Hardware

Processing Devices
Memory Devices
Input Devices
• Optical Input Devices
• Audio-visual
Input Devices
Output Devices
•Monitors
•Printing Devices
Storage Devices
•Magnetic
•Optical Storage
Devices.
 Processing Devices
- Transformation of data into information is called processing,
- any device that deals with information I/O
- Component that
• processes data and
• manages the storage and retrieval of information.
e.g. central-processing units (CPU), motherboards
network cards, Sound cards, graphics cards etc..
- CPU, a control center of computer executes instructions and
converts to data/information.
- motherboard connects the CPU, memory, hard drive and
other components.
 Central Processing Unit (CPU)
single electronic component “the brain of the computer”

component that executes instructions.

personal computer, contains one or more micro-processors.

The micro-processor is plugged into circuit board (mother

board) which connects the processor to other hardware.
NOTE: The system unit (cabinet) also includes circuit boards, memory chips, ports and other
components. A microcomputer’s system cabinet will also house disk drives, hard disks, etc., but
these are considered separate from the CPU.
 Central Processing Unit (CPU)
CPU Speed determines the overall speed of computer itself

Three factors that affect CPU speed:

a. clock speed b. cores c. cache

a. Clock speed
- Speed at which the CPU can execute instructions.
- controlled by a clock; CPU fetches and execute single
instruction
- clock speed is measured in cycles per second i.e. 1 Hertz.
i.e. CPU with a clock speed of 2 gigahertz (GHz) can carry out two
thousand million (or two billion) cycles per second.
- higher the clock speed faster the processing
 Central Processing Unit (CPU)
b. Cores
- A CPU is made up of processor with a single core.
- Most modern CPUs have two, four or even more cores.
- CPU with two cores is called dual core processor, with four
cores is called Quad core and so on.
A dual core processor can fetch and execute two instructions in the same
time a single core processor takes to fetch and execute just one.

c. Cache
- tiny block of memory built right onto the processor.
- Used to store most frequently used used data/instructions.
- bigger the cache, more the frequently used data/instructions
can be stored and faster it can be executed.
 Central Processing Unit (CPU)
three major components:
1. Control Unit (CU)
2. Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU) and
3. Memory Units (MU).

Memory Unit
 Central Processing Unit (CPU)
1. Control Unit (CU)
•Logical Hub that manages all the resources.
•Tells rest of computer system how to respond to program’s
instructions
•directs the movement of data between memory and ALU.
•Controls the flow of information between CPU & I/O devices.
•holds all the Instruction sets that CPU requires to carry-out
commands.
•most complex part of CPU as it determines the clock cycle of
the CPU.
 Central Processing Unit (CPU)
2. Arithmetic - Logic Unit (ALU)

-digital circuit that performs - arithmetical and logical

operations

-made up of fast electronic circuits that produces single output

Arithmetical operations: mathematical operations such as

addition, subtraction, multiplication and division.

Logical operations: comparisons of values such as NOT,

AND, and OR.
The data from MU is transferred to ALU to be processed
and is returned to internal storage (Memory).
 Central Processing Unit (CPU)
3. Memory Unit:
- internal storage also called primary memory or main memory.

- Data from input device is stored in memory until CPU is

ready to process

- used to store the

data/instructions given to a
computer.

-stores processed data

and intermediate results.

Data in main memory is stored only as long as the computer is turned on (Volatile).
Contents are lost when computer is switched off.
 Central Processing Unit (CPU)
Functions of the CPU:
•Accepting the data/instructions from input devices.
•Storing all the instructions and data in the memory and
retrieving the relevant information as and when required.
•Interpreting the instructions and sending commands to
various units.
•Performing all the arithmetic and logic operations.
•Controlling and co-coordinating the activities of all other units
by issuing proper commands.
•Communicating between primary storage and all other
devices connected to the computer.
•Sending results to the output devices when required.
 How CPU Works
- The basic operation is ‘fetch-decode-execute’ cycle.
- Repeats below steps when computer boots till it shuts down.

