Chapter 4
System Unit Components
Discovering
Computers 2012
Your Interactive Guide
to the Digital World
Objectives Overview
Differentiate among Describe the control
various styles of Identify chips, adapter unit and arithmetic
system units on cards, and other logic unit components
desktop computers, components of a of a processor, and
notebook computers, motherboard explain the four steps
and mobile devices in a machine cycle
Identify characteristics
of various personal
Define a bit and Explain how program
computer processors
describe how a series instructions transfer in
on the market today,
of bits represents data and out of memory
and describe the ways
processors are cooled
See Page 209 Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 4 2
for Detailed Objectives
Objectives Overview
Differentiate between a
Describe the purpose and
port and a connector, and
types of expansion slots
explain the differences
Differentiate among the and adapter cards, and
among a USB port, FireWire
various types of memory differentiate among slots
port, Bluetooth port, SCSI
for various removable flash
port, eSATA port, IrDA port,
memory devices
serial port, and MIDI port
Explain the purpose of a Understand how to clean a
Describe the types of
power supply and describe system unit on a computer
buses in a computer
how it keeps cool or mobile device
See Page 209 Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 4 3
for Detailed Objectives
The System Unit
The system
unit is a case
that contains
electronic
components of
the computer
used to
process data
Page 210 Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 4 4
Figure 4-1
The System Unit
The inside of the system unit on a
desktop personal computer includes:
Drive bay(s)
Power supply
Sound card
Video card
Processor
Memory
Page 211 Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 4 5
Figure 4-2
The System Unit
The motherboard is the main circuit
board of the system unit
A computer chip contains integrated
circuits
Page 212 Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 4 6
Figure 4-3
Processor
The processor, also called the central
processing unit (CPU), interprets and
carries out the basic instructions that
operate a computer
Contain a control unit and an arithmetic
Multi-
logic unit (ALU) Dual- Quad-
core core core
process process process
or or or
Page 213 Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 4 7
Processor
Page 213 Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 4 8
Figure 4-4
Processor
The control unit is the component of
the processor that directs and
coordinates most of the operations in
the computer
The arithmetic logic unit (ALU)
performs arithmetic, comparison, and
other operations
Page 214 Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 4 9
Processor
For every instruction, a processor
repeats a set of four basic operations,
which comprise a machine cycle
Page 215 Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 4 10
Figure 4-5
Processor
Most current
personal
computers support
pipelining
Processor begins
fetching a second
instruction before it
completes the
machine cycle for
the first instruction
Pages 215 216 Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 4 11
Figure 4-6
Processor
The processor contains
registers, that temporarily hold
data and instructions
The system clock controls
the timing of all computer
operations
The pace of the system clock is
called the clock speed, and is
measured in gigahertz (GHz)
Page 216 Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 4 12
Processor
The leading
manufacturers of
personal computer
processor chips are
Intel and AMD
Pages 216 217 Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 4 13
Figure 4-7
Processor
Determine how you plan to use a new
computer before selecting a processor
Page 218 Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 4 14
Figure 4-8
Processor
A processor chip
generates heat
that could cause
the chip to burn up
Require additional
cooling
Heat sinks
Liquid cooling
technology
Pages 219 - 220 Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 4 15
Figures 4-9 4-10
Processor
Parallel processing uses multiple processors
simultaneously to execute a single program or
task
Massively parallel processing involves hundreds or
thousands of processors
Page 220 Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 4 16
Figure 4-11
See How the CPU Works
Lets watch video
Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 4 17
Data Representation
Analog signals are continuous and
vary in strength and quality
Digital signals are in one of two
states: on or off
Most computers are digital
The binary system uses two unique digits
(0 and 1)
Bits and bytes
Page 221 Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 4 18
Data Representation
A computer circuit represents Eight bits grouped together
the 0 or the 1 electronically as a unit are called a byte. A
by the presence or absence of byte represents a single
an electrical charge character in the computer
Page 221 Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 4 19
Figures 4-12 4-13
Data Representation
ASCII (American
Standard Code for
Information
Interchange) is the
most widely used
coding scheme to
represent data
Page 221 Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 4 20
Figure 4-14
Data Representation
Page 222 Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 4 21
Figure 4-15
Memory
Memory consists of electronic
components that store instructions
waiting to be executed by the
processor, data needed by those
instructions, and the results of
processing the data
The operating Data being
system
Storesand
three basic categoriesprocessed
Application of items:and
other system programs the resulting
software information
Page 223 Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 4 22
Memory
Each location in memory has an address
Memory size is measured in kilobytes
(KB or K), megabytes (MB),
gigabytes (GB), or terabytes (TB)
Page 223 Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 4 23
Figure 4-17
Memory
The system unit contains two types of
memory:
Volatile Nonvolatile
memory memory
Loses its contents Does not lose
when power is contents when
turned off power is removed
Examples include
Example includes
ROM, flash
RAM
memory, and CMOS
Pages 223 - 224 Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 4 24
Memory
Page 224 Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 4 25
