Computer Hardware

General Overview

Hardware: The internal structure of computers,

how they operate and how they are used in solving
problems.
What Next….?
 Programming -is about Software…why do
we have to learn about Hardware and other
stuff?
psychiatrist

Doctor of the………….?
From the OCR Specification
 AS Unit F451: Computer Fundamentals

3.1.1 Components of a Computer System

Types of hardware
Types of software
Candidates should be able to:
 define the terms hardware, software, input device,
storage device and output device;
 describe the purpose of input devices, storage devices
and output devices;
 describe the different roles and functions of systems
software and applications packages.
 What is a Computer System?

What is it comprise of?

How would you define it?
Robots = Computer Systems?
 How are computer systems different
from a -HUMAN?

Human Beings: Body (Flesh) Soul (Mind, Emotions etc) Spirit (Spiritual)
HUMANS AND ANIMALS…
What is the difference?

Mind (intuitive)
Survival Instinct

Body

Do Animals
Have the capacity to be spiritual?
Complex Choices?
Computer Systems
 Hardware
 Software

Hardware=The physical components

(electrical circuits) that make up the
computer

Software=The computer programs

(sequences of instructions) that tell the
computer what to do in response to a
command or some event.
How do we communicate with
computers?

What does this symbol

Mean?
Language called BINARY
The only thing a computer understands
is

 1

 0
 Components of a Computer
The program currently being executed is stored here.
(it is divided into storage units called BYTES)

For reading data into

Main Memory
MAIN MEMORY For permanent storage
of programs and data

INPUT DEVICES PROCESSOR OUTPUT DEVICES

For processing the data AUXILIARY

STORAGE

Fix For printing, displaying

Or out-put of info
The
Mistakes
 Components of a Computer
The program currently being executed is stored here.
(it is divided into storage units called BYTES)

For processing the data

MAIN MEMORY For printing, displaying

Or out-put of info

INPUT DEVICES PROCESSOR OUTPUT DEVICES

For reading data into AUXILIARY

Main Memory
STORAGE

For permanent storage of programs and data

Think of the Brain (System)
Information for the Exam….
 INPUT

 PROCESSING

 OUTPUT
Exam Results!
Computer Systems are the same
 Data is INPUT
 Data is PROCESSED
 Something is OUTPUT

 GIGO (Garbage in…Garbage

out..)
Types of Computer
 Minicomputers
 Mainframe Computers
 Supercomputers
Minicomputers
 Multi-user systems
 100’s of workstations or terminals
attached to central minicomputer
 E.g. EPOS (Electronic Point of Sale)
Systems
Mainframe computers
 Large Organisations –banks,
building societies, airlines,
governments
 May have 1000’s of terminals –
geographically remote locations
 Could occupy a whole site
 100’s of disk drives & hardware
units
 Location often kept secret!
(terrorist attacks)
Supercomputers
 Largest Category of computer
 Cost Millions
 Mostly used by scientific and
industrial research departments
 NASA –government agencies
 Weather Centres
 Stock Exchanges
 Large Commercial Organisations
PC, Mini, Mainframe or Supercomputer?
PC, Mini, Mainframe or Supercomputer?
NASA Goddard Space Centre

 Fourth Largest
Supercomputer in
the world
 Linux Operating
System
 Huge Memory
 Processing Power –
unparalleled!
PC, Mini, Mainframe or Supercomputer?
PC, Mini, Mainframe or Supercomputer?
Dr. Mark Seager of Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
inspects the world's fastest __________________a 64-rack Blue
Gene complex.

From picasaweb.google.com/.../KyPjMrKhtXMLpvIkZ4Jhtw
The processor
 PROCESSES!
 Faster the processor, better the PC?
What is the equivalent (in humans) to
the processor?
How does the Brain process?

-receives an instruction (stimulus)

-decodes & produces an appropriate instruction
-executes the instruction!
Processor
 Brain of the computer
 Processes instructions

THREE STEPS
1) Fetches Instructions
2) Decodes Instruction
3) Executes Instruction
What is a Processor?
 Most computers use integrated chips….or
integrated circuits for their processors or
main memory
 A chip is about 1cm square…and can hold
MILLIONS of electronic components such
as transistors and resistors
 CPU of a microcomputer is a
microprocessor
 Processor and MAIN MEMORY of a PC are
held on a single board called a
motherboard.
PROCESSORS
 Either chips or integrated circuits

 Integrated circuits are also found

in almost every modern electrical
device such as cars, television sets,
CD players, cellular phones, etc.
 CHIP A computer chip is an electronic
circuit (consisting mainly of
semiconductor devices, as well as
passive components) that has
been manufactured in the surface
of a thin substrate of
semiconductor material.

An electric circuit is made from different electrical

components such as transistors, resistors, capacitors and
diodes, that are connected to each other in different ways.
These components have different behaviors.

The transistor acts like a switch

Resistor –resists electricity –so you can control current
Capacitor –controls electricity
Diode –also allows control of current and flow
Why Integrated Circuits (transistors)?

