Chapter 2

The Processing
Technology
• The System Unit
• Central Processing Unit
• Data Representation
• Memory
• Expansion Slots and Expansion Cards
• Ports
• Buses
 Chapter 2 Objectives

Describe the components Differentiate among the

in the system unit various types of memory
Explain how the CPU uses the Describe the types
four steps of a machine cycle of expansion slots and cards
to process data in the system unit
Compare and contrast various Explain the difference between
personal computer processors a serial, a parallel,
on the market today and a USB port
Describe how buses
Define a bit and describe how a contribute to a computer’s
series of bits represents data processing speed

Next
p. 4.2
 The System Unit
What is the
system unit?
• A case that contains
computer’s electronic
components to
process data
• Sometimes called the
chassis

Next
p. 4.2 Fig. 4-1
 The System Unit

• The inside of the system unit on a

desktop personal computer includes:

Page 211 Discovering Computers 2010: Living in a Digital World 5

Figure 4-2 Chapter 4
 Motherboard

• The motherboard or system board is the

main circuit board of the system unit
– A computer chip contains integrated circuits

Page 212 Discovering Computers 2010: Living in a Digital World 6

Figure 4-3 Chapter 4
 The Central Processing
Unit (CPU)
 Interprets and carries
out basic instructions
that operate a
computer
 Also called the
processor

Next
p. 4.5 Fig. 4-5
 What are the
components of the
CPU?

CPU

Control Arithmetic/
Unit Logic Unit
(ALU)

Next
p. 4.5
 What is the control
unit?

• The control unit is the component of the processor that

directs and coordinates most of the operations in the
computer Control unit repeats
four basic operations:
 Fetch - obtain program
Control Unit instruction or data item from
memory
 Decode - translate instruction into
commands
 Execute - carry out command
 Store - write result to memory
Next
p. 4.5
 Machine Cycle

• For every instruction, a processor repeats a set of four

basic operations, which comprise a machine cycle

Page 215 Discovering Computers 2010: Living in a Digital World 10

Figure 4-5 Chapter 4
 What is the arithmetic/logic
unit (ALU) ?

• CPU component
that performs
execution part of Comparison
the machine (greater than, equal
cycle to, or less than)

d .
. an
.or. .not.
Arithmetic Logical
(addition, subtraction, (AND, OR,
Next multiplication, and NOT)
p. 4.7 division)
 What is pipelining?

 CPU begins executing second instruction

before completing first instruction
 Results in faster processing
Machine Cycle (without pipelining)

Machine Cycle (with pipelining)

Instruction 1

Instruction 2

Instruction 3
Next
Instruction 4
p. 4.7 Fig. 4-7
 What is a register?

 Temporary
storage area
that holds
data and Stores Stores results
instructions instruction of calculation
while it is
being decoded

Stores location
from where Stores data while
instruction was ALU processes it
Next fetched
p. 4.7
 What is the system
clock?
 Synchronizes all computer
operations. It controls the
timing of all computer
operations.
 The clock speed is measured
in Hertz (Hz).
Hz – one tick/second
 Each tick is clock cycle MHz - one million ticks of
 Processors can execute system clock/second
GHz – one billion ticks of
then click more
Clock Speed than 1 instruction per
Click to view Web Link
system clock/second
Next
p. 4.8
clock cycle.
 What is a
microprocessor?
 Single processor chip found
in personal computers
• The leading manufacturers of
personal computer processor
chips are Intel and AMD

Click to
view animation

Click to view Web Link

then click Processors
Next
p. 4.9
 What is parallel
processing?
 Usingmultiple processors
simultaneously to execute
program faster

 Requires special software to

divide problem and bring
Next results together
p. 4.13 Fig. 4-13
 Data Representation

 Most computers are digital

 Recognize only two discrete states:
on or off

on 1 1 1 1 1

off 0 0 0 0 0
Next
p. 4.13
 What is the binary
system?
 Number system with two unique digits: 0 and 1

Binary Electronic Electronic

Digit (bit) Charge State

Next
p. 4.14 Fig. 4-14
 What is a byte?

 Eight bits grouped together

8-bit byte for the number 3

8-bit byte for the number 5

8-bit byte for the capital letter T

Next
p. 4.14 Fig. 4-15
 What are three popular
coding systems to
represent data?

 ASCII - American
Standard Code for
Information
Interchange
 EBCDIC - Extended
Binary Coded Decimal
Interchange Code
 Unicode - coding
scheme capable of
representing all
Next world’s languages
p. 4.14 Fig. 4-16
 What is memory?

 Temporary storage area for operating system,

application programs, and data
 Consists of one or more chips on motherboard
 Each byte stored in unique address
 Example:
 In airplane; store seat A22, B22 and C22

Next
p. 4.15
 How is memory
measured?
 By number of bytes available

Next
p. 4.16 Fig. 4-19
 What are two
types of memory?

