Prepared By: ER.

Kamal Gyawali

Block diagram of digital computer [2016 fall, 2014 spring,

2018 spring]
Digital computer contains following parts. They are listed
below.
1) Input devices
2) Memory
3) Central processing unit (CPU)
4) Output devices
The block diagram of digital computer is as shown in
figure below

Secondary memory

CPU
Input device Output device

ALU CU

Fig: block diagram of digital computer

1) Input devices:
 They are electronic or electro-mechanical equipment through which data and
instruction are entered into a computer.
 There are several types of input devices such as keyboard, mouse, joystick, game
pad, scanner, camera etc.
 Keyboard is most popular input devices and it is also known as standard input
device.
2) Memory:
 Memory in a computer is storage area needed to store instruction and data either
temporarily or permanently.
 There are two types of memory in computer they are as follows
a) Primary memory
 Prepared By: ER. Kamal Gyawali

b) Secondary memory
a) primary memory:
 Primary memory stores data and programs while the program is
being executed.
 The primary memory is also known as main memory.
 RAM (Random Access Memory) is an example of primary memory.
 Primary memory devices are more expensive then secondary
memory devices.
 They occupy very little physical space, consume very low power,
and are faster as compared to secondary memory devices.
 Primary memory devices are volatile in nature i.e. its content is
totally removed when power is switched off.

b) Secondary memory:
 The secondary memory stores data and program for long periods of
time.
 It provides large, non- volatile, and cheap storage for programs and
data.
 Common examples of secondary memory devices are hard drive,
hard disk, floppy disk, CD, DVD, pen drive etc.
 The computer games, songs, documents and the other programs
kept in a computer are actually stored in secondary memory
devices.

3) Central processing unit (CPU):

 CPU is the brain of computer system.
 It consists of two parts
a) Arithmetic/logic unit
b) Control unit

a) Arithmetic/logic unit:
 The arithmetic unit can perform four kinds of arithmetic operations,
or mathematical calculations: addition, subtraction, multiplication,
and division.
 Logical unit performs logical operation usually a comparison.
 Logical operations can test for three conditions:
 Equal to condition: In a test for this condition, the
arithmetic/logic unit compares two values to determine if
they are equal.
 Less than condition: To test for this condition, the computer
compares values to determine if one is less than other.
 Prepared By: ER. Kamal Gyawali

 Greater than condition: In this type of comparison, the

computer determines if one value is greater than another.
b) Control unit:
 It manages and coordinates the operations of all other components.

4) Output devices:
 The devices, from which we get our result, are known as output devices.
 Common example of output devices are: printer, monitor, speaker, projector etc.