Discovering
Computers 2011
Living in a Digital World
The System Unit
• The system unit is a case (chassis) that contains
electronic components of the computer used to process
data
Page 210 Discovering Computers 2011: Living in a Digital World 2
Figure 4-1 Chapter 4
The System Unit
• The inside of the system unit on a desktop
personal computer includes:
Drive bay(s)
Power supply
Adapter Cards
Sound card
Video card
Processor
Memory
Page 211 Discovering Computers 2011: Living in a Digital World 3
Figure 4-2 Chapter 4
The System Unit
• The motherboard is the main circuit board of the
system unit
– A computer chip contains integrated circuits
Page 212 Discovering Computers 2011: Living in a Digital World 4
Figure 4-3 Chapter 4
Processor
• The processor, also called the central processing
unit (CPU), interprets and carries out the basic
instructions that operate a computer
– Contain a control unit and an arithmetic logic unit
(ALU)
Multi-core Dual-core Quad-core
processor processor processor
Page 213 Discovering Computers 2011: Living in a Digital World 5
Chapter 4
Processor
Page 213 Discovering Computers 2011: Living in a Digital World 6
Figure 4-4 Chapter 4
Processor
• The control unit is the component of the
processor that directs and coordinates most of
the operations in the computer
• The arithmetic logic unit (ALU) performs
arithmetic, comparison, and other operations
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Page 214 Discovering Computers 2011: Living in a Digital World 7
Chapter 4
Processor
• For every instruction, a processor repeats a set of
four basic operations, which comprise a machine
cycle
Page 215 Discovering Computers 2011: Living in a Digital World 8
Figure 4-5 Chapter 4
Processor
• Most current personal
computers support
pipelining
– Processor begins
fetching a second
instruction before it
completes the machine
cycle for the first
instruction
Pages 215 – 216 Discovering Computers 2011: Living in a Digital World 9
Figure 4-6 Chapter 4
Processor
The processor contains registers, that
temporarily hold data and instructions
Processors have many different types
of registers, each with specific function
Page 216 Discovering Computers 2011: Living in a Digital World 10
Chapter 4
Processor
• The leading
manufacturers of
personal computer
processor chips are Intel
and AMD (Advanced
Micro Devices)
• These manufacturers
identify their processors
chips by model name or
number.
Pages 216 – 217 Discovering Computers 2011: Living in a Digital World 11
Figure 4-7 Chapter 4
Processor
• A processor chip
generates heat that
could cause the chip to
burn up
• Main fan generate
airflow.
• Require additional
cooling
– Heat sinks
– Liquid cooling
technology
Pages 219 - 220 Discovering Computers 2011: Living in a Digital World 12
Figures 4-9 – 4-10 Chapter 4
Processor
• Parallel processing uses multiple processors
simultaneously to execute a single program or task
– Massively parallel processing involves hundreds or thousands of
processors
• Require special software
to divide the problem and bring back
the results.
Page 220 Discovering Computers 2011: Living in a Digital World 13
Figure 4-11 Chapter 4
Data Representation
Analog signals are continuous and vary in
strength and quality
Digital signals are in one of two states: on
or off
• Most computers are digital
• The binary system uses two unique digits (0 and 1)
• Bits and bytes
Page 221 Discovering Computers 2011: Living in a Digital World 14
Chapter 4
Data Representation
• ASCII (American Standard
Code for Information
Interchange) is the most
widely used coding scheme
to represent data.
• either 7 bits or 8bits (1
byte) are used to represent
an ASCII character.
• Sufficient for English and
western European
languages but not for Asian
languages.
Page 221 Discovering Computers 2011: Living in a Digital World 15
Figure 4-14 Chapter 4
Data Representation
• Unicode is a 16-bit coding scheme that has the
capacity of representing more than 65,000
characters and symbols.
• The Unicode coding scheme is capable of
representing almost all the world’s current written
languages, as well as classic and historical
languages.
• To allow for expansion, Unicode reserves 30,000
codes for future.
Discovering Computers 2011: Living in a Digital World 16
Chapter 4
Memory
• Memory consists of electronic components that store
instructions waiting to be executed by the processor,
data needed by those instructions, and the results of
processing the data
• Usually consist of one or more chips on motherboard.
• Stores three basic categories of items:
Data being
The operating
Application processed and the
system and other
programs resulting
system software
information
Page 223 Discovering Computers 2011: Living in a Digital World 17
Chapter 4
Bytes and Addressable Memory
• A byte (character) is the basic storage unit in memory.
• The instructions and data exist as bytes.
• Each byte resides temporarily in a location in memory that
has an address.
• An address simply is a unique number that identifies the
location of a byte in memory.
• location in memory, which is identified by a unique address,
holds a single byte.
• byte, identified by an address, can be empty.
• To access data or instructions in memory, the computer
references the addresses that contain bytes of data.