Figure 4-18
Memory
Three basic types of RAM chips exist:
Dynamic RAM Static RAM Magnetoresistiv
(DRAM) (SRAM) e RAM (MRAM)
Page 225 Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 4 26
Figure 4-19
Memory
RAM chips usually reside on a memory
module and are inserted into memory
slots
Page 225 Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 4 27
Figure 4-20
Memory
The amount of RAM necessary in a
computer often depends on the types of
software you plan to use
Page 226 Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 4 28
Figure 4-21
Memory
Memory cache speeds the processes of the
computer because it stores frequently used
instructions and data
Page 227 Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 4 29
Figure 4-22
Memory
Read-only memory (ROM) refers to
memory chips storing permanent data
and instructions
Firmware
A PROM (programmable read-only
memory) chip is a blank ROM chip that
can be written to permanently
EEPROM can be erased
Page 228 Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 4 30
Memory
Flash memory can be erased
electronically and rewritten
CMOS technology provides high speeds
and consumes little power
Pages 228 229 Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 4 31
Figure 4-23
Memory
Access time is the amount of time it
takes the processor to read from
memory
Measured in nanoseconds
Page 229 Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 4 32
Figures 4-24 4-25
Expansion Slots and Adapter
Cards
An expansion slot is
a socket on the
motherboard that can
hold an adapter card
An adapter card
enhances functions of
a component of the
system unit and/or
provides connections
to peripherals
Sound card and video
card
Page 230 Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 4 33
Figure 4-26
Expansion Slots and Adapter
Cards
With Plug and Play, the computer
automatically can configure adapter
cards and other peripherals as you
install them
Pages 230 231 Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 4 34
Figure 4-27
Expansion Slots and Adapter
Cards
Removable flash memory includes:
Memory cards, USB flash drives, and PC
Cards/ExpressCard modules
Page 231 Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 4 35
Figure 4-28
Ports and Connectors
A port is the point at which a peripheral
attaches to or communicates with a system
unit (sometimes referred to as a jack)
A connector joins a cable to a port
Page 232 Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 4 36
Ports and Connectors
Page 232 Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 4 37
Figure 4-29
Ports and Connectors
On a notebook computer, the ports are
on the back, front, and/or sides
Pages 232 - 233 Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 4 38
Figure 4-30
Ports and Connectors
Page 233 Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 4 39
Figure 4-31
Ports and Connectors
A USB port can connect up to 127
different peripherals together with a
single connector
You can attach multiple peripherals using a
single USB port with a USB hub
Page 234 Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 4 40
Figure 4-32
Ports and Connectors
Other types of ports include:
Firewir Bluetoo SCSI
e port th port port
eSATA IrDA Serial
port port port
MIDI
port
Pages 234 - 236 Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 4 41
Ports and Connectors
A Bluetooth wireless port A smart phone might
adapter converts a USB communicate with a notebook
port into a Bluetooth port computer using an IrDA port
Page 235 Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 4 42
Figures 4-33 4-34
Ports and Connectors
A port replicator is an
external device that
provides connections
to peripherals through
ports built into the
device
A docking station is an
external device that
attaches to a mobile
computer or device
Page 236 Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 4 43
Figure 4-35
Buses
A bus allows the various
devices both inside and
attached to the system
unit to communicate
with each other
Data bus
Address bus
Word size is the
number of bits the
processor can interpret
and execute at a given
time
Page 237 Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 4 44
Figure 4-36
Buses
Expansion slots connect to expansion
buses
Common types of expansion buses
PCI Accelerate
include:
PCI bus Express d Graphics
bus Port
USB and
PC Card
FireWire
bus
bus
Page 238 Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 4 45
Bays
A bay is an
opening inside the
system unit in
which you can
install additional
equipment
A drive bay
typically holds disk
drives
Page 238 Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 4 46
Figure 4-37
Power Supply
The power supply converts
the wall outlet AC power into DC
power
Some external peripherals have
an AC adapter, which is an
external power supply
Page 239 Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 4 47
Putting It All Together
Home Small Office/ Mobile
Intel Core i5 or Home Office Intel Core i7
Intel Core 2 i3 or Intel Core i7 or Extreme or
AMD Athlon II or Intel Core i7 Intel Core i7 or
AMD Sempron Extreme or AMD AMD Phenom II or
Phenom II or AMD Turion II
AMD Athlon II
Minimum RAM: 2
GB Minimum RAM: 2
Minimum RAM: 4 GB
GB
Page 239 Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 4 48
Figure 4-38
Putting It All Together
Power Enterprise
Intel Xeon or Intel Core i7 or
Intel Itanium or Intel Core i7
AMD Opteron Extreme or AMD
Minimum RAM: 8 Phenom II or
GB AMD Athlon II
Minimum RAM: 4
GB
Page 239 Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 4 49
Figure 4-38
Keeping Your Computer
or Mobile Device Clean
Clean your computer or mobile device once or
twice a year
Turn off and unplug your computer or mobile
device before cleaning it
Use compressed air to blow away dust
Use an antistatic wipe to clean the exterior of the
case and a cleaning solution and soft cloth to
clean the screen
Page 240 Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 4 50
Summary
Sequence of
How memory
operations that
Components of the stores data,
occur when a
system unit instructions, and
computer executes
information
an instruction
Comparison of
How to clean the
various personal
exterior and
computer
interior of a
processors on the
system unit
market today
Page 241 Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 4 51
Chapter 4
System Unit Components
Discovering
Computers 2012
Your Interactive Guide
to the Digital World
Chapter 4 Complete