Introduction to Computer Studies

COMP 1112
Year 1 - Semester I

Lecture 04 – Components of computer system

Rajarata University of Sri Lanka

Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities
Components of a Computer

1. …………………...

2. ……………………

3. ……………………

4. ……………………

5. ……………………

6. ……………………

7. ……………………

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Humanities
Components of a Computer
1. Monitor

2. Modem

3. System Unit

4. Mouse

5. Speakers

6. Printer

7. Keyboard

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Computer system

HARDWARE SOFTWARE LIVEWARE FIRMWARE

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Hardware
 All the physical parts of the computer are known as
“Hardware”
 Hardware falls in to 2 parts,
◦ Internal Devices
(CPU)
◦ Peripheral Devices/External Devices
(Input/output & Storage Devices)

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Software
 Programme instructions which controls and manage the
Hardware components are called “Software”. Computer HW
depends on software instructions.
 Software can be categorized in to 2 sections
◦ System Software
◦ Application Software

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Liveware
 All the human expertise in the computer System are called
Liveware
◦ Data Entry Operator
◦ Graphic Designer
◦ Web Designer
◦ Network Engineer
◦ Software Engineer
◦ IT Manager
◦ Systems Engineer

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Firmware
 Special kind of programme (Software),which embedded in to
the Hardware components in order to communicate between
HW and SW.
◦ BIOS /ROM Chip
◦ Automatic Washing machine
◦ Automobiles Dashboard

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Types of Hardware
 Input Devices: devices that input Data into the
computer
 Output Devices: devices that output information
from the computer
 Storage Devices: devices used to store/record
data and information
• CPU (Central Processing Unit) : also called the
Microprocessor or “The Brain” of the Computer.
• Motherboard : The motherboard (main board,
system board) is a large circuit board which all
other PC components are connected
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Categorization

Internal CPU

Input
Hardware
Devices
Output
External
Devices
Storage
devices

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List of Input Devices
• Keyboard • Touchpad
• Mouse • Stylus
• Trackballs • Touch Screen
• Scanner • MIDI keyboard
• Barcode reader • OCR
• Digital camera • OMR
• Joystick • MICR
• Microphone
• Webcam

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Faculty of Social Sciences and
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List of Output Devices
 Monitor
 Printers (all types)
 Plotters
 Projector
 Speaker(s)
 Headphones

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Humanities
Storage Devices
Alternatively referred to as storage, Memory, storage
media, or storage medium, a storage device is
a hardware device capable of holding information.
There are two storage devices used in
computers; Primary storage & Secondary storage

 Floppy diskette
 CD
 DVD
 USB flash drive
 Hard drive
 Tape cassette
 Flash memory cards

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Faculty of Social Sciences and
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Primary Storage /Memory

RAM ROM

SRAM PROM

DRAM EPROM

EEPROM

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RAM (Random Access Memory)
 RAM is Primary Storage, also called internal storage.
 Serves as computer’s workspace, storing all or part of the program that is
being executed, as well as data being used by the program.
 RAM stores the operating system programs that manage the operation of
the computer.
 RAM is Volatile storage/Memory:
 Power goes, data goes!
 More memory = larger workspace
 Large programs = large number of instructions
 Measured in Bytes (KB, MB, GB, etc.)
 Data/instructions are copied into memory as needed.
 Not enough memory or corruption of data/instructions in memory can
cause crash.
 Two basic types of RAM are Dynamic RAM (DRAM), and Static RAM
(SRAM).

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ROM (Read Only Memory)
 ROM is nonvolatile. ROM chips contain permanently written
data, called firmware (your BIOS lives here).
 ROM contains the programs that direct the computer to
load the operating system and related files when the
computer is powered on.
 ROM chips are usually recorded when they’re
manufactured.
 ROM can be categorized in to 3 parts
◦ PROM
◦ EPROM
◦ EEPROM

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Comparison RAM Vs ROM

RAM ROM

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CPU (Central Processing Unit)
 Also known as the microprocessor, Processor
 Central Processing Unit (CPU) is considered as the Brain of
the computer
 It follows the instructions of the software (program) to
manipulate data into information.
 The CPU consists of two parts
◦ Control unit and
◦ Arithmetic/logic unit (ALU)
 Both the ALU and the CU contains registers, which are
◦ high-speed memory
◦ temporarily hold data and instructions during processing.
 CPU Speed is measured by using Hz (Hertz) KHz,MHz,GHz.

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Motherboard

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Block Diagram of the Computer

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 Questions ??????

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