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Computer System Memory and Components

The document discusses different aspects of computer systems including memory, central processing unit (CPU), input and output devices. It defines key units of memory like bits, bytes, kilobytes etc. and explains the hierarchy from smallest to largest units. Primary memory directly interacts with CPU and is volatile, consisting of random access memory (RAM) and read only memory (ROM). Secondary memory acts as long-term storage.

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Aiman Jabeen
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16 views16 pages

Computer System Memory and Components

The document discusses different aspects of computer systems including memory, central processing unit (CPU), input and output devices. It defines key units of memory like bits, bytes, kilobytes etc. and explains the hierarchy from smallest to largest units. Primary memory directly interacts with CPU and is volatile, consisting of random access memory (RAM) and read only memory (ROM). Secondary memory acts as long-term storage.

Uploaded by

Aiman Jabeen
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

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com
COMPUTER
SYSTEM…
CHAPTER - 1
Computer memory
A computer system needs memory to store the data
and instructions for processing.

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Units of Memory
A computer system uses binary numbers to store
and process data.
The binary digits 0 & 1 are the basic units of
memory and are called bits.
4 bit = 1 nibble
8 bit = 1 byte
KB MB GB TB PB EB ZB YB

KB (Kilobyte) 1 KB = 1024 bytes

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MB(Megabyte) 1 MB = 1024 KB
GB(Gigabyte) 1 GB = 1024 MB
TB(Terabyte) 1 TB = 1024 GB
PB(Petabyte) 1 PB = 1024 TB
EB(Exabyte) 1 EB = 1024 PB
ZB(Zettabyte) 1 ZB = 1024 EB
YB(Yottabyte) 1 YB = 1024 ZB

Bit<Nibble<Byte<KB<MB<GB<TB<PB<EB<ZB<YB
COMPUTER SYSTEM
A computer is an electronic device

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that can be programmed to accept
data (input), process it and generate result (output).
A computer along with additional hardware and software
together is called a computer system.
A computer system comprises of a central processing
unit, memory, input/output devices and storage devices.
Computer system comes in various forms like desktop,
laptop, tablets, smart phones, etc.
Block Diagram of Computer System

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Input Devices
The devices through which control signals are sent to a

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computer are termed as input devices.
Some examples are Keyboard, Mouse, Scanner,
Touch screen, Camera, Micro- phone, Joystick,
Web cam, Track ball, Biometric Sensor,
MICR (Magnetic Ink Character Reader),
OCR (Optical Character Reader),
OBR (Optical Barcode Reader), etc.
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Central Processing Unit
A central processing unit, also called a central processor

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or main processor, is the most important processor in a
given computer.
Its electronic circuitry executes instructions of a
computer program, such as arithmetic, logic,
controlling, and input/output operations.
Three Components-
Register

Control Unit

Arithmetic & Logical Unit


Components of CPU
1. Register – These are small units of data holding places. CPU uses registers to
temporarily hold some important processing information during the time the

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processing is taking place.

2. Control Unit (CU) – The CU send control signals until the required operations
are done properly by ALU and memory. The CU gets program instructions from
memory and executes them one after the other. The CU also controls the flow of
data from input devices to memory and from memory to output devices.

3. Arithmetic & Logical Unit – The ALU performs all the four arithmetic
(+, - , / , *) & some logical (< , > , = ,<= , >= , !=) operations.
For Arithmetic operations, when two numbers are to be added, these numbers
are sent from memory to ALU where addition takes place and the result is put
back in the memory.
For Logical operations, the numbers are to be compared and sent from memory
to ALU where the comparison takes place and the result returns to the memory.
Output Devices
The device that receives data from a computer system to
show the output for display, physical production, etc. is

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called output devices.
Some examples are Monitor, Projector, Headphone, Speaker,
Printer, Plotters, Laser Printer, Ink jet printers, etc.
MONITOR TYPES :
CRT (Cathode Ray Tube)
TFT (Thin Film Transistor)
LCD (Liquid Crystal Display)
LED (Liquid Electrical Diode)
PRINTER TYPES :
Imperet Printer (type writer)
Non-imperet Printer (laptop, computer, etc)
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Output devices
Types of Memory

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1 Primary Memory

2 Secondary Memory
Primary Memory
The primary memory is an essential component of a computer
system.

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Program and data are loaded into the primary memory before
processing.
The CPU interacts directly with the primary memory to perform
read and write operations.
It is temporary (volatile) in nature.
It is also called ‘Main memory’.
It is of two types:
1. Random Access Memory
[Link] Only Memory
Random Access Memory
In this, the memory cells can be accessed for information transfer
from any desired random location. The main drawback of RAM

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memory is that it is a volatile memory. That is, when the power goes
off, the contents of RAM gets erased.

