College of Engineering

Department of Roads and Highways

Computer component
Hardware

A.L : Samiyaa Yaseen Mohammed

2024-2025
 Hardware
Hardware refers to the external and
internal physical devices and
equipment that enable you to perform
major functions such as input, output,
storage, communication, processing,
and more.

‫ إلى األجهزة والمعدات المادية‬Hardware ‫يشير‬

‫الخارجية والداخلية التي تمكنك من أداء وظائف‬
‫رئيسية مثل اإلدخال واإلخراج والتخزين‬
.‫واالتصاالت والمعالجة والمزيد‬
There are three major components of internal hardware computer:

1- Input Devices: allow us to input information to

the computer

2-Central Processing Unit (CPU).

* Control Unit
* Arithmetic and Logic Unit (ALU)
* Memory Unit

3-Output Devices allow us to output information

from the computer
 I/O Units
I/O (Input/Output) is an
information processing system
designed to send and receive
data from a computer
hardware component, device,
or network.
1- Input Devices
Input devices allow us to input information to
the computer:
1. Keyboard: has keys like a typewriter
allowing us to type information into the
computer.

2. Mouse: It is a small hand-held device.

3. Scanner: converts image or text into

electronic information.
 5. Touch screen:
6. Light pen: it
4. Touchpad: enable the
can used to move
touch-sensitive computer to be
the cursor and
device. controlled by a
select objects.
finger directly
touching the screen
7. Joystick: hand-level that can be
moved in all directions to control
movement on the screen, used by many
games.

8. Microphone: allowing sound to be

recorded on the computer.

9. Digital camera: like an ordinal

camera, but it uses flash memory or a
floppy to save images.
10. Video camera: connected to
computer to be used in video
conferencing, or to store movies.

11. Bar Code Readers: A Bar

Code Reader is a device used for
reading bar-coded data (data in
the form of light and dark lines).
2-Central Processing Unit (CPU).
➢ The central processing unit (CPU) is the part
of the computer that interprets and executes
the commands from the computer hardware
and software. It is normally part of the
computer motherboard.

➢ The CPU/microprocessor is made up of a

control unit, which controls the input and
output devices; an arithmetic and logic unit
(ALU), which carries out calculations and
makes logical decisions, and small memory
locations called registers.
* Control Unit: tells the rest of the computer
system how to carry out a program's instructions.

* Arithmetic and Logic Unit (ALU):

perform arithmetic operations and logical
operations and control the speed of those
operations.

* Memory Unit: where the data used by the

ALU and the program instructions, which are
used by the Control Unit, are stored.
 Output Devices
Output Devices allow us to output information from the computer

1. Video Display units (VDU) (Monitors)

Displays the work being done by the CPU, displays the
results of processing, displays text, graphics, images,
forms, and so on.
Types of monitors:

i. Cathode Ray Tube (CRT)

ii. A Flat-Panel Display
[Link]: Are a device that converts computer output
into printed images. Hard copy refers to printed output.

3. Plotters: A special printer, which uses pens to draw

on the paper- and is under the control of the computer
and the mapping software. It is used to draw maps, as
well as complex technical drawings.

4. Speakers: They are used in Multimedia to produce

sounds. They can be used either with loudspeakers or
with headphones.
5. Speech Synthesizers: The device
allows us not only to display text on
a monitor but also to read text to
you.

6. Projectors: Devices that connect

to the computer to display outputs
on a large board.
Central Processing Unit (CPU):

1. Control Unit

2. Arithmetic and Logic Unit(ALU)

3. Memory Unit
 Central Processing Unit (CPU):

➢ A central processing unit (CPU) is a hardware component

that's the core computational unit in a computer.

➢ The CPU, also called the “central” or “main” processor, is

a complex set of electronic circuitry that runs the machine's
operating system and applications.
Control Unit
Control Unit: tells the rest of the computer system how to execute
a program's instructions. It directs the movement of electronic
signals between the main memory and the arithmetic unit. It also
directs these electronic signals between the main memory and the
input and output devices.
 Arithmetic and Logic Unit (ALU)
➢ An arithmetic logic unit (ALU) is
a digital circuit used to perform
arithmetic and logic operations.

➢ It represents the fundamental

building block of the central
processing unit (CPU) of a
computer.
➢ Modern CPUs contain very powerful and complex ALUs.
 Memory Unit
Types of memory:

➢ Primary memory : Primary memory is the memory that the CPU can
access directly, includes random access memory (RAM), read-only
memory (ROM), cache, and flash memory.

