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CPU and Computer Components Overview

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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
24 views11 pages

CPU and Computer Components Overview

Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Task 1

AIM: Identify the peripherals of a computer, components in a CPU and its functions. Draw the
block diagram of the CPU along with the configuration of each peripheral and submit to your
instructor.
Peripherals of a computer, components in a CPU and its functions:
1. Cabinet:

This component holds all of the physical parts of a computer system. It is


usually designed in such a manner to make fitting a motherboard, wiring,
and primary and secondary storage devices as easy as possible. Cases
typically have extra connectors on the front of them for more convenience.
USB ports and headphone jacks are commonly found. Computer cases rely
on fans inside them to create proper airflow to keep all the internals cool and
working reliably.

2. Motherboard

The motherboard is the main board mounted directly inside the


computer case. All other cards plug directly into the motherboard. It
is a printed circuit board in which the CPU, RAM, drives, power
supply, expansion cards, and more are plugged into it.
3. Central Processing Unit (CPU)

The CPU or central processing unit is basically like the brain of computer
systems. It processes all the information on a computational level. It takes all
the processes from the RAM and processes them to perform the tasks
required by the computer system. The faster the processor, the more
instructions it can execute at any given time. The central processing unit is
usually seated in a socket that utilizes a lever or a latch with a hinged plate
with a cut-out in the center to secure the CPU onto the motherboard. It has
many copper pads underneath it for the socket contacts to push up against
them to make electrical contact. There are other ways CPUs can be attached
to the motherboard. It will run even hotter when set to a higher clock speed
to make it run faster. This is called overclocking. This is why a heatsink and
fan assembly are required to draw the heat away from the central processing
unit and distribute it to thin sheets or fins of metal for the fan to cool down.
There are so many different types of computer processors. The top
manufacturers of processors are Intel, AMD, and NVidia.

4. Random Access Memory (RAM)

RAM is a data storage device that can provide fast read and write access.
RAM is volatile memory, meaning it loses all the stored data when power is
lost. The RAM keeps data ready for the CPU to process. RAM used on the
motherboard often uses DDR (Double Data Rate) SDRAM (Synchronous
Dynamic Random Access Memory) type memory.

5. Graphics Card or Graphics Processing Unit (GPU)


A graphics card is an output device that processes the data from the
motherboard and sends the appropriate information to the computer’s
screen for display. You can connect monitors to it using HDMI, DisplayPort,
DVI, or VGA connectors.

6. Sound Card
Most of the time, the sound chip built into the motherboard is used for audio
output. A sound card can offer a wide range of connectivity with audio
equipment. Examples could be optical audio, a 1/4-inch jack, or RCA
connectors.

7. Hard Disk Drive (HDD)

A hard drive is still found in many PCs to this day. A mechanical drive’s
purpose is to store all your information for retrieval at any time.

8. Solid State Drive (SSD)

An SSD is also a type of hard drive, but it doesn’t have any moving bits. It
consists of a bank of flash memory that can hold a reasonable amount of
information. While the capacity of SSDs is increasing, they aren’t cost-
effective for storing large amounts.

9. SMPS:
The full form of SMPS is Switched Mode Power Supply. It converts the AC mains
supply from the power cord from a wall socket and supplies the correct DC
voltages to all the parts of a computer.

10. Monitor or Visual Display Unit (VDU)

A monitor is an output device to visualize the graphics information sent from


the computer’s GPU. There are various types of monitors on the market. An
LED (Light Emitting Diode) backlit LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) monitor is the
most commonly used with a modern PC.

11. Keyboard

A keyboard is an input device that is one of the ways to communicate with a


computer. Typing a key from the keyboard sends a small portion of
information to tell it which key was pressed. Once the computer receives
input from the keyboard, it can use the keystrokes in digital form to produce
a specific task in any software being used.

12. Mouse
A mouse is an input device that allows the user to move a pointer displayed
on the monitor and experience a more intuitive interaction with computer
systems. A computer mouse is a handy pointing device that can be wired or
wireless.

13. Printer

A printer can take an image sent by a computer and deliver it onto a sheet of
paper. It does this by using the information from the computer, and by either
using toner or ink, it deposits one of these in a controlled and accurate
manner to form the image.

14. Scanner

A scanner can take anything on paper, and it functions by scanning it to


produce a replicated digital image for a computer to save.

15. Computer Speakers

Speakers can connect to the sound card at the rear of the computer.

