) 2. Control Unit (Has two locations where numbers are kept) Instruction Register (Instruction placed here for analysis) Program Counter (Which instruction will be performed next?)

3. Instruction Decoding Unit (Decodes the instruction) Motherboard: The place where most of the electronics including the CPU are mounted.

Mother Board :
A motherboard is the central printed circuit board(PCB) in some

complex electronic systems, such as modern personal computer. The motherboard is sometimes alternatively known as the mainboard, system board, or, on Apple computers, the logic board. It is also sometimes casually shortened to mobo. The motherboard is the single most important part of the Personal Computer because everything connected to the PC is directly or indirectly connected to the motherboard. Motherboards are produced in configurations called Form Factors. Since the day IBM released its first PC in 1981 several motherboard form factors have appeared in thePC market. Two of these form factors will be introduced: AT (Advanced Technology) and ATX (AT Extended) motherboards. AT Motherboards were introduced in the mid 1980s. Very few are sold today. AT Motherboards have only one built in connector port designed for a keyboard connection. Other devices, such as a mouse or printer, connect to the motherboard by way of serial or expansion slot connections. The power supply, an AT power supply, connects to an AT motherboard with two connectors, called the P8 and P9 connectors.These power supply connectors need to be plugged into the motherboard correctly or you could damage the motherboard. ATX Motherboards were introduced in the mid 1990s. Unlike an AT Motherboard, ATX motherboards have several built in connector ports, such as two small connector sockets (called Mini-DIN connectors) for a mouse and keyboard, a parallel port, and USB ports. The power supply (an ATX power supply) connects to an ATX motherboard with one connector, called a P1 connector. Regardless of the form factor, motherboards provide a pathway for all connected components to communicate with each other and the Central Processing Unit. This pathway is called the Expansion Bus. Basically, the expansion bus is where one connects a component such as a sound card, modem, digital camera or external CD-ROM drive, to a personal computer. Bus technology has changed and improved since the first motherboard form factor. ISA, PCI, AGP, and USB are four common bus architectures.

Output Devices

Output units store and display information (calculated results and other messages) for us to see and use. Floppy disk drives and Hard disk drives.

Display monitors : Hi-resolution monitors come in two types:

Cathode ray tube (CRT) - Streams of electrons make phosphors glow on a large vacuum tube. A CRT monitor display is the result of electron guns

shooting beams of light in horizontal sweeps across the back of the computer screen.
Liquid crystal display (LCD) - A flat panel display that uses crystals to let varying amounts of different colored light to pass through it. Developed primarily for portable computers.

Audio Output Devices

Windows machines need special audio card for audio output. Macintosh has audio playback built in. Audio output is useful for: Music CD player is a computer. Most personal computers have CD players that can access both music CDs and CD-ROMs. Voice synthesis (becoming more human sounding.) Multimedia Specialized tasks (i.e.: elevator s floor announcements)

Optical Disks: CD-ROM and DVD

CD-ROM (Compact Disk - Read Only Memory)

By its definition, CD-ROM is Read Only. Special CD drives burn information into blank CDs. Burn: A laser is used to burn craters into the surface to represent a binary 1. Two main types of CDs: CD-R (Compact Disk - Recordable) CD-WR (Compact Disk - ReWritable)

It takes longer to write to a CD-R than a hard drive. Special software is needed to record

Software Tools for Maintaining Your Computer Hardware

 Utility Programs exist that can help diagnose and solve computer hardware problems. Four major problem areas where utility programs are helpful: Finding and fixing problems. Testing Input/Output peripherals. Testing RAM, motherboard, video cards. Recovering deleted files or fixing damaged disks.

Improving computer performance. De-fragmenting a disk (Packs all files closer together).

Preventative maintenance. Troubleshooting. Locates incompatible programs.