Computer System Overview

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 Hardware : Hardware refers to Physical parts of the computer that can be
touched physically.

Central Processing
Hardware Provides the
data and
Unit – Interprets instructions
instructions and in computer
carries out operations readable
form

Holds Data

Input
CPU Devices
Memory Output
Devices
 CPU – THE COMPUTER’S
BRAIN
 A CPU does the entire ‘thinking’ and ‘controlling’ in a
processing action. All other parts of a computer work as
directed by the CPU.
 The CPU is also called the microprocessor or simply the
Processor.
 The CPU is connected to other components like Input, Output
devices via special connecting wires called the system Bus.
 The CPU consists of three basic sections
 The ALU (Arithmetic and Logic Unit)
 Control Unit
 Registers
1. ALU (Arithmetic Logic Unit)

This Unit performs the computing functions as given below involving numbers.

Arithmetic operations which include addition, subtraction, multiplication and

division.
All Logic operations which involve comparisons such as less than, greater than,
or equal to.
The results of these operations are stored in the registers or in memory or sent to
output devices.

2. Registers
All data is temporarily stored in registers during the execution of
programs. Registers offer very fast memory but very limited in size.
3. Control Unit

It directs the entire computer system to carry out, or execute,

stored program instructions. It works like a Police officer
directing traffic.

CPU Performs 4 Steps in executing an instruction:

1. The Control unit gets the instructions from the Memory.
2. The Control unit decides what the instructions means and
directs the necessary data to be moved from the memory to
the ALU
3. The ALU performs the actual operation on the data.
4. The result of the operation is stored in memory or a register.

The first two steps make up what is called the Instruction time.
The Last two steps make up what is called the execution time.
The combination of these two is called a Machine cycle.
 Memory

Primary Secondary
Memory Memory

Hard Disk
RAM

CD
ROM

DVD

Pen Drive
 Primary Memory/ Main
Memory/Internal/Semiconductor
It is also known as the main storage. It holds all data that needs to be
accessed quickly by the processor. It Consists of

 RAM: Random Access Memory

 ROM : Read Only Memory

Both RAM and ROM are referred to as Immediate Access Storage (IAS)
because CPU can access the data so quickly compared to data in backing storage
(the secondary memory).
RAM: Random Access Memory
 It is the system memory. It is also known as Main memory. It is a short-term
memory because it stores data temporarily.

 The internal memory that can be read from as well as written to is called the
RAM.

 RAM is Volatile. It needs power supply to keep data in it. If Computer is

turned off, the data disappears.

 The capacity of RAM is measured in Megabytes (MB)and Gigabytes(GB).

ROM : Read Only Memory
 In this memory information once stored remains fixed, that is it cannot be
changed.

 ROM can only be read and used ; it cannot be changed or written on to.

 Generally ROM contains a set of start-up instructions that is , what to do

when a computer is turned on.

 The content of ROM remain stored even if power is turned off.

 Difference between RAM and ROM
FULL NAME RAM(Random Access ROM(Read Only
Memory) Memory)
Definition RAM is a form of data storage that ROM is also a form of data storage
can be accessed randomly at any that generally stores hardwired
time, in any order by CPU. instructions( instructions stored as
form of circuit) for computer to start
initially.

Alterations RAM contents can be changed or ROM cannot be altered or

altered as and when required reprogrammed.

Use RAM allows the computer to read ROM stores the program required to
data quickly to run applications. initially boot the computer or reboot
the computer

Operations supported It allows reading and writing It allows only reading

Volatility RAM is Volatile. Its contents are lost It is Non-Volatile. Its contents are
when the device is powered off. retained even when device is
powered off.

Size Larger than ROM; can be up to some Smaller but enough to hold basic
Giga Bytes(GBs) instructions; is up to some Mega
Bytes(MBs)

Speed RAM chips can read data faster than ROM is slower as compared to RAM.
ROM
MAIN / PRIMARY / INTERNAL / SEMICONDUCTOR

RAM
 SRAM
 DRAM

ROM

 PROM
EPROM
EEPROM
FLASH PROM
 SRAM (static RAM) is random access memory (RAM) that retains data bits in its
memory as long as power is being supplied. Unlike dynamic RAM (DRAM), which
stores bits in cells consisting of a capacitor and a transistor, SRAM does not have
to be periodically refreshed.

Static RAM uses a completely different technology. ... So static RAM is fast
and expensive, and dynamic RAM is less expensive and slower.
Therefore static RAM is used to create the CPU's speed-sensitive cache,
while dynamic RAM forms the larger system RAM space

Dynamic random-access memory is a type of random-access semiconductor

memory that stores each bit of data in a memory cell consisting of a tiny capacitor
and a transistor that is capable of storing an electric charge
Flash EPROMs are the most recent type of
EPROM memory part. These parts are always in
plastic cases because the erasing of the part is
done electrically
SECONDARY / EXTERNAL / AUXILLARY MEMORY

 Magnetic Tape

 Magnetic Disk

 Floppy (Diskettes)

 Hard Disk

 Optical Disk

 CD , DVD, BRD

 Memory Storage Devices

 Pen Drive , Memory Card

 Storage Devices (Secondary Memory
Devices)
Since Primary memory has a limited storage capacity and is not permanent , secondary
storage devices are used to store large amount of data permanently.