16. A camera or webcam


Desktop users often use cameras when they’re not using a laptop or other
portable communication device with an inbuilt camera.

[Link] Chip:
BIOS controls how the operating system and hardware wok together
BIOS identification is BIOS name is available on chip or mother board

[Link] Slots &PCI (Expansion) Cards:

a. PCI slots are used to install the PCI cards such as

i. LAN (Ethernet) Card---Back view Ethernet port

ii. Sound Card- Back view Audio pin connectors)

iii. TV Tuner (Internal) Card - Dish Pin connecter


iv. PCI Slots are white or yellow color
v. PCI Card has Single gap only
[Link] Bridge:
a. It is also called as controller
b. It is nearby socket 478
c. It placed middle of the mother board
d. It converts electronic signals to binary values and binary values to electronic
signals

20. South Bridge:

e. It is controls major components mother board and it back bone of the input out
devices
It is communicating PCI slots, IDE-1, IDE-2, floppy connecter, BIOS chip. Its nearby
CMOS battery.

21. CMOS Battery:

a. Computer is using a coin shape battery


b. It generates the clock signal and it manage system continues time.

22. Primary & Secondary (IDE-1 & IDE-2):

a. It is also called as IDE-1, IDE-2.


b. It used to connecting Hard Disk Drive, CD ROM, DVD ROM.

23. Input & Output ports:


a. IO ports are used to connecting IO device such as key boards, mouse,
monitor, printer, scanner, speakers etc...

24. AGP Slot & AGP Card:

a. AGP Slot is used install the AGP card.


b. AGP back view same as VGA port (15-female pins) and used to connecting
the monitors.
Block Diagram of Computer:

1. Input Unit

The input unit takes all the data received by the computer. The input unit
comprises different devices such as a mouse, keyboard, scanner, etc. All of
these devices act as intermediaries between the users and the computer.
The input unit takes the data that has to be processed. The raw data is
accepted by the computer in binary form. This data is then processed and
the desired output is produced.

The major functions of the Input Unit are-

The Input Unit takes the data to be processed by the user.

The data is then converted into machine-readable form.

The Input Unit then transmits the converted data into the main memory of
the computer.

The main purpose of this process is to connect the user and the computer by
creating an easy connection between them.

2. Central Processing Unit (CPU)

The Central Processing Unit or CPU is known as the brain of the computer.
Just like the human brain controls all human activities, the CPU also takes
care of all the tasks. The CPU is responsible for performing all the arithmetic
and logical operations within the computer. All the major calculations,
operations and comparisons are performed inside the CPU.

Some of the main functions of a CPU are-


All the components of a computer system, software, and data processing are
controlled by the CPU.

The Input devices provide data to the CPU which is then executed and then
the CPU sends the output to the Output devices.

All the operations including the arithmetical and logical are processed by the
CPU.

The CPU comprises two parts- ALU (Arithmetic Logic Unit) and CU (Control
Unit). These units work in sync to help the CPU process the whole data. Let
us know about these components-

Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU)

The Arithmetic Logic Unit is comprised of two terms- arithmetic and logic.
The two primary functions that the ALU performs are-

Data is entered into the primary memory via the input unit. Then, the ALU
carries out essential arithmetic operations on this data, including addition,
subtraction, multiplication, and division. After performing all sorts of
calculations required on the data, it sends back data to the storage.

The ALU also performs logical operations such as AND, OR, Equal to, Less
than, etc. In addition, it also handles tasks like merging, sorting, and
selecting the given data.

Control Unit (CU)

As the name suggests, the Control Unit (CU) is the controller of all the
activities, tasks and operations. All these operations are performed inside the
computer. The memory unit sends a set of instructions to the control unit
which is then converted by the CU. These instructions are then converted to
control signals. The purpose of these control signals is to help in prioritizing
and scheduling activities. So, the control unit ensures that all tasks inside the
computer work together smoothly, coordinating with the input and output
units.

Memory Unit

The Memory Unit stores all the data that has to be processed or has been
processed. The memory unit serves as a central hub for all the data. This
data is then transmitted to the required part of the computer whenever
necessary. This unit works in sync with the Central Processing Unit to help in
faster accessing and processing of the data. This results in making the tasks
easier and quicker.

Computer Memory is of two types-

Primary memory: The primary memory cannot store a vast amount of data.
Hence, it is only used to store recent data which is temporary. Once the
power is switched off, the data stored can get erased. Hence it is also called
temporary memory or main memory. An example of primary memory is
Random Access Memory (RAM). This memory is directly accessible by the
CPU and is used for reading and writing purposes. The data has to be first
transferred to the RAM and then to the CPU for processing.