Discovering Computers 2011: Living in a Digital World 18
Chapter 4
Bytes and Addressable Memory
Discovering Computers 2011: Living in a Digital World 19
Chapter 4
Memory Sizes
• Manufacturers state the size of memory and
storage devices in terms of the number of bytes
the chip or device has available for storage.
• A kilobyte (KB or K) is equal to exactly 1,024
bytes.
• To simplify memory and storage definitions,
computer users often round a kilobyte down to
1,000 bytes.
Discovering Computers 2011: Living in a Digital World 20
Chapter 4
Memory Sizes
• Each location in memory has an address
• Memory size is measured in kilobytes (KB or K),
megabytes (MB), gigabytes (GB), or terabytes
(TB)
Page 223 Discovering Computers 2011: Living in a Digital World 21
Figure 4-17 Chapter 4
Memory
• The system unit contains two types of memory:
Volatile memory Nonvolatile memory
Loses its contents when Does not lose contents
power is turned off when power is removed
Examples include ROM,
Example includes RAM flash memory, and
CMOS
Pages 223 - 224 Discovering Computers 2011: Living in a Digital World 22
Chapter 4
RAM
• RAM (random access memory), also called main
memory, consists of memory chips that can be
read from and written to by the processor and
other devices.
Discovering Computers 2011: Living in a Digital World 23
Chapter 4
Discovering Computers 2011: Living in a Digital World 24
Chapter 4
Memory
• RAM chips usually reside on a memory module
and are inserted into memory slots on mother
board
Page 225 Discovering Computers 2011: Living in a Digital World 25
Figure 4-20 Chapter 4
Insert RAM in computer
Discovering Computers 2011: Living in a Digital World 26
Chapter 4
Memory
• The amount of RAM necessary in a computer
often depends on the types of software you plan
to use
Page 226 Discovering Computers 2011: Living in a Digital World 27
Figure 4-21 Chapter 4
RAM Configurations
• Retail software typically indicates the minimum
amount of RAM it requires.
• The amount of RAM in computers purchased
today ranges from 1 GB to 128 GB.
• A computer with more than 4 GB of RAM should
have a 64-bit processor.
• Manufacturers typically specify the maximum
amount of RAM a computer can hold, for
example, 4 GB expandable to 32 GB.
Discovering Computers 2011: Living in a Digital World 28
Chapter 4
CACHE
• Most of today’s computers improve their processing
times with cache.
• Two types of cache are memory cache and disk cache.
• Memory cache speeds the processes of the computer
because it stores frequently used instructions and data.
• Most personal computers today have two types of
memory cache: L1 cache and L2 cache. Some also have
L3 cache.
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ReadyBoost below Chapter 4
Page 227 Discovering Computers 2011: Living in a Digital World 29
Figure 4-22 Chapter 4
Memory
Click to view Web Link,
click Chapter 4, Click Web
Link from left navigation,
then click Windows
ReadyBoost below Chapter 4
Page 227 Discovering Computers 2011: Living in a Digital World 30
Figure 4-22 Chapter 4
CACHE
• Cache speeds up processing time because it stores
frequently used instructions and data.
• When the processor needs an instruction or data, it
searches memory in this order: L1 cache, then L2
cache, then L3 cache (if it exists), then RAM — with a
greater delay in processing for each level of memory
it must search.
• If the instruction or data is not found in memory,
then it must search a slower speed storage medium
such as a hard disk or optical disc.
Discovering Computers 2011: Living in a Digital World 31
Chapter 4
Memory
Read-only memory (ROM) refers to memory chips
storing permanent data and instructions
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then click ROM
below Chapter 4
Page 228 Discovering Computers 2011: Living in a Digital World 32
Chapter 4
ROM
• The data on most ROM chips cannot be modified — hence,
the name read-only.
• ROM is nonvolatile.
• In addition to computers, many devices contain ROM
chips. For example, ROM chips in printers contain data for
fonts.
• Manufacturers of ROM chips often record data,
instructions, or information on the chips when they
manufacture the chips.
• These ROM chips, called firmware, contain permanently
written data, instructions, or information.
Discovering Computers 2011: Living in a Digital World 33
Chapter 4
Memory
A PROM (programmable read-only memory) chip is a
blank ROM chip that can be written to permanently
• EEPROM can be erased
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then click ROM
below Chapter 4
Page 228 Discovering Computers 2011: Living in a Digital World 34
Chapter 4
CMOS
• Some RAM chips, flash memory chips, and other memory
chips use complementary metal-oxide semiconductor
technology because it provides high speeds and consumes
little power.
• CMOS technology uses battery power to retain information
even when the power to the computer is off.
• Battery-backed CMOS memory chips, for example, can keep
the calendar, date, and time current even when the
computer is off.
• The flash memory chips that store a computer’s startup
information often use CMOS technology.
