Hardware and Software: Zawar Hussain

Lecture 04: Hardware and Sofware
CS 101: Introduction to Computing
Lecture 4
Hardware and Software

Zawar Hussain
Ghulam Ishaq Khan Institute of Engineering Sciences and Technology, Topi
Random Access Memory (RAM)

A temporary holding area for data, application program
instructions, and the operating system
As you type, characters are held in RAM
RAM is primary storage (main memory)

Measured in megabytes (MB) or gigabytes (GB)
Todays computers have between 256 MB and 6 GB of RAM

depending on software you use
You can purchase additional RAM
A computer can use disk storage to simulate RAM. This is called
virtual memory
Not as fast as RAM ?
Types of RAM
RAM components vary in speed, technology, and
configuration
SDRAM (Synchronous Dynamic RAM)

RDRAM (Rambus Dynamic RAM)
DDR
DDR2
DDR3
Speed is measured in nanoseconds.

1 nanosecond (ns) is 1 billionth of a second
It can also be expressed in MHz (millions of cycles per
second)
Other Types of Memory

Read-Only Memory (ROM)
Type of memory circuitry that holds the computers startup routine
Permanent and non-volatile
Only way to change the instructions on a ROM chip is to replace the
chip
Additionally, a computer needs a semi-permanent way of

keeping boot data
CMOS memory holds data but requires very little power to retain its
contents
Retains important computer settings after you turn the power off
Can be run by a battery on the motherboard
Storage Devices
A storage medium is the disk, tape, CD, DVD, paper or
other substance that contains data
A storage device is the mechanical apparatus that records
and retrieves data from a storage medium
Types of storage devices
Magnetic Storage
Optical Storage
Solid State Storage
Magnetic Storage
Stores data by magnetizing microscopic particles on the disk or
tape surface
Contains a read-write head
mechanism in the disk drive that reads and writes magnetized particles
that represent data
Example
Hard Disk Drive [HDD]
Floppy Disk
Magnetic Tape
Magnetic Storage : HDD

Working of a hard disk
Hard disk platter - a flat, rigid disk made of aluminum or glass and coated
with magnetic iron oxide particles
Hard disk - one or more platters and their associated read-write heads
Capacity up to 250 GB; Preferred type of main storage
Limitations
Head crash - when a read-write head runs
into a dust particle or other contaminant
on the disk
Platter
Head crash damages some data

on disk
Triggered by jarring the hard disk
while in use
Not limited to hard disks
R/W
Head
Optical Storage
Stores data as microscopic light spots (lands) and dark
spots (pits) on the disk surface
Advantage
Less susceptible to environmental
damage than data recorded on
magnetic media
Example
CD [Capacity: 700 MB]
DVD [Capacity: 4.7 GB;
Double Layered can store up to 8.5 GB]
Blue-Ray [Capacity: up to 50 GB ]
Optical Storage : CD / DVD

Working of CD / DVD
Recordable technology uses a laser to change the color in a dye layer
sandwiched beneath the clear plastic disk surface
Rewritable technology uses phase change technology to alter a
crystal structure on the disk surface
Much slower than hard disk
Not a suitable replacement for hard disk yet
Solid State Storage

Stores data in a non-volatile, erasable, low-power chip
Some solid state storage requires a device called a card
reader to transfer data to or from a computer
Advantage
Provides faster access to data than magnetic or optical storage
technology because it includes no moving parts
Portable
Example
USB flash drive
CompactFlash card
Moores Law:
An Important Observation (-1-)
Moore's law describes a long-term trend in the history of
computing hardware
Since the invention of the IC in 1958, the number of transistors that can
be placed inexpensively on an IC has increased exponentially, doubling
approximately every two years
Moores Law:
An Important Observation (-2-)
Computer Software
Computer Software
Consists of
computer programs and
data files (different types)
that work together to provide instructions and data necessary for
carrying out a specific type of task
Types of Computing
Personal computers
The idea of personal computing first introduced by Apple computer in 1977
First PC introduced by IBM in 1981
Economical enough for individual
Distributed computing
Computing distributed over networks
Often used LANs
PCs were powerful enough to
handle the computing requirements of individual users
handle the basic communication tasks/information passing between the PCs
electronically
Client/server computing
Sharing of information across computer networks between file servers and
clients (personal computers)
Evolution of Operating Systems