 Before –there were VACUUM TUBE

 They were huge –costly –bulky –
easily burned out
 The first Computer –ENIAC –huge
30 ton monster! *use of 18000 or
so vacuum tubes*
Types of Processors

INTEL
 A hybrid integrated circuit is a miniaturized electronic circuit
constructed of individual semiconductor devices, as well as
passive components, bonded to a substrate or circuit board.

Jack Kilby's Integrated circuit, the first working Integrated circuit created
New Super-Efficient Chip Could Run on Body
Heat
MAIN MEMORY
 The program currently being executed
and the data used by the program is held
in MAIN MEMORY
 MM is divided into millions of individually
addressable storage units called BYTES
 One byte can hold one character
 Or one byte can hold a code representing
something –i.e a part of a picture, or a
sound, or a program instruction.
 The total number of bytes in MM = The
computers MEMORY SIZE.
Computer Memory Sizes
 1 KB (KB) =1024 Bytes
 1 MB =1024KB
 1 GB =1024MB
 1Tb =1024GB (about 1
trillion bytes)
Main Memory
 Processing power and Main Memory
in a computer has increased
exponentially in the past year! It
has grown at a rate that no one
could have predicted.
 1980 –Microcomputers with 32K of
memory were bought for thousands
of homes and schools!
Bill Gates made the famous remark…

 “640 K ought to be enough for

anybody..” 1981….

Things have changed drastically!

2004 –PC with 512 MB of MM was

standard….
Today?
 Watch this (hilarious!) Notice how excited they
were on unveiling this machine…

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=
zJ12vNZ5yMY

*also notice how the audience CLAPS when the floppy

Disk is taken out of his pocket! (in those days the thought
Of storage that could be moved around was revolutionary!)
RAM and ROM
 There are two kinds of Memory
 RAM –Random Access Memory (MM)

(this is used for storing programs that are currently

running and data that is being processed)

 ROM –Read Only Memory

(its contents are PERMANENTLY etched into the
memory chip at the manufacturing stage. It is
used –for example –to load the bootstrap loader
(the program that loads as soon as you start the
machine)
RAM
 Random Access memory
 Main Memory
 Stores info about applications that
are open and data
 VOLATILE –
 When you switch off the machine, it
disappears!!!
ROM
 Read only memory
 Non-Volatile (does not change)
 Programs that are necessary for the
computer to run
 Boot up program
 etc
Cache Memory
 This is a very FAST type of memory that
is used to improve the spped of a
computer, DOUBLING it ….in some cases.
 Acts as an intermediate store between
CPU and MM
 It works by storing most frequently or
recently used instructions so that it is fast
to retrive them again.
 Cache is usually between 1KB and 512KB
Internet Explorer –Clearing the Cache
 Cache Size –between 1KB and 512KB
Netscape Navigator

Clearing the Cache

Disk Storage
 Auxiliary storage is also called
 SECONDARY MEMORY
 BACKING STORE
 EXTERNAL MEMORY

 The most common secondary

memory (auxiliary storage) is
DISK!
Hard disk & Floppy Disk

 All standalone PC’s come equipped with an in-built

hard disk –the capacity of which is also measured in
BYTES.

 A typical hard disk nowadays is several gigabytes - - is

used for storing software including the OPERATING
SYSTEM..and other systems software.
Other types of Storage
 Flash Memory Cards
 Sticks
 Floppy discs
 Disks
INPUT AND OUTPUT devices
 Input devices are the means whereby
computers can accept data or instructions

 Keyboards, magnetic strip cards, smart

cards, magnetic ink character recognition
devices,

 Output –printer, VDU monitors, speakers,

etc
Embedded Computers and special-
purpose computers
 Not necessarily all computers are general
purpose compuers with a screen,
keyboard and disk drive.
 Special-purpose or dedicated computers
can do all sorts of things from controlling
the temperature in a greenhouse to
controlling traffic lights or using a cash
point
 Embedded Computers are used in
household goods automobiles and in
industry
All Computer Systems
 Have the same basic components
(INPUT, OUTPUT, PROCESSING,
MEMORY)

Special-purpose computers however

usually have the programs etched
onto the ROM so that they cannot
be altered. (Firmware)
What is this an example of?
Combined Washing machine-Toilet
 Household goods…all examples of..?

Programs are in ROM

(cannot be altered)

Devices/Machines with Embedded Computers

 All Examples of…!?

Wireless Temperature Control unit for Greenhouse Traffic Light Control Board

Special Purpose or Dedicated Computers.

All Examples of?

INPUT DEVICES
 Odd one out?

Printers

Scanner

Monitor

Scanner is INPUT, the rest are OUTPUT devices

 Storage Devices

Many different consumer electronic

devices can store data.

Edison cylinder phonograph ca.

1899. The Phonograph cylinder is a
storage medium. The phonograph
may or may not be considered a
storage device.
The Future of Storage?
Genetics!
Storage Medium and Memory

Type Memory
Floppy Disc 1.44 MB
CD-Rom 650MB

Memory Stick (standard) 256 MB

DVD Up to 4 Gig
Hard Disc 40 Gig
From the Specification….
 describe the different roles and
functions of systems software and
applications packages.