➢ Secondary memory : Secondary memory is a type of computer

memory that is used to store data and programs that can be accessed
or retrieved even after the computer is turned off. Tts known as a
Backup memory or Additional memory or Auxiliary memory. Hard
Drives, SSD, Flash, Optical drives, and USD drives.
 Primary memory
➢ 1. Random access memory (RAM).
a. RAM: The main memory in a computer. The location where data
and programs are stored (temporarily) until they are no longer needed.

b. RAM is volatile, which means that the data is only there while the power to
the computer is turned on (when the computer is shut off, the content of
RAM is erased).

c. RAM is comprised of chips attached to the motherboard.

➢ [Link]-only memory (ROM).
Read Only Memory (ROM): It is another part of the
main memory but with a very small capacity. It keeps
instructions, which make the computer work when
turning it on. It is not volatile. Cannot write on it.

➢ [Link] memory
* It is linked to the CPU; its very fast chips.
keeps frequently used programs and data.
* Therefore. It helps to increase the speed of the
computer.
* It reduces the gap speed between the RAM and the
CPU.
➢ [Link] memory.

Flash Memory: Memory that is divided into blocks. so it

saves and erases data in a faster way.

It is a non-volatile memory that can be used to save BIOS in

Computers.
It can be used also on Mobiles. Portables, digital camera.
 Secondary memory
1. Hard Disk (HDD) :Its located within
the computer. It is the most
important storage media in the
computer system. it keeps software
and programs. It is composed of
several magnetic disks in a single
unit.

2. Solid-state drives (SSDs): are the most common storage drives

today. SSDs are smaller and faster than hard disk drives (HDDs).
3. Floppy Disk: it is a small and portable magnetized disk in plastic case. It is
3,5 inches square and has a l.4MB capacity. It is used to transfer files from one
computer to another. It is slower than the hard disk.

4. CD-ROM: (Compact Disk Read Only memory) is an optical disk which uses
laser to read information.
5. Digital Versatile Disk (DVD): It is a high-capacity
development of CD-ROM. It can store a Gigabyte of
information. It is used to store high-quality films and
videos.

6. Zip Disc: it is similar to floppy disks. It has a

storage capacity; usually 100MB and more.
7. A smart card looks like a credit card but
contains a microprocessor and memory
chip. Telephone cards are examples of
smart cards.

8. Flash Drive: A flash drive is a small

and portable storage device that
connects to computers and other
devices using a USB Type-A plug that
is built into the drive.
 Data Representation in the Memory
➢ All information processed by the computer is handled
and stored in binary form 0 or 1, called BIT. A group of
8 BIT is called a Byte.

➢ A Byte is a memory unit, that represents a character, so it

is used to measure the memory capacity.
Storage capacity: Is represented by Kilobytes, Megabytes,
Gigabytes, and Terabyte

However, after Terabyte comes Petabyte. Next is Exabyte, then Zettabyte and
Yottabyte.
 Computer Ports
➢ Ports are connections between external
and internal input/output devices such
as keyboards, mice, Disk drives, and
many more with motherboards using
cables.

➢ That allows to communicate between

external devices or peripherals with a
laptop or computer.
 Computer Ports
There are two types of computer ports :

1. Internal port -Internal ports are used to

connect internal devices like disk drives, CD
drives, and other internal devices with the
motherboard.

2. External port-External ports are used to

connect external devices modem, mouse,
printer, flash drives, etc with the
motherboard.
There are a few important types of ports:

➢ Serial Port(COM port): A serial port is also called a

communication port and they are used for connection of
external devices like a modem, mouse, or keyboard
(basically in older PCs).

➢ Parallel Port: Parallel ports are generally used for

connecting scanners and printers. It can send several bits
at the same time as it uses parallel communication

➢ USB Port (Universal Serial Bus): It is a kind of new

type of serial connection Port that is much faster than the
old serial Ports
➢ PS/2 Port : are special ports used for
connecting old computer keyboard and
mouse.

➢ VGA Port : VGA ports also known as

Video Graphic Array connectors are
those which connect the monitor to a
computer’s video card.

➢ Modem Port : A modem port is used

to connect a PC’s modem to the
telephone network.
➢ FireWire Port : It can transfer large
amounts of data at very high speed. It is used
to connect camcorders and video equipment
to the computer.

➢ Sockets: Microphones and speakers are

connected with the help of Sockets to the
sound card of the computer.

➢ Infrared Port : An infrared port is a

wireless communication interface that is used
to send and receive infrared signals from
other devices.
➢ Game Port : is a type of input/output interface
found on older computers, primarily used for
connecting gaming devices like joysticks and game
controllers
➢ Digital Video Interface(DVI) Port:
DVI devices support analog connections, and are
compatible with the analog VGA interface, DVI is
designed to only transfer video signals.

➢ Ethernet Port: allows us to connect your

computer to the internet via an Ethernet cord. It is
much like a telephone jack but wider, and it carries data
instead of voice.
 power supply

A power supply unit (PSU)

is a hardware device that
converts AC electricity into
DC electricity and then
distributes it to the rest of
the computer.