COLLEGE OF BUSINESS EDUCATION

(CBE-Mwanza)

Computer Fundamentals
Course Code: ITT04106

Lecture: TWO

MAIN PARTIES OF COMPUTER

Computer as programmable electronic device is built with two main parties, and these
parties are:

1. Computer Hardware – when you speak about the computer hardware, you're
speaking about the physical parties / tangible parties of computer that you can
see and touch which performs computer operations according to set of
instructions. WHILE

2. Computer Software – when you speak about the computer software, you're
speaking about set of instructions that instructs hardware (computer) what and
how to its tasks/operations.

COMPUTER HARDWARE

Definition of computer hardware is physical parties or tangible parties of computer

which you can see and touch that handles computer operations e.g. inputting,
processing, outputting, storing and communicating according to set of instructions.

Computer hardware can be classified/falls into five major categories as shown below:
1. Input Hardware
2. Processing Hardware
3. Output Hardware
4. Storage Hardware
5. Communication Hardware

INPUT HARDWARE
Input hardware/ devices, are device that enter the raw facts (Data) into a computer so
as the raw facts can be processed by computer. These raw facts (data) are the collection
of letters, numbers, images etc.

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Examples of input hardware:

Scanner Touch Pad/

Screen

Mouse Light Pen

Keyboard Bar Code Reader

Joysticks Microphone

Web-Camera Biometric
Devices

PROCESSING HARDWARE

The main unit inside the computer is the Central Processing Unit (CPU) or Brain of
Computer or Processor. This unit is responsible for all events inside the computer. It

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controls all internal and external devices, performs arithmetic and logic operations.
When you are asking to define the CPU (Central Processing Unit), is the computer
hardware that all tasks/operations within the computer are initiated and then after it
interprets and executes instructions.

Example of processing device are: Central Processing Unit (CPU) and Graphic Processing
Unit (GPU) as shown on the diagram below:

Figure for Central processing Unit (CPU)

Note: Processor or CPU has three main parties/components as described below:

1. Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU) - The ALU is the part of a CPU that performs all
arithmetic computations including addition, subtraction, multiplication, and
division. The Arithmetic Logic Unit also performs all logical operations. The ALU is
a literally the fundamental building block of the CPU, and even the simplest
processors contain an ALU.

2. Control Unit - The CPUs control unit is responsible for executing or storing the
results coming out of the ALU. Within the CPU, the control unit performs the
functions of fetch, decode, execute, and store. The control unit communicates
with both the arithmetic logic unit (ALU) and memory, and literally directs the
entire computer system to carry out, or execute, stored program instructions.

3. Memory (Registers and Cache L1) – Memories like registers are the temporary
storage areas for instructions or data within the processor. Registers are basically
special storage locations somewhat similar to a computer’s memory though
contained within the processor and exceptionally faster. Registers work under the
direction of the control unit to accept, hold and transfer instructions or data and
perform arithmetic or logical comparisons at a high rate of speed.

OUTPUT HARDWARE/DEVICES

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It is a device used to provide the processed data from the computer to the user. Monitor
(Screen), speaker and printer are the most commonly used output devices. The usage of
some of the commonly used output devices is tabulated below:

Examples of Output hardware:

Monitor Speaker

Projector InkJet printer

Plotter Laser Printer

STORAGE HARDWARE/ DEVICE

Storing data is an important part of a computer system. The main concern of all
computer designers is to create fast and efficient storage devices.

To be on the forum to explain computer storage devices/ hardware, you need first to
understand different types of computer storage device. These are:

1. Primary Memory/volatile Memory/ temporary memory/ non-auxiliary

memory, these are kind of computer memory where by lose data when the
power went off or when you switch off your computer. Due to this we call this

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 device volatile memory since it hold data when computer is in
executions/operations. Example of primary memory are Random Access
Memory (RAM) also known as Main Memory, Cache and Register.

Figure for Random Access Memory

2. Secondary Memory/ non-volatile memory/ permanent memory/ auxiliary

memory, these are kind of computer memory that hold data permanent, even if
the power went off or you switch the computer data will still be there and we call
the non-volatile memory or permanent memory. Example of permanent memory
are PROM, EPROM, EEPROM

Note: Because ROM is read-only, it cannot be changed; it is permanent and non-

volatile, meaning it also holds its memory even when power is removed. By contrast,
Random Access Memory (RAM) is volatile; it is lost when power is removed. There are
numerous ROM chips located on the motherboard and a few on expansion boards. The
chips are essential for the basic input/output system (BIOS), boot up, reading and
writing to peripheral devices, basic data management and the software for basic
processes for certain utilities.

Point to remember: People often confuse the terms memory and storage, especially
when describing the amount they have of each. The term memory refers to the amount
of RAM installed in the computer, in other words, is kind of memory the processor or
CPU most interacts with during execution. A good example of memory is RAM and
ROM while the term storage refers to the capacity of the computer’s hard disk that
means store data/information for the future use of computing task. Example of storage
device is Hard Disk, CD, DVD, Pen drive (Flash disk) and etc

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The major difference between the RAM memory and ROM memory:

Options RAM ROM

Elaboration Random Access Memory Read Only memory
Accessibility In reference with the processor, The processor cannot directly access
the information stored in the RAM the information that is stored in the
is easily accessed ROM. In order to access the ROM
information, first the information will
be transferred into the RAM and then
it gets executed by the processor
Working Both the read and write The ROM memory only allows the user
type operations can be performed over to read the information. User cannot
the information that is stored in make any changes to the information.
the RAM
Speed the accessing speed of RAM is Speed is slower in comparison with
faster, it assist the processor to RAM, ROM cannot boost up the
boost up the speed processor speed
Types he RAM memory is categorized The ROM memory is categorized into
into two types they are the: three types, they are: PROM
Statistic RAM (SRAM) and (Programmable Read Only memory),
Dynamic RAM (DRAM) EPROM (Erasable Programmable Read
Only memory) and EEPROM
(Electrically Erasable Programmable
Read Only memory)
Chip size Physically size of RAM chip is Physically size of ROM chip is smaller
larger than ROM chip than RAM chip.
Storage RAM memory is only used to store ROM memory is used to store
the temporary information. permanent information and cannot be
deleted.

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COMMUNICATION HARDWARE

Communication device is piece of equipment or hardware designed to move

information or data from one place to another, in other words, allowing one computer
device to communicate with another. There are many examples for communication
device, some are: Network Interface Card and Wireless Adapter (Wifi Card)

Figure for Network Interface Card (NIC)

Point to remember: Not all computer device are computer hardware, some of them are
peripheral devices. A computer peripheral is a device that is connected to a computer
but is not part of the core computer architecture. The core elements (computer
hardware) of a computer are the central processing unit, power supply, motherboard,
RAM and the computer case. Technically speaking, everything else is considered a
peripheral device like keyboard, mouse, printer, scanner and etc. Peripheral devices falls
on either one class of computer hardware.

Point of correction: Most people use the term peripheral more loosely to refer to a
device external to the computer case. You connect the device to the computer to expand
the functionality of the system. For example, consider a printer. Once the printer is
connected to a computer, you can print out documents. Another way to look at
peripheral devices is that they are dependent on the computer system. For example,
most printers can't do much on their own, and they only become functional when
connected to a computer system.

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