Secondary memory: Since the primary memory stores temporary data and it
cannot be accessed in the future. So, for permanent storage purposes,
secondary memory is used. It is also known as permanent memory or
auxiliary memory. An example of secondary memory is the hard disk. The
data does not get erased easily even in case of a power failure.

3. Output Unit: Once the information sent to the computer is processed, the
user receives the results through the output unit. Examples of output units
are devices such as printers, monitors, projectors, etc.

The output unit presents the data either as a soft copy (on the screen) or as
a hard copy (on paper). The printer is for the hard copy. The monitor is for
the display. The output unit receives data in binary form from the computer
and converts it into a readable format for the user.

Common questions

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Peripheral devices, such as printers, scanners, and cameras, provide additional functionalities that extend a computer's capabilities beyond processing data. Input peripherals like keyboards and mice allow users to provide information and commands. Output devices, such as monitors and printers, display or reproduce processed data readably. This integration enables a computer to perform a wide range of tasks, from printing documents to capturing images .

A Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) is specialized for rendering images and video, handling calculations involving graphics transformations and shading, while a Central Processing Unit (CPU) is a more general-purpose processor that executes instructions for all tasks a computer performs. Architecturally, GPUs operate with a parallel structure, allowing them to process numerous threads simultaneously, which makes them more efficient in handling tasks like rendering video and AI calculations. In contrast, CPUs have fewer cores optimized for sequential serial processing tasks such as running an operating system and executing commands .

Primary memory, such as Random Access Memory (RAM), is directly accessible by the CPU and used for storing data temporarily during active processing. It is volatile, meaning the data is lost when power is switched off. Secondary memory, like hard drives and SSDs, provides permanent storage, retaining data even when the computer is off. While primary memory offers fast read and write speeds crucial for immediate data processing, secondary memory stores larger volumes of data more cost-effectively for long-term use .

The input unit captures raw data from external interfaces like keyboards and mice, converting it into a machine-readable form for processing by the computer. Once processed by the CPU, this data is transferred to the output unit, which then converts the data back into a human-readable form. These interactions ensure that users can input information and receive feedback or results effectively, maintaining smooth communication between the user and computer system .

Graphics cards use various connectors like HDMI, DisplayPort, DVI, and VGA to interface with display devices. Each connector type supports different levels of resolution and refresh rates, impacting display quality. HDMI and DisplayPort can carry video and audio signals, providing high-definition output. VGA, while older, is still used for analog connections. The choice of connector affects the performance and quality of the display output, influencing the user experience with graphics-intensive tasks .

The BIOS chip contains essential code for booting up the computer and acts as an interface between the operating system and the hardware. It controls the initial setup and checks the hardware status during start-up, supplying necessary instructions to hardware components like the CPU and disk drives to initiate them properly. This underlying function helps in managing hardware configs effectively, ensuring communication between the operating system and the hardware .

The CPU executes instructions through a series of steps involving fetching, decoding, executing, and writing back data. The Control Unit (CU) manages the instruction cycle, fetching instructions from memory and converting them into control signals. Meanwhile, the Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU) performs the actual arithmetic and logical operations. The CU coordinates activities between the ALU and memory, ensuring instructions are executed efficiently, and data flow is managed correctly within the CPU .

The Control Unit (CU) functions as the controller for all the activities and operations within the computer. It receives a set of instructions from the memory unit, which it then converts into control signals to help prioritize and schedule tasks. This coordination ensures that various tasks inside the computer work together smoothly, integrating the input and output units with the CPU processes. The CU works in sync with the Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU) within the CPU and harmonizes the data processing activities throughout the computer system .

Heat management is crucial as components like the CPU generate significant heat, which can degrade performance and cause malfunctions. A well-designed heat management system, including heatsinks and fans, prevents overheating, ensuring optimal CPU performance and longevity. Overclocking, which boosts CPU speed, increases heat production, thus further emphasizing the need for efficient cooling to maintain system reliability and performance .

Current trends in storage technology emphasize speed, energy efficiency, and reliability. SSDs, due to their lack of moving parts, offer faster data access speeds and better energy efficiency compared to traditional HDDs. They enhance computer performance by reducing load times and improving overall system responsiveness. The decreasing costs and increasing storage capacities of SSDs make them more accessible, gradually phasing out HDDs for main storage in high-performance applications .

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