UNIT 3 COMPUTER SYSTEMS - Wikispaces

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UNIT 3 COMPUTER SYSTEMS ASSESSMENT 1 – THE STRUCTURE OF A COMPUTER SYSTEM

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P1- IDENTIFY THE COMMON COMPONENTS OF A COMPUTER SYSTEM

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TASK 1 You are required to produce a leaflet describing the main components [both hardware and software] of a computer including peripherals.

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COMPONENTS OF A COMPUTER SYSTEM

You need to describe the components and features also explain what job each component does and how they are connected 3

HARDWARE COMPONENTS

• Hardware comes in a variety of different component types. Although they can be some differences between manufactures • You should learn what job each component does and how they are connected.

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• Hardware is any physical component in a computer system; something that is tangible and can therefore be ‘seen’ and ‘touched’

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Processor speed & Type Ram, Rom, cache [memory] Motherboard

Storage

CD Rom CDR CDRW & DVDR DVDRW, BD BLURAY Hard drive Flash Drives USB storage devices Memory Stick Costs

Input

Graphics tablet Mouse Digital camera Scanner Touch Screen Gaming controller Microphone Keyboard

Output medium Printer Computer monitor Sound- speakers Computer Network connectivity eg 3G, Wireless, Bluetooth, NIC

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Hardware

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Motherboard

• All computer systems , no matter what size., have a ‘main’ board of some kind • The most popular is called ATX [advanced technology extended] compatible. • The following components are connected directly to the motherboard – CPU, RAM & the CHIPSET

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• Largest component – all the other components are plugged into or connected to the motherboard.

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CPU-Processor

• It is the heart of the computer system, allowing the operating system and other programs to run.

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• The central processing unit is another name for the processor. It is a chip that fits into a socket on the motherboard.

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CPU-Processor

• CPUs are usually the most expensive component of a system, manufactured by either Intel or AMD

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• Every program consists of instructions for the processor that are decoded and actioned inside the processor to make them work

• AMD – Athlon and Opteron • Intel – Pentium and Celeron 8

Speed • The frequency of the processors internal clock is measured in [Hz].

• Some CPU’s have multiple ‘cores’ which can work independently or can combine to process data faster.

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• CPU’s are usually 32-bit or 64-bit. This describes the size of data and instructions it can process.

• CPU performance is measured by a combination or its bit size, number of cores and frequency: bigger is usually better! 9

Cache memory

• The FAT (File Allocation Table) is held on the disk to connect names of files and folders to where they actually are on the disk. When a file is opened or saved the disk address needs to be looked up in the FAT before the file can be found.

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• Is very fast electronic memory between RAM and another device, used to make the system run faster.

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RAM

• When the power is removed the data is lost – this is what we call volatile storage. RAM is a key factor in a good computer system performance [more is better]

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• RAM stands for random access memory. Is to store data and instructions temporarily when a program is being run by a CPU.

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• There are many types, sizes and speeds of RAM, with DIMMs [Dual Inline Memory Module] and DDR [Double Data Rate] being the most common.

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RAM

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Hard

Software being run and documents being opened

disk

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Cache

RAM

Cache Documents being saved

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• If data is required from the drive, the required data is brought to cache, as well as the next data on the disk, so if the computer needs this as well, it is already in the cache

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Cache

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Chipset • Motherboards make use of many specialist microchips [‘chips’ for short] The common ones are:

• Southbridge – which manages traffic between slower motherboard components.

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• Northbridge – which manages data traffic between faster motherboard components [RAM, CPU and video card].

In addition the motherboard may have chips dedicated to: • Video • Sound • Network connectivity

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• Alternatively these can be separate cards which are plugged into the motherboard through extension slots.

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• Video • Sound • Network connectivity

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STORAGE DEVICES

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Hard disks [drives] Internal

• These are magnetic data storage units and they store vast amounts of data and spin at speeds of around 7200 rpm [revolutions per minute]. Although hard disks are typically stored inside the base unit [or laptop] they can also be purchased as an external device, usually connected by USB [Universal serial bus] or e SATA cables.

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• Internal hard disks are connected to the motherboard by either a PATA [Parallel Advance Technology Attachment] or the newer SATA [Serial ATA] connection.