Read Only Memory


It is a memory unit that performs the operation only, it doesn’t have
a write capability. This implies that the binary information stored in
ROM is made permanent during the hardware production of the unit
and cannot be altered by writing different words into it
(hence non-volatile).
Differentiate b/w RAM and ROM:
RAM ROM
1. It is possible for both read data from 1. Only reading of data from memory

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memory and write data into memory. is possible.

2. RAM is volatile (if the power supply 2. ROM is non-volatile (the data is
is interrupted then the data is lost. maintained even if the power supply
is
lost).
3. It is mainly of two types- 3. It is mainly of the following types-
Static RAM [Expensive, ex. Flipflop] Programmable Read Only
Memory
Dynamic RAM [Less expensive, Erasable Programmable Read
Only
ex. Capacitors, transistors]. Memory.
Electrically Erasable
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Cache Memory

Common questions

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Input devices are responsible for providing the computer with control signals and raw data for processing. Examples of input devices include keyboards, mice, scanners, and web cameras. On the other hand, output devices receive processed data from the computer to display or reproduce it for human interpretation. Examples of output devices include monitors, printers, and speakers .

Primary memory, which includes RAM and ROM, is used for immediate data storage needed by the CPU for currently executing programs. RAM is volatile and loses its data when power is switched off, whereas ROM is non-volatile and stores essential system firmware. Secondary memory, in contrast, is used for long-term storage of data and programs, such as on hard drives or SSDs. It is non-volatile, meaning it retains data without a constant power supply, providing data persistence over power cycles .

RAM and ROM serve distinct roles in a computer system. RAM (Random Access Memory) allows both reading and writing of data and is volatile, meaning data is lost when the power is off. It is mainly used for temporary data storage that the CPU needs for running applications and processes . In contrast, ROM (Read Only Memory) is non-volatile and primarily used for storing crucial programs that do not change, like firmware. Data in ROM can only be read, not written to or modified after it is manufactured .

The Control Unit (CU) in the CPU is responsible for directing the operation of the other components within the CPU and the computer system as a whole. It fetches program instructions from memory, decodes them, and executes them. The CU sends control signals to the Arithmetic & Logical Unit (ALU) to perform necessary operations and also controls the flow of data between the CPU, memory, and Input/Output devices to ensure correct data processing sequences .

Cache memory plays a crucial role in enhancing the speed and efficiency of a computer system. It acts as a middle layer between the CPU and main memory to temporarily store frequently accessed data and instructions. This reduces the time the processor needs to fetch data from the slower main memory since the cache provides the processor with quicker access to data, thereby improving overall system performance .

The Central Processing Unit (CPU) serves as the core entity for executing instructions. Within the CPU, registers operate as extremely fast storage areas used for holding intermediate data and instructions for processing. They directly interact with the CPU to speed up processing tasks. The memory (main memory or RAM) serves as the temporary storage that holds data and instructions currently being executed or processed by the CPU. The memory is slower than registers, and the CPU accesses it for data and programs not stored in registers .

Monitors vary based on the display technology they employ. The main types include CRT (Cathode Ray Tube), TFT (Thin Film Transistor), LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), and LED (Light Emitting Diode). CRT monitors use cathode ray tubes and are bulkier, while TFT and LCD monitors are thinner and use liquid crystals to display images. LED monitors are similar to LCDs but use light-emitting diodes for backlighting, which offers better energy efficiency and display quality .

The architectural structure of a computer system can be understood through a block diagram that includes several key components. These components are the Central Processing Unit, which itself comprises the Control Unit, Arithmetic & Logical Unit, and registers. The system also includes primary memory for data storage, input devices for feeding data into the system, and output devices for rendering processed data. Additionally, secondary storage may be used for long-term data retention. Collectively, these elements facilitate input processing and output generation .

The Arithmetic & Logical Unit (ALU) is critical as it performs all arithmetic operations such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division, as well as logical operations like comparison (<, >, =, <=, >=, !=). During arithmetic operations, the ALU receives numbers from memory, processes these numbers as requested by the instructions, and stores the result back in memory. For logical operations, it compares data and provides results that help in decision-making processes within programs .

Computer memory units are structured in a hierarchical manner starting from the smallest unit, a bit. A bit is the basic unit of memory, equivalent to a binary digit (0 or 1). Four bits make up a nibble, and eight bits make up a byte. The hierarchy then progresses to larger units as follows: 1 Kilobyte (KB) = 1024 bytes, 1 Megabyte (MB) = 1024 KB, 1 Gigabyte (GB) = 1024 MB, 1 Terabyte (TB) = 1024 GB, 1 Petabyte (PB) = 1024 TB, 1 Exabyte (EB) = 1024 PB, 1 Zettabyte (ZB) = 1024 EB, and 1 Yottabyte (YB) = 1024 ZB .

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