BIT 1101 COMPUTER ARCHITECTURE
Contact Hours 42
Pre-requisite None
Purpose To provide an in-depth presentation of computer hardware and software with more
emphasis on the more technical aspects of computing such as troubleshooting and
upgrading computers
Objectives By the end of the course unit, the learner should be able to:
To understand the basic organization and architecture of digital computers
(CPU, memory, I/O, software). Discussions will include digital logic and
microprogramming. Such knowledge leads to better understanding and
utilization of digital computers, and can be used in the design and application
of computer systems or as foundation for more advanced computer-related
studies
Course Content Introduction to Computer and its components
Hardware and software
Inside the computer
Fault Diagnosis
Input and output devices and interrupts.
Computer Languages
Software
External Storage
Upgrading computers
Knowledge of data representation
Topics
Week 1 Introduction to Computer and its components
A. History of computers
B. Generations of computers
C. Characteristics of computers
D. Types of computers
E. Software and Hardware
Week 2 Hardware and software
A. Hardware: input and output devices, backup storage, central processing unit,
memory (ROM, RAM).
B. Software: Categories of software, System software, applications software, general
purpose software, integrated packages and software suites.
Week 3 Inside the computer
A. The processor; Arithmetic and Logic Unit, Control Unit, system clock, registers
B. The fetch execute cycle
C. The motherboard; form factor, sockets and slots
D. Buses; control bus, data bus, Address Bus, SCSI, EISA, MCA
Week 4&5 Fault Diagnosis
A. Power Supply Troubleshooting
B. Video Failure Troubleshooting
C. Motherboard and CPU Troubleshooting
D. Hard Drive Failure Troubleshooting
Week 6&7 Input and output devices and interrupts.
A. Output devices
B. Input Devices
C. Interrupts; types of interrupt, interrupt priorities, interrupt handler
Week 8&9 Computer Languages
A. First Generation - Machine language
B. Second generation - Assembly Language
C. Third Generation - High Level Languages
D. Fourth Generation
E. Fifth Generation
Week 10&11 Software
A. System Software
B. Application Software; general purpose, special purpose
C. Operating systems(OS) concepts; functions of OS, types of OS
Week 12&13 External Storage
A. Storage Devices
B. Access time, block size and access speed
C. Files – types and organization
Week 14 Upgrading computers
A. Upgrading a slow computer; changing the parts
B. Upgrading memory
C. Upgrading the Processor
Knowledge of data representation
A. number system
B. Binary numbers; binary conversion to Denary, Binary addition, multiplication,
division and subtraction
C. Hexadecimal numbers
Teaching Methodology Practical’s
Lectures and tutorials
Group discussions
Demonstration
Individual assignment
Instructional Material/ Audio Visual aids in lecture rooms and theatre rooms
Equipment
Assessment A learner is assessed through ;
Continuous Assessment Tests (CATs) (30%)
End of semester examination (70%)
Required Text Books Fuller F., Larson B., Computers: Understanding Technology(Second Edition)
White R., How Computers Work (Millennium edition).
Capron H.L., Computers: Tools for information age (5th Edition).
C.S. French, Computer science (Fifth Edition)
Other Support Material Various application manuals and journals
