Chapter Three: System Unit

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 Chapter Outlines

• System Unit
• Common Components of Inside System Unit
• Motherboard.
• Processor-CPU
• Memory & Types Of Primary Memory
• Power Supply & Types of Power Supply
• Slots, Adapters, Ports & Connectors

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The system unit

 System Unit also known as a “tower” is the

enclosure that contains the main components
of a computer.
 Made of metal or plastic to protects the
internal components from damage.
 All computers have a system unit. It is
available in variety of shapes & sizes.

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the common system unit

System unit

System
unit System unit

System
unit

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Common Components of Inside System Unit

• System unit on a desktop personal computer

includes:
MOTHERBOARD

PROCESSOR -CPU

Memory (Ram & ROM)

POWER SUPPLY

Expansion& Adapter s

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 Motherboard

Motherboard , called system board.

It is a main circuit board of the system unit.
Many electronic components attach to the
motherboard, others are built into it.
Example: adapter cards, a processor chip
and a memory module.

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Motherboard

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Processor-CPU
• The processor, also called the central processing unit
(CPU), interprets and carries out the basic
instructions that operate a computer
– The Central Processing Unit (CPU) is considered the
brain of a computer. This internal component is
inserted directly into a socket on the motherboard.
– Computers have different processors in terms of
speed.
– Example: Dual core, Core i3, Core i5, Core i7.

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Processor-CPU

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Processor-CPU

• The leading
manufacturers of
personal computer
processor chips are
Intel and AMD.
• Intel is most widely
used by today's
technology.
• AMD: Advanced Micro
Devices
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Memory
 Computer memory is any physical device
capable of storing information temporarily,
like RAM (random access memory), or
permanently, like ROM (read-only memory)
& HDD (Hard Disk Drive)
 There are two types of Computer Memory
1. Primary Memory
2. Secondary Memory

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Memory

Memory Stores 3 basic categories of items:

1. The operations
2. Application programs
3. The data being processed by the application
programs and resulting information.

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Types of primary memory

The system unit contains two types of primary memory:

1. Volatile Memory
 Loses its contents when power is removed from the
computer.
 Temporary memory.
 Example: RAM.
2. Nonvolatile Memory
 Doesn't lose its content when power is removed from
the computer.
 Permanent memory.
 Example: ROM

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RAM(Random Access Memory )

• Two Main Types of RAM

• DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory).
• SRAM (Static Random Access Memory).
The two types of RAM differ in the technology they use to
hold data, with DRAM being the more common type. In
terms of speed, SRAM is faster. DRAM needs to be
refreshed thousands of times per second while SRAM does
not need to be refreshed, which is what makes it faster
than DRAM.

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ROM (Read Only Memory)

• ROM (Read-Only Memory) is a type of storage

medium that permanently stores data on personal
computers (PCs) and other electronic devices
• ROM chip is non-volatile storage and does not
require a constant source of power to retain
information stored on it. When power is lost or
turned off, a ROM chip will keep the information
stored on it.

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ROM (Read Only Memory)

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ROM (Read Only Memory)

• Types of ROM include: PROM, EPROM and

EEPROM
• PROM- Programmable read only memory
• EPROM- Erasable Programmable Read-Only
Memory
• EEPROM- Electrically Erasable Programmable
Read-only Memory

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POWER SUPPLY

• A power supply is an internal hardware component

that supplies components of computer with power.
• The power supply converts a 110-115 or 220-230
volt alternating current (AC) into a steady low-
voltage direct current (DC) usable by the computer
and rated by the number of watts it generates.
• On the front-end, which is not visible unless the
computer is opened and several cables that
connect the power supply to each of the devices
and the computer motherboard.
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POWER SUPPLY

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TYPES OF POWER SUPPLY
• There are 3 types of power supply in common
use:
• AT (Advanced Technology) Power Supply - used in
very old PCs.
• ATX (Advanced Technology Extended) Power
Supply - still used in some PCs.
• ATX-2(Advanced Technology Extended ) New
Version-Power Supply - commonly in use today

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AT & ATX Power Supply

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ATX-2 Power Supply

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Expansion Slot and Adapter Cards

Expansion Slot and Adapter Cards

 Expansion slot is a socket on the motherboard that can hold

an adapter card

 Adapter card sometimes called an expansion card

 is a circuit board that enhances functions of a component
of the system unit and/or provides connections to
peripherals.
 Peripheral is a device that connects to a system unit and is
controlled by the processor.
 Example: keyboard, printer.
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Expansion Slot and Adapter Cards

• Expansion Slots Adapter Card

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Expansion Slot and Adapter Cards

Types of adapter cards

Adapter Card Purpose
Graphics Increases the speed at which graphics are
accelerator displayed
Modem Connect other computers through telephone
or cable TV line
Network Connects other computers and peripherals
Sound Connects speakers or microphone
Video Connects a monitor

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Ports and Connectors

Ports and Connectors

Port is the point at which a peripheral attaches to or
communicates with a system unit so the peripheral
can send data to or receive information from the
computer.
 the term jack sometimes is used to identify audio
and video ports.

 Port have a different types of connectors, A

connectors joins a cable to a peripheral.
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Ports and Connectors

Serial Ports is a type of interface that connects a device

to the system unit by transmitting data one bit at a
time.

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Ports and Connectors

USB Ports, Short for Universal Serial Bus .

 A Universal Serial Bus (USB) is a common interface

that enables communication between devices and a
host controller such as a personal computer (PC).
 USB hub is a device that plugs in a USB port on the
system & contains multiple USB ports.

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 PC Ports and Connectors

Desktop computers the ports are on the

back and front

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 PC Ports and Connectors
• Laptop computers the ports are on the back and
sides (Right & Left)

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PC Ports and Connectors

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END
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