Fetch: Processor reads data/instruction from the memory then

store them in its own internal temporary memory areas called
'registers'.

Decode: Control unit decodes the instruction (decides what it

means) and directs the movement of data from memory to
ALU

Execute: CPU carries out the required action that is needed.

 How CPU Works
Execution of an Instruction

Instruction phase Execution phase

• Step 1: Fetch instruction • Step 3: Execute the instruction
• Step 2: Decode instruction • Step 4: Store the results
 How CPU Works & Memory Works
- Control Unit directs the loading of an instruction from primary
storage into main memory into internal registers

- The Control Unit decodes those instruction (identifies the

data in memory addresses and the operation it need to
perform with that sets of data)

- The ALU executes the arithmetic or logical instruction i.e.

given the control, ALU
performs the actual operation
on the data.

- The result is stored back

in Primary storage which
May then be sent to the
output device
 Example how CPU Works……
How the CPU and Memory work: (more explanations... if you can take it !!! ):

Various steps involved for multiplying two numbers explained below.

1. When control unit recognizes that the program has been loaded into the memory, it
begins to execute the first step in the program.
2. The program tells the user, "Enter 1st Number".
3. The user types number 100 on keyboard which sends an electronic signal to CPU
4. The control unit recognizes this signal and routes it to memory address - Lets say “7”.
5. next instruction tells the user, "Enter 2nd Number."
6. The user types the number 4 on keyboard which sends an electronic signal to CPU
7. The control unit recognizes this signal and routes it to memory address 8. - Lets say
8. The next program instruction is executed - "Multiply 1st and 2nd Numbers."
9. To execute this instruction, the control unit informs the ALU that two numbers are
coming and the ALU is to multiply them. The control unit next sends to the ALU a
copy of the contents of address 7 (100) and address 8 (4).
10. ALU performs the multiplication : 100 × 4 = 400
11. The control unit sends a copy of the multiplied result (400) back to memory to store
it in address 9.
12. The next program instruction is executed : "Print the Result."
13. To execute this instruction, the control unit sends the contents of the address 9
(which is 400) to the monitor.
14. Monitor displays the value 400.
15. Final instruction is executed: "End". The program is complete.
 Motherboard
- main circuit board that connects different parts of computer.

- has sockets for the CPU, RAM and expansion cards (e.g.
graphics cards, sound cards, network cards etc)

- also connects hard drives,

disc drives and front panel
ports with cables and wires.

TYPES:

XT: eXtended Technology

AT: Advanced Technology

ATX: Advanced Technology eXtended ... and so on….

 Motherboard
- bridges internal components, also connects to external
devices including monitor, speakers, headphones,
microphone, keyboard, mouse, modem and other USB
devices

- called control center as it homes BIOS (Basic Input / Output System)

- BIOS performs hardware checks when computer powers on

and allows access to system settings such as:

•view hardware information

•Change order of boot-up device
•manage power settings and savings
•overclock or under-clock the CPU and RAM
Motherboard
Motherboard

Back Panel Connectors

 Motherboard Components
1. Back Panel Connectors & Ports: Connects to external devices such as display ports, audio
ports, USB ports, Ethernet ports, PS/2 ports etc.

2. PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect) Slots: for older expansion cards such as sound
cards, network cards, connector cards.
Have been largely replaced by PCI-Express x1 and x16 slots

-PCI Express x1 Slots: for modern expansion cards such as sound cards, network cards (Wi-Fi,
Ethernet, Bluetooth), connector cards (USB, FireWire, eSATA) and certain low-end graphics
cards.

PCI Express x16 Slot: for discrete graphic cards and high bandwidth devices such as top-end
solid state drives.

5. Northbridge: Also known as Memory Controller Hub (MCH).

-Chipset that allows the CPU to communicate with the RAM and graphics card.
-Beginning from Intel Sandy Bridge in 2011, this motherboard component is no longer present as
it has been integrated within the CPU itself.

