Chapter Three

Basic Computer System

 Computer system
• The computer system refers to the computer itself and all other
components interconnected to it.
• Basically the computer system is categorized into two components:
– Hardware component
– Software component
1. Computer Hardware
• The computer hardware is the physical part of the computer system,
which we can touch and see.
• It includes electronic devices, which have the potential for
performing the task of solving problems.
• The computer hardware is composed of three main components
namely:
– Central Processing Unit (CPU)
– Memory unit(Storage devices)
– Input /Output devices
 I. Central Processing Unit (CPU)

• It is the part of a computer hardware that executes program

instructions.
In general the CPU has two major functions
 Performing arithmetic and logical operation and
 Controlling every activity of the computer, like:
 Controlling internal and external devices
 Controlling memory usage for storing data and instruction.
 Controlling sequence of operation.
The CPU has three major components
i. The Control Unit
ii. The Arithmetic/Logic Unit (ALU)
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I. Arithmetic/Logic Unit (ALU)
• Arithmetic unit:- perform actual computing and calculations based
on Fundamental mathematical operations: addition, subtraction,
multiplication, and division
• Logical unit: - based on the instruction provided to it, perform
logical comparison between data items.
That is, A = B, A > B, A < B, A>=B, A<=B
II. Control unit
• The control unit is like the human brain and it controls all of the
activities of computer.
It directs the entire computer system to carry out every activity.
III. Registers
• Areas that temporarily hold data, keep track instructions, and hold
the location and results of operations under the control of CU.
• Are thought of as the CPU's working memory.
 II. Memory unit
• Memory is a location that holds data and instruction.
• There are two categories of memories:
I. Primary memory/storage
II. Secondary memory/storage
 II. Memory unit
A. Primary memory (Main /Internal Memory)
• It is an internal storage area which is physically
located close to the CPU, to decrease access time.
• To hold data and instruction temporarily receiving
from input devices and sending them to output
devices during processing
• To store data necessary while execution
• To provide additional space for programs in
execution.
• To hold the computers operating system program.
• To hold instructions of application software. E.g.
Word processing, spreadsheet, etc.
• Main Memory is divided into two:
I. Read Only Memory (ROM)
II. Random Access Memory (RAM).
a) Read-Only Memory (ROM)
• ROM is a kind of read only memory which is used to store
initial start-up instruction and routines in BIOS
• non-volatile
• Has three types
– PROM
– EPROM
– EEPROM
b) Random-Access Memory (RAM)
• A kind of memory that can be instantly changed .
• The data in RAM changes constantly (i.e. it is volatile).
Has two types
 Dynamic RAM (DRAM):-
• It must be refreshed frequently.
• Its chips must be recharged many times every second or they will
lose their contents.
• Most PCs use DRAM as internal memory.
 Static RAM: -
• Does not need to be refreshed frequently and can hold its content
for long time compared to dynamic RAM.
• Faster than DRAM.
• Consequently, SRAM is more expensive than DRAM and is not
used frequently in PCS.
Computers processing speed can be increased by the
following factors:-

Cache memory
• Cache memory is special form of memory that holds
frequently accessed data or program instructions to improve
the computer system's performance.
Coprocessors
• Chips are used frequently by scientist and engineers who need
to do large amount of intensive calculations.
Chip density and integration
• Chip density is the number of circuits on a single chip.
Reducing the distance traveled, even a little, makes a
tremendous difference in the computer's speed.
 Other Major System Unit Components
1. The Motherboard:
• The motherboard, also called the system board, is
the main circuit board in the system unit.
2. Computer Bus:
• The system bus is a metallic conductor through which
information travels within a PC.
• A bus that connects CPU, memory, and I/O components is
known as system bus.
System bus has three main variations:
a. Data bus: is used to transfer data from memory to CPU or
vice versa
b. Address bus: is a set of wires carrying the addressing
information used to describe the memory location to which the
data is being sent or from which the data is being retrieved.
c. Control bus: Controls the access to data and address bus and
also used to transfer commands and timing signals.
B. Secondary memory (External/Auxiliary memory)

• Secondary memories are a kind of memory which are external

to the main circuit board and connected through a cable.
• They have high capacity than primary memory.
• Unlike RAM, it is a part of the computer that retains data
permanently after the power is turned OFF.
• Unlike ROM, it is possible to write to the secondary storage
anytime.
Secondary storage's can be categorized as:
• Magnetic storage and
• Optical storage
I. Magnetic storage devices
• These are storage devices which are made up of iron oxide
particle mixed with a binding agent.
• They use a magnetic technology to read and write data
from and to the surface of storage area.
• The most common types of secondary storage are:
– Magnetic tape: These are a kind of storage device which
resemble with a video tape (VHS). Data accessing
mechanism is sequential.
– Magnetic disc: These devices store data as charges on a
magnetically sensitive medium . The most common
magnetic disk includes floppy, flash and hard disks.
• Floppy Disk: It used to store programs and data for a longer
period outside the computer system.
• The Hard Disk: it is mass storage media found mostly inside
the system unit. They also don't lose their content when the
power is turned off.
 II. Optical disk/storage