Some most common storage devices are:

 Hard Disks Magnetic Media

 Floppy Disks

 CD ROMs Optical Media

 DVDs
Floppy Disks ( Diskette)
 The Floppy Disks ( disk made up of
flexible material mylar) were one of the
oldest type of portable storage devices
that could store up to 1.44MBs of data ,
but now not used in computers of today.

Hard Disk
 The Hard Disk memories store
information on one or more circular
platters which are continually
spinning.
 These rotating disks are coated with a
magnetic material and stacked with
space between them.
 Information is recorded on the surface
of rotating disks by magnetic as tiny
 magnetic spots.
Compact Disk (CDs)
 The Compact Disks or CDs are optical
media. The CDs are relatively cheap
and have a storage capacity of upto 700
MB.
 CDs come in variety of forms e.g.
CDROM (CD – Read Only Memory),
CD-R(CD – Recordable) and
CD-RW(CD-Rewritable).

Digital Video / Versatile Disk (DVDs)

 DVD is an optical storage device that looks the same as CDs but can hold
about 15 times as much information and transfer it to the computer about 20
times as fast as CD-ROM.
 A DVD is also called a Super Density Disk (SD), can hold upto 17 gigabytes
of data or four hours of movies on a side.
 DVDs come in three variety of forms e.g.
DVD – ROM(DVD – Read Only Memory)
DVD – R(DVD – Recordable)
DVD - RW(DVD-Rewritable)
 Pen/Thumb Drives – Flash
Memories
 This has recently emerged called ‘Flash’
memory, USB memory , Key Memory. They use
flash memories.
 Flash is a ‘Solid State’ memory i.e.,it has no
moving parts unlike magnetic storage devices,
nor does it make use of lasers- unlike optical
drives.
 It works in a similar way to RAM . The key
difference is that data is retained in Flash
memory even when the power is switched off.

Blu-Ray disc
 The formats name comes from the fact that a blue
laser reads from and writes to the disc
 Blu-Ray can store much more data in the same 12
centimetre space.
 Blu –Ray discs of capacity 25GB, 50 GB are available.
Memory Stick
 It is a type of removable memory card that you
connect to a computer or other piece of
electronic equipment to copy and store
information.
 It is used in digital cameras, smartphones,
camcorders, music players or portable
PlayStation etc.
 It can store data in Gigabytes which varies
from 4GBs to 128GBs.

Cloud Storage ( Not a Device)

 It is the newest way of storing files and
data. The cloud storage is a mechanism
not a physical storage device.(Although
data is stored on server’s physical
storage).
 Cloud storage backs up your files to a
secure server across the Internet.
Difference between Primary and
Secondary Memory
Primary Storage Secondary Storage

• Memory is directly • Not directly connected to

connected to and CPU
accessed by a computer’s
CPU.
• Memory is volatile (RAM) • Memory is Non-volatile
• Direct access by CPU • Indirect access by CPU
• Faster data access • Slower data access
• Used for processing data • Used for storing data
• Small size • Large size
The System Bus
The System Bus is an electronic pathway composed of connecting cables and
that connects the major components of a computer system. Through system bus,
data and instructions are passed among the computer system components.

 The data carrying part of system bus is called data bus.

 The control instruction carrying part of system bus is called control bus.
 The memory address carrying part of system bus is called Address bus.
 A separate type of bus called I/O Bus connects the Input, Output and other
external devices to the system.
Computer Systems and Organizations – Mobile System Organization
•A Mobile is a portable computer in hand
•It has a touch screen, call management system, front and rear camera, display
system, memory like RAM as well as internal memory, SIM card, battery, speaker,
and processor
•A processor of the mobile system has less power compared to computer systems
as they are running of small batteries
•A mobile system has the following components:
• CPU handles instructions
• GPU assists the CPU to handle the visuals
• Camera ISP (Image Signal Processor) provides and handles camera
functions
• Radio & 3G/4G Modem receives and transmits voice connections, 3G/4G
enables the modem to send receive digital signals
• Memory the controller provides a direct link to memory
• The battery system supplies power to the mobile
Mobile system organization Mobile system are tiny computers in your hand.
These days major components of a mobile system are integrated on a single
chip called System on a Chip (Soc). The SoC chips consume less power
compared to other alternatives.
The functional components of mobile system are:

1.Mobile Processors-This is the brain of a smartphone.

2.Display Subsystem- It is responsible for providing display facilities.

3.Camera subsystem-It is designed to deliver a tightly bound image

processing.

4.Mobile System memory-It is designed for storage of data.

5.Storage-It is the external storage, which is also called expandable storage.

6.Power management System-It is responsible for providing power to a

mobile system.