6. CPU Socket: where Processor chip is Inserted

7. ATX 12V Power Connector: Connects to the 4-pin power cable of a power supply unit which
supplies power to the CPU.

8. Front Panel USB Connectors: Connects to USB 2.0 ports at front or top of a computer case.
 Motherboard Components
9. Front Panel Connectors: Connects to the power switch, reset switch, power LED, hard drive
LED and front audio ports of a computer case.

10. IDE (Integrated Drive Electronics) Connector: Connects to older hard drive disks and
optical drives for data transfer.
-Have been replaced over by SATA and PATA connectors

11. CMOS Battery: Supplies power to store BIOS settings and keep the real-time clock running.
– The CMOS battery found on most motherboards is the CR2032 lithium coin cell.

12. Southbridge: Also known as the Input/Output Controller Hub (ICH).

-Chipset that allows the CPU to communicate with PCI slots, PCI-Express slots, SATA connectors
(hard drives, optical drives), USB ports (USB devices), Ethernet ports and on-board audio.

13. SATA Connectors: Connects to modern hard disk drives, solid state drives and optical drives.

14. Fan Headers: Supplies power to the CPU heat sink fan and computer case fans.

15. RAM Slots: used to Insert RAM

16. ATX Power Connector: Connects to the 24-pin ATX power cable of a power supply unit
which supplies power to the motherboard.

17. Front Panel USB 3.0 Connector: Connects to USB 3.0 ports at the front or top of the
computer
18. Power & Reset Button: Onboard button to turn on, turn off and reboot the computer.
 Network Cards
- Aka network adapter or Network Interface Card (NIC).
- Without NIC computer cannot be connected over a network.
- Provides hardware interface (Physical Connection) between
computers and network cables.
- installed in expansion slot of each PC/server on network.
- Once installed, the network cable is attached to the card's
port to make the physical connection between computers
- Could be wired or wireless connection
- Wired requires jacks (network cables) be plugged into while
wireless contain built-in transmitters / receivers.
- NICs speed (11, 54 or 100 Mbps) suggests performance
 Network Cards
The role of the NIC is to:
•Prepare data from the computer for the network cable.
•Send the data to another computer via network cable.
•Control the flow of data between the computer and cables.
•Receive incoming data from the cable and translate it into
bytes that CPU understands

Types:
[Link] NIC
[Link] NIC
1. Internal Network Cards
•Inserted into motherboard’s PCI slots
•Network cables are required to provide network access.
 Network Cards
2. External Network Cards: comes in two variations:
[Link] &
[Link] (Universal Serial Bus) based.

Wireless network card needs to be

inserted into the motherboard but
doesn’t require network cables.
May require to install separate
device drivers software.

USB Based Network card are easy to use and

connect via USB port.
Computers automatically detects USB card
and installs the required drivers to support
the USB network card.
 Sound Card
- AKA audio output device, sound board, or audio card.
- Internal component that processes and produces sounds
- Computer doesn’t need Sound devices to function
-are included either in an expansion slot
(sound card) or built-within
motherboard itself.
-Both sound card & speaker affects
the overall sound quality of the computer system.
- Provides I/O ports/plugs for speaker/microphone
 Sound Cards
Sound card translates between digital & analog audio signals,

have four major components:

[Link]-to-analog converter (DAC) converts digital data (.mp3,

.acc) to analog sound (sound wave)

[Link]-to-digital converter (ADC) converts analog data to

digital making it possible record/store and manipulate

[Link] interface to connect to the motherboard using PCI Slots

[Link] and output connectors to plug audio devices such as

headphones, speakers or a microphone
 Graphic / Video Card
- Graphic / Video card generates output images for display.
- Includes a processing unit, memory, a cooling mechanism
and connections to a display device.
- Having own processor & memory
takes the load off the CPU and
memory to process images.
AGP
- processing unit is called
graphics processing unit (GPU).
- generates a lot of heat hence requires to employ heat
sinks/fans to dissipate the heat into the surrounding air.