Batch processing
Do only one job or task at a time
Operating systems
Manage transitions between jobs
Increased throughput
Amount of work computers process

Multiprogramming
Many jobs or tasks sharing a computers resources
Timesharing
Perform a small portion of one users job then moves on to service the
next user
Software Classification
Software is broadly divided into two classes:
System software: designed to help the computer carry out
the basic operating functions
Operating systems, utilities, device drivers
Application software: designed to be used for a specific

purpose
Business / Educational / Medical Software, Computer Games, Web
Applications etc
Software
Classification
Placement of Software
Application Software
System Software
Hardware
Example
Internet Explorer/ MS
Office/ Media Players and
so on.
Windows XP
Hardware
Another Example
Firefox/ Open Office/
Media Players and so on.
Linux
Hardware
Examples of Application Software

There is a vast array of application software available
for computers that assist in performing a wide range
of tasks
Microsoft Office Suit: Word, Power Point, Excel

Graphics Software: Adobe Photoshop, Microsoft Paint, Picasa
Database Software: Oracle, MySQL, Microsoft Access
Internet & Web: IE, Outlook, Macromedia Dreamweaver
Multimedia Software
Codecs, CD ripper, video editing software
Entertainment Software
Over $6 billion of computer and video games are sold each year in
the U.S. alone
Operating Systems (OS)
Operating System (OS)

The master controller for all of the activities
that take place within a computer
Some of the major tasks carried out by the OS
Manage system resources e.g.
Processor
Memory
Storage resources
Ensure that input and output proceed in an orderly

manner
Establish basic elements of the user interface
Operating System
Details of some of the OS services
Memory Management
Ensures that instructions and data from one area of
memory dont leak into an area allocated to
another program
If it fails, data can get corrupted, programs can
crash
File Management
Acts as a filing clerk
Remembers the names and locations of all your files
Keeps track of empty spaces where new files can
be stored
Operating System (OS)

Note that the OS hides details of the
operation of hardware from the applications
This
tremendously simplifies applications
and removes their dependence on particular
hardware
Operating System: Example

Various software work together in a chain of
commands to carry out a given task
The role of OS while accessing a printer

Operating System: Example
The following were involved in printing a document:

1.
2.
3.
4.
Microsoft Word
Operating System (Windows XP)
Device Drivers for the Printer
Printer
Note that except the last one, all of the above are software.
But as a user your direction interaction is with the first one
only!
Operating System
OS provides a user interface to interact with the computer
Command-line user interface
Graphical User Interface (GUI)

Although OS mainly controls what happens behind the
scenes, many OS provide helpful tools, called utilities, to
control and customize your computer
Launch programs
Manage files
Get help
Customize the user interface
Configure equipment
Operating System
An OS is not strictly limited to computers!
It is also present on PDAs, Mobile Phones etc
[handheld devices]
Windows Mobile OS, Windows XP Embedded

Symbian OS
Palm OS
Nokia Series 40 and Series 60
Windows CE
Where is OS stored?
If the OS is small enough, it can be entirely stored in ROM.
Usually OS for a computer is quite large so most of it is stored
on a hard disk.
How does the OS start working?

Switching on a computer initiates a series of POSTs (Power
On Self Test). The BIOS is in control at this point.
Next, the BIOS loads a very small program, placed in the
very first location of the hard-disk, into RAM and the
processors starts running it. This is called a bootstrap
program.
Now, this small program will load the much bigger OS (e.g.
Windows XP) from the hard disk. Initially, the Windows
Kernel is loaded.

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Lecture 04: Hardware and Sofware

CS 101: Introduction to Computing