1 • Understanding Computer Hardware:
Looking Inside the Machine,
Role of the Motherboard- 1. Start of boot sequence,
2. Power on Self -Test (POST),
3. BIOS
[Link] CMOS
Roles of the Processor and Memory
Presented by: Manjusha Bawankar
[Link], Jain (Deemed-to-be) University
2 Computer Hardware: The Physical parts of a Computer
system
Computer hardware refers to the physical parts of a computer that you can touch and
see.
Types of Computer hardware:
Internal hardware: These are the components inside the computer case, like
the motherboard, CPU (central processing unit), RAM (random access memory), storage
drives (hard disks, SSDs), graphics card, sound card, and power supply. They work
together to process information, store data, and display output.
External hardware: These are devices that connect to the computer externally, like
the monitor, keyboard, mouse, printer, scanner, webcam, and external storage
devices. They provide input and output capabilities for the user.
Manjusha Bawankar
3 Looking inside Machine:
Opening the Case of Computer System:
First things first, ensure you're powered down and unplugged before
opening the case. Static electricity can damage sensitive components.
Once open, you'll be greeted by a symphony of metal and lights.
Motherboard:
This is the central hub, connecting everything:
CPU (Central Processing Unit): The "brain" of the computer, executing
instructions and performing calculations.
Computer CPU
Manjusha Bawankar
4
RAM (Random Access Memory): Temporary storage for currently used
data.
Expansion Slots: Allow you to add additional components like graphics
cards for enhanced visuals or sound cards for better audio.
Ports: Connectors for your keyboard, mouse, monitor, and other Computer RAM
peripherals.
Computer solidstate drive
Manjusha Bawankar
5 Exploring Deeper:
Beyond the motherboard, you'll find:
Graphics Card: Handles all things visual, displaying graphics on your
monitor. High-end cards are often larger and have dedicated fans.
Power Supply Unit (PSU): Converts wall power into usable voltages for
different components.
Fans: Keep the system cool by drawing in fresh air and expelling hot air.
Manjusha Bawankar
6
Role of the Motherboard
Start of boot Sequence
Power on Self -Test (POST)
BIOS
and CMOS
The motherboard is a crucial component of a computer system, serving as
a platform for various hardware components to communicate and function
together.
Manjusha Bawankar
7
Start of boot sequence: (Initial sets of operation)
When you press the power button on your computer, it sends a signal to the power supply
unit (PSU) to start providing power to the system.
The PSU supplies power to the motherboard, which then the motherboard initiates the boot
sequence.
It provides the necessary connections and pathways for the processor (CPU) to execute
instructions from the BIOS.
Manjusha Bawankar
8
Power On Self Test (POST):
POST is a diagnostic process (Test) performed by the motherboard upon
startup to verify that essential components like CPU, RAM, GPU, and other
hardware are functioning properly.
The Motherboard coordinates and executes the POST routine, which checks
the integrity and functionality of various hardware components.
If any issues are detected during POST, the motherboard typically emits
audible beep codes or displays error messages through a connected display
device to alert the user.
Manjusha Bawankar
9 BIOS (Basic Input/ Output System):
The BIOS is a firmware stored on a chip on the motherboard.
It provides the fundamental instructions for the computer system to boot up,
initialize hardware components, and provide basic input/output operations.
The motherboard facilitates the interaction between the BIOS firmware and
the hardware components during the boot process.
Users can access and configure BIOS settings through a BIOS setup utility,
usually accessed by pressing a specific key (e.g., Delete, F2) during the boot
process.
Manjusha Bawankar
10 CMOS (Complementary Metal-Oxide-
Semiconductor):
CMOS is a type of non-volatile memory that stores system configuration data,
including date and time, boot sequence, hardware settings, and other
parameters.
The motherboard contains a CMOS chip where this information is stored.
CMOS settings can be modified through the BIOS setup utility.
The motherboard maintains the CMOS settings even when the computer is
powered off by providing a small battery (CMOS battery) to supply power to
the CMOS chip.
Manjusha Bawankar
11 Roles of the Processor
The processor also known as CPU is a piece of
hardware.
It is often referred to as the “Brain of a PC” because all
the computations and processing are carried out directly
or indirectly by the processor containing millions of
transistors.
It is a single chip that is capable of processing data.
The performance, capability, and pricing of a computer
system are largely determined by the processor to
present in it. It controls all the components in a PC.
Manjusha Bawankar
The Role of Processor includes:
12
Instruction Execution: The primary role of the processor is to
execute instructions provided by software programs. These
instructions are fetched from memory, decoded, and executed
by the CPU.
Arithmetic and Logic Operations: The processor performs
arithmetic operations (such as addition, subtraction,
multiplication, and division) and logical operations (such as
AND, OR, NOT) on data. These operations are fundamental to
all computing tasks.
Manjusha Bawankar
13
Data Movement: The processor moves data between different parts of the computer system, including
between memory and the CPU's registers, cache, or other storage locations. This movement of data is
essential for processing and manipulation.
Cache Management: Modern processors often have multiple levels of cache memory to improve
performance by storing frequently accessed data and instructions closer to the CPU cores. The
processor manages the cache, including fetching data from memory into cache and deciding which data
to evict from the cache.
Manjusha Bawankar
14 Interrupt Handling: Processors handle interrupts, which are signals that temporarily halt
the CPU's normal execution to handle specific events. These events can include hardware
interrupts (e.g., signals from peripherals) or software interrupts (e.g., system calls).
Virtual Memory Management: The processor works with the operating system to
manage virtual memory, allowing programs to use more memory than physically available
by swapping data between RAM and storage devices.
Power Management: Processors incorporate power management features to optimize
energy usage, such as reducing clock speeds or entering low-power states when idle.
Security: Modern processors may include security features to protect against various
threats, such as hardware-based encryption and support for secure execution environments.
Manjusha Bawankar
15 Role of the Memory
Random Access Memory (RAM):
Volatile memory, meaning data is lost when the computer is turned off.
Faster than storage devices like hard drives and SSDs.
Used for holding currently active data and programs.
Read-Only Memory (ROM):
Non-volatile memory, meaning data persists even when powered off.
Contains essential system instructions and programs (e.g., BIOS).
Read-only, meaning data cannot be modified by the user.
Manjusha Bawankar
16
Storing Active Data: When you open a program or file, it's loaded from storage
(e.g., hard drive, SSD) into memory. This allows the processor to quickly access and
manipulate that data.
Holding Instructions: The processor fetches instructions from memory one at a
time, decodes them, and executes them.
Facilitating Multitasking: With limited space, memory constantly swaps data in and
out based on usage frequency. This allows you to run multiple programs
simultaneously without significant slowdowns.
Cache Memory: Modern processors also have internal cache memory, even faster than
main memory, storing frequently used data and instructions for immediate access.
Manjusha Bawankar
17
Primary Storage: Memory serves as the primary storage location for data and instructions
that are currently being processed by the CPU. It holds the operating system, application
programs, and data that are actively in use.
Execution of Programs: When a program is launched, its instructions and necessary data
are loaded into memory for execution by the CPU. The CPU fetches instructions from
memory, executes them, and stores temporary results back into memory.
Multi-Tasking Support: Memory enables multitasking by allowing the computer to run
multiple programs simultaneously.
Virtual Memory: Memory supports virtual memory, a technique that allows the computer to
use storage devices like hard drives or SSDs as an extension of physical memory.
Manjusha Bawankar