Introduction to Information

Technology
2nd Edition
Turban, Rainer & Potter
© 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Chapter 3:
Computer Hardware

Prepared by:
Roberta M. Roth, Ph.D.
University of Northern Iowa

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 Chapter Preview
In this chapter, we will study:
The hardware components of an
information system:
• CPU (central processing unit)
• Memory (primary and secondary storage)
• Input devices
• Output devices.
The classification of computers by
power.
Strategic issues regarding hardware.
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 The Central Processing Unit
(CPU)
The CPU

Control
Unit
ALU
Input Output
Devices Registers Devices

Primary
Storage Communication
Devices

Secondary
Storage

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 The CPU (continued)
A microprocessor that executes
instructions to perform processing
tasks. Component parts are:
Control Unit The CPU

Arithmetic-Logic Unit Control

ALU
Unit
Registers Registers
Primary Storage
Primary
Storage

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 The CPU (continued)
Control Unit
Access program
instructions
Decode (interpret) The CPU
instructions
Control
Control flow of data Unit
ALU
throughout system Registers
Data flows through
paths called buses Primary
Storage

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 The CPU (continued)
Arithmetic-Logic Unit
Perform computations on data
Perform comparisons on data
The CPU

Control
Unit
ALU

Registers

Primary
Storage

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 The CPU (continued)
Registers
High speed storage areas
Hold data and instructions
The CPU

Control
Unit
ALU

Registers

Primary
Storage

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 The CPU (continued)
Primary Storage (Main Memory)
Stores instructions from programs
Stores data to be processed
The CPU

Control
Unit
ALU

Registers

Primary
Storage

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 The CPU (continued)
Machine Instruction Cycle
An instruction is fetched from primary
storage by the Control Unit
The Control Unit decodes the
instruction
The ALU receives the data and the
instruction and performs the
calculation or comparison
The result is stored in primary
storage.
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 The CPU (continued)
 Computer performance is measured in
part by the number of Machine
Instruction Cycles performed per
second.
 Factors affecting this performance
include:
 Clock Speed
 Word Length
 Bus Width
 Line Width
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 The CPU (continued)
Microprocessors evolved rapidly
due to
Miniaturation of transistors
Decreasing distance between
transistors on the chip (decreasing
line width)
Improved conductivity (flow) of
electricity
Improved instruction sets
programmed into the chip.
Smaller, faster, cheaper, more
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powerful chips with each

Turban, Rainer & Potter
© 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
 Computer Memory
The CPU

Control
Unit
ALU
Input Output
Devices Registers Devices

Primary
Storage Communication
Devices

Secondary
Storage

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 Computer Memory Basics
 Computers are digital, and represent
data in bit patterns
 Bit is shorthand for Binary digIT. The
binary system consists of two values: 0
&1
 8 bits = byte
 Bytes are the basic measure of storage
in computers
 ASCII Code assigns a unique character
to each pattern of 0s &1s in a byte.
 Kilobytes, Megabytes, Gigabytes,
Terabytes
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3-13
 Primary Storage (Main Memory)
Main memory is a temporary
storage area that holds three
things…
information you are working with
the application software you are
using
the operating system software
Increasing memory capacity
increases the performance of the
system
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 Primary Storage (Main Memory)
 Types of Primary Storage
 Registers – part of the CPU; very fast; very limited
capacity
 Random Access Memory (RAM) – memory
chips on motherboard; general storage of program
instructions and data; volatile
 Cache Memory – faster than RAM; used to provide
intermediate storage between secondary storage
and RAM
 Read-only Memory (ROM) – chips storing
permanent instructions needed by computer; non-
volatile

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 Secondary Storage
Non-volatile storage of data and
instructions
Huge storage capacity
Cheaper than Primary Storage
Slower than Primary Storage
Magnetic and optical storage
media

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 Secondary Storage Types
 Magnetic tape
 Cheap, slow, sequential access: good for backup
 Magnetic Disk
 Floppy
 Hard disk
 Zip drive
 Memory Cards and Cartridges
 Optical
 CD-ROM, CD-RW
 DVD
 FMD-ROM

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 Storage for the Enterprise
Enterprise Storage Systems –
provide coordinated, secure, managed
storage for all enterprise data.
Redundant array of independent disks
(RAID)
Storage area network
Network-attached storage
Storage Service Providers – third
party storage utilities
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 Computer Classifications
 Computers are commonly classified by
their processing power:
 Supercomputers
 Mainframes
 Midrange
 Workstations
 Microcomputers
 Computing appliances
 Classification boundaries are blurred.

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 Computer Classifications

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 Input Technology
The CPU

Control
Unit
ALU
Input Output
Devices Registers Devices

Primary
Storage Communication
Devices

Secondary
Storage

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 Input Technologies
 Human-oriented  Automated
 Keyboard  ATMs
 Mice / trackball  POSs
 Touch screens  Optical Scanners
 Stylus • OMR
• MICR
 Joystick
• OCR
 Microphone
 Voice recognition
 Sensors
 Cameras

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 Output Technology
The CPU

Control
Unit
ALU
Input Output
Devices Registers Devices

Primary
Storage Communication
Devices

Secondary
Storage

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 Output Technologies
 Monitors
 Printers
 Voice
 Multimedia

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 Strategic Hardware Issues
 Productivity
 Will employees’ personal productivity increase as
microprocessor power and speed increases?
 Changing Work Styles
 Will new work styles will benefit employees and the
firm as a whole?
 New Products and Services
 Is the organization ready and able to take advantage
of the new products and services that hardware
advances may make possible for the business?
 Improved Communication
 Is the organization ready to use multimedia for
knowledge sharing?

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 Chapter Summary
 Basic role and function of the CPU
 Primary and secondary storage
 Classifications of computers based on
processing power
 Variety and purpose of input devices
 Variety and purpose of output devices
 Consideration of strategic issues raised
by the advances in hardware
technology
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© 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
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© 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.