• Optical storage devices use the principle of light (laser

technology) to store information.
• The data is actually recorded by burning on a tiny hole which
is called pitch to store 0’s /1’s.
• The two common types are:
– CD and
– DVD
Compact disk (CD)
• CD is a form of data storage device that uses optical material
rather than magnetic material. The term compact disk is used
because it uses exactly the same format as the audio compact
disc. Have three variation, these are:-
• CD-R (CD Recordable, record/write once but read many
times).
• CD-RW (CD rewritable, read/write many times).
• CD-ROM (CD read only memory).
• Digital Video Disk (DVD):
• A DVD (stands for Digital Versatile Disc) disc looks just like a
CD-ROM, but it can store more than 4 Gigabytes (GB) of
information—as much as seven CDs.
• There are even rumored to be future DVD discs that can hold
up to 17 Gigabytes.
• Thus, DVDs are often used to store full-length movies and
other multimedia content that requires large amounts of
storage space.
• It requires appropriate DVD deriver to read/write this type of
media.
• Below here are some variations of DVDs,
– DVD-ROM
– DVD+R
– DVD+RW
– DVD-RAM
 III. Input/ Output Devices
• Input/ Output (I/O) devices are the part of the hardware
through which the users communicate with the machine.
 A. Input devices
• Input device are electro mechanical devices that use
to feed information to the computer.
• These devices enable a computer user to enter data,
commands, and program instruction into the
computer system.
• Examples of common input devices include:
Keyboard, Pointing devices, Mice, trackballs,
joysticks, and touch pads, Light pens, microphones,
Scanning devices, Digital cameras, and Optical data
reader.
 Keyboard
It is the most common input device which used to enter data and
instruction.
It consists a set of typewriter-like keys that enable one to enter
data into a computer.
It contains four types of keys:
– Typing keys: include Letters and numbers
– Function key: found just above the typing key (F1 to
F10/F12)
– Special purpose keys: arrow keys, caps lock, delete, insert,
home etc.
– Numeric keypad: ( 0to 9, +,- *, /)
 Pointing Devices
These are screen pointer on the screen. The principal pointing
tools used with microcomputers are:
– Mouse
– Trackball
– Joystick
 Scanners
 Optical data reader
 Microphone
 Touch pad
 B. Output Devices
• Output devices are devices which used to convert a machine readable code in to
human readable by processing (converting) in to graphical, alphanumeric, or
audiovisual form.
 Monitor
• there are two common types of monitors, these are
• LCD (liquid crystal display)

• CRT (cathode ray tube) monitors

 Plotters
 speaker
 Printer
• Printers are devices used for producing permanent output on
paper.
• Printers can be classified according to their printing speed, the
quality of output produced, & the printing method.
• Accordingly, they are classified as: Impact & Non-impact
i. Impact printers:
• Use a pin or a hammer that strikes a paper and an inked ribbon to
form a character.
• Work like a typewriter. There are three types of impact printers:
– Dot-matrix printer
– Line printer and
– Character printers
ii. Non-impact printers
• Non-impact printers are faster printers than impact printers.
• There are three types of non impact printers: Ink-jet printer,
thermal printer and laser printer
 [Link]
• Software is a generic term given for an organized collection of
computer data and instruction.
• It is a finite set of instructions (steps) that the computer follow
to perform a given job.
• Computer software is classified into two:
A. System software
[Link] software.
A. System software
• System software includes several programs
which are directly responsible for controlling,
integrating, and managing the individual
hardware component of the computer system.
System software is classified in to:
• Operating system
• Language software
Operating system
• Operating system is the first layer of software loaded in to the
computer working memory.
• It's a program that acts as an interface between the user, the
computer software and the hardware resources.
Basic functions of the operating system are
• Process management
• Memory management
• Device management
• File management
• Security management
• User interfacing
• Coordination of communication on the network.
Language software
• Language software is also called as programming software
(development software). Language software enables to develop
an application or even the operating system software.
B. Application Software
• Is software that is designed to perform tasks in
specific areas.
Depending on their function or task, they are
categorized in to the following.
a. Word Processors/ Word processing: is a
computerized typewriter that permits the electronic
creation, editing, formatting, filing and printing text.
Example: WordStar, WordPerfect, Microsoft
word
 Application Software…
b. Spreadsheet: is an electronic worksheet which is mainly used for
accounting purpose, such as preparing payroll, financial analysis and
other mathematical calculation.
Example: Lotus 1-2-3, Microsoft Excel
c. Database management system: allow you to store information on a
computer, retrieve it when you need it and update it when necessary.
You can do this with index cards, but database management
programs do them more quickly and easily.
• Example: You can store large mailing list, inventory record or billing
and collect information in lists stored in files and manipulate this
information, one file at a time, with database management program.
Example: Dbase IV, FoxPro, and Microsoft Access.
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