Middle East International School
Academic Year 2025-2026
ICT. Department
Chapter -3
Hardware
Grade . 9 IGCSE
Presented By:
Mr. Bander Shatnawi
ICT dept. Coordinator
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CONTENTS:
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What is the role of the central processing unit (CPU) in a computer?
A computer system consists of hardware and software
The main hardware components of a computer system are input devices,
the central processing unit, primary memory, secondary storage and
output devices
Examples of input devices- keyboard, mouse, game controller, sensors,
microphone and webcam
Examples of output devices- monitor, phone screen, speakers, printer, and
motors
Data and commands are inputted by the user using an input device, the
central processing unit (CPU) processes data by executing instructions
and the results are outputted to an output device
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What is a microprocessor?
A microprocessor is a type of integrated circuit on a single chip
An integrated circuit is a small electronic circuit made up of transistors, capacitors,
resistors and other electronic components
The integrated circuit contains a central processor designed to perform arithmetic
and logic operations, which include adding, subtracting, transferring numbers
from one memory location to another, and comparing two numbers
The single chip also contains input/output interfaces, and memory
Microprocessors are a compact way of processing data and can be used in a wide
range of electronic devices, including general-purpose computer system and
Embedded system
What is the purpose of a microprocessor?
It is the brain of the computer
It processes data
It executes instructions
It is where data is stored permanently
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Von Neumann Architecture:
The components in a CPU, in a computer that has a Von Neumann
architecture
John Von Neumann developed the concept of the stored program
computer in the 1940s
The Von Neumann computer architecture which most modern day
computers use, is based upon this concept
The key feature of the stored program concept, and Von Neumann
architecture, is data and instructions are stored in the same memory ( RAM )
as binary
Another feature of Von Neumann architecture is a central processing unit
(CPU) fetches instructions from memory and executes them one at a time
(serially)
The CPU then stores the results back into memory
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The main purpose of the CPU is to execute instructions and process data
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Table below: describes the function of each of the three buses shown in Figure 3.1
Buses essentially move data around the computer and also send out control
signals to make sure everything is properly synchronized.
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The Fetch, Decode, Execute cycle
The Central Processing Unit (CPU) executes instructions by performing the Fetch Decode Execute cycle
The CPU fetches an instruction from memory
The instruction is then decoded ( by the Control Unit) into an opcode and an operand
The instruction is executed and the whole cycle is repeated with the next instruction in the process.
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Explain how an instruction is fetched using Von Neumann architecture
1) The Program Counter (PC) holds address/location of the next
instruction to be fetched [
2) The address held in PC is sent to Memory Address Register (MAR)
3) The memory address is sent using address bus
4) The Program Counter is incremented
5) The instruction is sent from the address in memory to the Memory
Data Register (MDR)
6) The instruction is transferred using the data bus[
7) The instruction is sent to Current Instruction register (CIR)
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There are many advantages of embedded systems
low power consumption
small physical size
low cost to manufacturer they
can be controlled remotely can operate in real time and respond to inputs very quickly
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Describe how an embedded system controls a washing machine?
The user selects the wash cycle they require using a keypad
The microprocessor will process the inputs and begin to heat the water and move
the drum to begin the wash.
The actuator controlling the drum and the heating mechanism are the output
devices
Sensors will monitor the water level and temperature
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