Pages 228 – 229 Discovering Computers 2011: Living in a Digital World 35
Figure 4-23 Chapter 4
Memory
• Access time is the amount of time it takes the
processor to read from memory
– Measured in nanoseconds
Page 229 Discovering Computers 2011: Living in a Digital World 36
Figures 4-24 – 4-25 Chapter 4
Expansion Slots and Adapter Cards
• An expansion slot is a
socket on the motherboard
that can hold an adapter
card
• An adapter card enhances
functions of a component of
the system unit and/or
provides connections to
peripherals
– Sound card and video card
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then click Video Cards
below Chapter 4
Page 230 Discovering Computers 2011: Living in a Digital World 37
Figure 4-26 Chapter 4
Expansion Slots and Adapter Cards
• A peripheral is a device that connects to the
system unit and is controlled by the processor in
the computer.
• Examples of peripherals are modems, disk drives,
printers, scanners, and keyboards.
Discovering Computers 2011: Living in a Digital World 38
Chapter 4
Expansion Slots and Adapter Cards
• Some motherboards include all necessary capabilities and
do not require adapter cards. Other motherboards may
require adapter cards to provide capabilities such as sound
and video.
• A sound card enhances the sound generating capabilities of
a personal computer by allowing sound to be input through
a microphone and output through external speakers or
headphones.
• A video card, also called a graphics card, converts
computer output into a video signal that travels through a
cable to the monitor, which displays an image on the
screen.
Discovering Computers 2011: Living in a Digital World 39
Chapter 4
Expansion Slots and Adapter Cards
• With Plug and Play, the computer automatically
can configure adapter cards and other peripherals
as you install them
Pages 230 – 231 Discovering Computers 2011: Living in a Digital World 40
Figure 4-27 Chapter 4
Removable flash memory
• Removable flash memory includes:
– Memory cards, USB flash drives, and PC
Cards/ExpressCard modules
Page 231 Discovering Computers 2011: Living in a Digital World 41
Figure 4-28 Chapter 4
Ports and Connectors
A port is the point at which a peripheral attaches to or
communicates with a system unit (sometimes referred
to as a jack)
A connector joins a cable to a port
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Page 232 Discovering Computers 2011: Living in a Digital World 42
Chapter 4
Ports and Connectors
Page 232 Discovering Computers 2011: Living in a Digital World 43
Figure 4-29 Chapter 4
Ports and Connectors
• On a notebook computer, the ports are on the
back, front, and/or sides
Pages 232 - 233 Discovering Computers 2011: Living in a Digital World 44
Figure 4-30 Chapter 4
Ports and Connectors
Page 233 Discovering Computers 2011: Living in a Digital World 45
Figure 4-31 Chapter 4
Ports and Connectors
• A USB port can connect up to 127 different
peripherals together with a single connector
– You can attach multiple peripherals using a single USB
port with a USB hub
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then click USB Ports
below Chapter 4
Page 234 Discovering Computers 2011: Living in a Digital World 46
Figure 4-32 Chapter 4
Buses
• A computer processes and stores data as a series
of electronic bits.
• These bits transfer internally within the circuitry
of the computer along electrical channels. Each
channel is called a bus.
• A bus allows the various devices both inside and
attached to the system unit to communicate with
each other.
Discovering Computers 2011: Living in a Digital World 47
Chapter 4
Buses
• Just as vehicles travel on a
highway to move from
one destination to
another, bits travel on a
bus.
• Buses are used to transfer
bits from input devices to
memory, from memory to
the processor, from the
processor to memory, and
from memory to output
or storage devices.
Page 237 Discovering Computers 2011: Living in a Digital World 48
Figure 4-36 Chapter 4
Buses
• Buses consist of two parts: a data bus and an
address bus.
• The data bus is used to transfer actual data and
the address bus is used to transfer information
about where the data should reside in memory.
Discovering Computers 2011: Living in a Digital World 49
Chapter 4
Discovering Computers 2011: Living in a Digital World
50
Chapter 4
Bus width
• The size of a bus, called the bus width, determines
the number of bits that the computer can
transmit at one time.
• For example, a 32-bit bus can transmit 32 bits (4
bytes) at a time. On a 64-bit bus, bits transmit
from one location to another 64 bits (8 bytes) at a
time.
• The larger the number of bits handled by the bus,
the faster the computer transfers data.
Discovering Computers 2011: Living in a Digital World 51
Chapter 4
Power Supply
The power supply converts the wall outlet AC
power into DC power
Built into the power supply is a fan that keeps the
power supply cool
Page 239 Discovering Computers 2011: Living in a Digital World 52
Chapter 4
Power Supply
Some external peripherals such as a cable modem,
speakers, or a printer have an AC adapter (converts
the AC power into DC power), which is an external
power supply.
Page 239 Discovering Computers 2011: Living in a Digital World 53
Chapter 4
