Course: IT Essentials
Semester: 1st term 2024/2025.
Tutorial 2: IT Essentials
Summary
• Hardware: Physical parts of the computer (keyboard, monitor, CPU, etc.).
• Software: Set of instructions that tell the hardware what to do.
Computer System Hardware
Main components working together:
• CPU (Processing Unit): Brain of the computer.
• Memory (RAM): Temporary working area for data.
• Storage Devices: Hard Disk, SSD (permanent data).
• Input Devices: Keyboard, Mouse, Scanner.
• Output Devices: Monitor, Printer.
Motherboard
• The main circuit board (PCB) — connects all components together.
• Components:
o CPU Socket
o RAM Slots
o PCIe Slots
o SATA Ports
o I/O Panel
• Function: allows communication between CPU, RAM, GPU, and Storage
Central Processing Unit (CPU)
The brain that processes data and instructions. It has
three main parts:
1. Control Unit (CU): Controls all operations inside the CPU.
2. Arithmetic and Logic Unit (ALU): Performs calculations and logical decisions.
3. Registers: Small, high-speed memory units that temporarily store data.
CPU Instruction Cycle:
• Fetch: Get the instruction from memory.
• Decode: Understand what to do.
• Execute: Perform the operation.
Expansion Slots & Ports
• Expansion Slots: Allow adding cards (Video Card, Network Card, Modem, etc.).
• Ports (I/O Interfaces):
o USB Ports
o Ethernet Port
o Serial/Parallel Ports
o VGA Port
o PS/2 Ports
Audio Jacks (Mic, Speakers)
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Registers
• Small, fast storage areas inside CPU.
• They temporarily store data and instructions while the CPU is processing them to speed up performance
• Larger registers → faster processing.
• Example: 32-bit vs 64-bit processors.
Cache Memory
• Very fast, small memory between CPU and RAM.
• Cache memory is faster than RAM because it is located closer to the CPU and built using high-speed memory chips.
It stores frequently used data, so the CPU can access it quickly without waiting for slower RAM.
• Stores frequently used data to speed up processing.
• Types:
o Internal Cache: inside the CPU.
o External Cache: on the motherboard.
• Volatile memory: loses data when power is off
BIOS (Basic Input Output System)
• A small program stored on a chip on the motherboard.
• Functions:
o Performs POST (Power-On Self-Test).
o The BIOS starts the computer and checks that all hardware works correctly.
o Loads the operating system from disk to RAM (bootstrap loader).
• Types: Legacy BIOS and UEFI BIOS.
• CMOS stores BIOS settings
Buses
• Set of wires for data transfer between components.
• Types:
o Address Bus: Determines memory address locations.
o Data Bus: Transfers data between CPU and memory.
o Control Bus: Carries control signals.
Computer Performance Factors
• Registers: Larger = faster.
• Cache Memory: Improves access speed.
• RAM: More = smoother multitasking.
• Bus Width: Wider = faster data flow.
• System Clock: Controls speed of CPU cycles (measured in Hertz).
Northbridge & Southbridge
• Northbridge:
o Connects CPU, RAM, GPU (high-speed operations).
o Controls performance.
• Southbridge:
o Manages slower devices like storage, USB, sound.
o Handles input/output connections.
Together they form the chipset on the motherboard
• Chipset
• A group of chips controlling communication between all computer parts.
• Every component connects to the processor through the chipset.
Clock speed
Clock speed is measured in Hertz, where one Hertz is one clock tick per second
A higher clock speed allows the computer to process data faster and run programs more quickly.
Computer systems have a clock — to keep all these times synchronized
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Q1) What is Computer hardware?
Q2) What is computer software?
Q3) What are the main parts of a computer system?
Q4) What are the three main parts of the CPU?
Q5 What does the Arithmetic and Logic Unit (ALU) do?
Q6) What is the use of registers in the CPU?
Q7) Explain what happens in the fetch–decode–execute cycle.
Q8) Where is the cache memory located in a computer?
Q9) What is the function of the BIOS in a computer?
Q10) What is the meaning of clock speed and how does it affect the computer?
Q11) List the three types of buses.
Q12) What is the difference between Northbridge and Southbridge?
Q13) What is the job of the motherboard?
Q14) Explain why cache memory is faster than RAM.
Q15) What is the role of the bootstrap loader in the BIOS?
Q16) What is the function of the system bus (internal bus)?
Q17) Explain what the address bus is used for.
Q18) How does RAM affect the speed of a computer?
Q19) Explain what the chipset does in a computer.
Q20) Sketch and label the main parts of the motherboard showing components such as CPU socket, RAM
slots, chipset, buses, and ports.
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