• Most new computer systems are using SATA drives and often have at least 500 GB storage 18

OPTICAL DRIVES

• Drives are usually marked to indicate what type of discs they will accept The typical data capacity of these discs is as given below: CD:650-700MB DVD: 4.7 – 16GB BD:25 – 128GB

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• Use a laser to read\data from CD, DVD or a BD [Blu – ray disc] Most drives can use either read-only discs, such as CD-ROMs and DVD-ROMs, or can be used to record data on recordable or rewriteable discs.

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Flash Drives

• Relatively inexpensive and easy to use, flash drives connect to, modern computer systems via a USB port storing anything between 16MB and 250GB.

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• Use a special type of electronic memory which can be written very quickly and remains intact even when the device is removed from the computer system’s power. This makes them ideal for medium and long term data storage.

• The USB hub it connects to is built into the motherboard 20

• The following components are connected to the motherboard via external ports [usually on the ‘backplane’ of the motherboard which is visible on the back of the base unit]. • These components are peripheral [connected outside the base unit] and are classified as input devices.

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Peripherals

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INPUT DEVICES

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Touch Screen

• Touch screens are easy they only require the users hand. Combined with simple user friendly icon based interface, even non technical users can interact with a computer system.

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• Is new popular in mobile phones, GPS devices, public access points, bank ATMs and hand held games consoles.

• The surface project from Microsoft is a good showcase for this technology www.microsoft.com/surface/en/us/default.aspx] 23

• Alternative way to draw instead of using a mouse, greater precision for drawing. Professional digital artists will use a tool like this when using graphical applications software such as Adobe Photoshop.

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Graphics Tablet

• Graphic tablets come complete with a stylus and often comes in A5, A4 and A# sizes. They are usually connected to a computer system via USB 24

• Can be use with a PC or Apple Mac most are specific to a chosen games console. Most contain force-feedback technology which ‘rumbles’ the controller in the user’s hand to reflect on-screen events.

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Game Controllers

• Some controllers use a proprietary connection [specific to a particular console] most modern devices use either USB or wireless connections. 25

• Is used to convert sound waves made by human speech into electrical signals which can be used to control a computer system or talk to other users via internet telephone services such as Skype

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A Microphone

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Keyboard

A Mouse • Uses either mechanical roller ball or optical lightemitting dipoles and sensors to move the pointer on the screen. • A mouse is a key component of a modern GUI either wireless or USB or PS/2 connections

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• Qwerty keyboard basic input device Most PC keyboards are wireless or USB or PS/2 connections.

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OUTPUT DEVICES

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• Produces monochrome, grey scale or colour prints containing text and / or images. Inkjet and laser. Inkjet uses wet cartridge ink laser works similar to photocopiers by using dry toner which is heat-bonded to certain points of the page.

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Printer – other peripherals

• Most printers are wireless, USB or much older parallel port connections. 29

Monitors

• LCD have become standard. Connections to computer systems are usually by the older 15pin for VGA connecter for newer typically 29-pin DVI digital interface. • The type of connection used must be compatible with the computer system’s video card.

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• Older – CRT diminishing in use due to bulky nature and higher power consumption.

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• Connects to the sound card. Converts electrical signals into sound waves. Two speakers are common offering stereo sounds. More complex speaker systems are possible depending on the sound card. • You can set up 5.1 systems five speakers plus a sub woofer for lower frequency ‘bass’ sounds. • Speakers can be connected\wireless or USB

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Speakers

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Network connectivity

• 3G or 4th generation mobile telephone technology, can be used to transmit data over a cellar network between two different computer systems. • Although the technology is built into #G phones, tradition PC systems such as desktops or notebook can make use of USB 3G Dongles to access the same network.

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• In addition to input and output devices computers can be connected together. Any device that helps to achieve this comes under the classification of network connectivity.

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Wi-Fi networks

• It is possible to connect a USB wireless dongle that will do the same job. Although not fast, flexible or powerful as a Wi-Fi network., Bluetooth connectivity can be a useful tool when transmitting data between a mobile telephone and a computer system. • .

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• Can be accessed by an appropriate wireless network controller and many devices have these built-in [for example, Apple I phone, Nintendo Wii Sony Play Station and most notebooks.

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Wi-Fi networks

• A network interface card [NIC} usually plugs into a motherboard of a computer system. Many different types [and speeds] exist and it is not uncommon to find its circuitry built into the motherboards of most desktops PC’s, laptops and netbooks. • Although some NIC’s use a wired [Ethernet] connection, others use wireless connectivity sand often have a visible antenna

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• Inexpensive USB Bluetooth dongles enable a user to back up mobile telephone data [such as pictures, SMS text] to their computer system or uploaded music to them

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