Next
p. 4.16
 What is random access
memory (RAM)?

 Memory chips that can be read from and written to

by processor
 Most RAM is volatile
 The more RAM a computer has, the faster it operates
 RAM chips reside on memory module and inserted
into memory slots

memory
Next
module
p. 4.16
 What are two basic
types of RAM
chips?

Dynamic RAM (DRAM)

 Most common type
 Also called main memory
Static RAM (SRAM)
 Used for special
applications such as
cache
 Faster and more
reliable than DRAM
chips
Next
p. 4.18
 How much RAM is
needed?
 Depends on type of applications you intend to
run on your computer

Next
p. 4.19 Fig. 4-23
 What is cache?

 Helps speed computer

processes by storing
frequently used
instructions and data
 Also called memory
cache, cache store, or
RAM cache
 L1, L2 and L3 cache
 L2 advanced transfer
cache most common
Click to view
Web Link then
click Cache
Next
p. 4.20 Fig. 4-24
 Cache

• Memory cache speeds the processes of the computer

because it stores frequently used instructions and data

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 2010: Living in a Digital World 28
Figure 4-22 Chapter 4
 What is read-only
memory (ROM)?
 Memory chips that contain data, instructions,
or information that is recorded permanently

BIOS
Data can only ROM is (basic input/output system)
be read; nonvolatile — Stored on ROM
cannot be Contents not lost Sequence of instructions
modified in when computer is computer follows to load
ROM turned off operating system and other
files when you turn on the
Click to view Web Link
then click Memory computer
Next
p. 4.20
 Types of ROM
Firmware
ROM chips
manufactured with PROM
permanently
(programmable EEPROM
written data,
read-only (electrically
instructions, or
memory) erasable
information
Blank ROM on programmable read-
which you can only memory)
place items Type of PROM
permanently containing
microcode
Next programmer can
p. 4.20 erase
 What is flash
memory?
 Nonvolatile memory that can be erased
electronically and reprogrammed
 Used with handheld computers and digital
cameras, cellular phones, and automobiles

Click to view Web

Link then click
Flash Memory

Click to view video

Next
p. 4.21 Fig. 4-25
 What is CMOS?

Complementary
metal-oxide
semiconductor Stores
memory information about
the computer
Uses battery
• type of disk drives to retain
• keyboard information
• monitor when
• current time and date computer is
Next
p. 4.21
turned off
 What is memory
access time?

 Speed at which processor can access data from memory

directly
 Measured in nanoseconds (ns), which is one billionth of a
second
 It takes 1/10 of a second to blink your eye; a computer can
perform up to 10 million operations in same amount of time

Next
p. 4.22 Fig. 4-26 & 27
 What is an
expansion slot?
 An opening, or
socket, where a
circuit board is
inserted into
motherboard
 An adapter card
inserted in
expansion slot
 Example: sound
card and video
Adapter
card
card
Next
expansion
p. 4.23 Fig. 4-29
slot
 How are adapter cards
used?

Common adapter cards:-

MIDI: connect musical instruments

Modem: connect other computers through telephone or
cable television lines
Sound: connects speakers or a microphone
USB 2.0: connects to USB 2.0 devices
Video: connects a monitor

Click to view Web Link

then click Expansion
Cards
Next
p. 4.23 Fig. 4-28
 Removable flash
memory

 Hot plugging: allows us

to insert and remove the
flash memory while the
computer is running.
 Includes: memory
cards, USB flash drives,
and PC
Cards/ExpressCard
modules
Next
p. 4.25 Fig. 4-31
 What is a port?
mouse
keyboard
USB
USB

serial port printer (parallel

port)
 The point
which speaker
connects monitor
microphone
external
game port
devices to
Click to
view system unit network
Web
Link then telephone
click Ports
and telephone line line out
Connectors
in
Next
svideo out FM reception
p. 4.25 Fig. 4-32

cable TV
 Ports and
Connectors

Page 232 Discovering Computers 2010: Living in a Digital World 38

Figure 4-29 Chapter 4
 What are different types of
connectors?

•A connector joins a cable to a port.

•2 genders: male & female
•Male: 1 or more exposed pins
•Female: have matching holes to accept the pins on a male
connector

Next
p. 4.26 Fig. 4-34
 byte
serial
What is a serial transmission
representation
for number 5
port? of data (00110101)
byte
representation
 Transmits one bit of for number 5
(00110101) byte
data at a time representation
 Used to connect for number 5
(00110101)
slow-speed devices,
such as mouse,
keyboard, modem
DB-9 female
connector

Next
p. 4.27 Fig. 4-35 DB-9 male
connector
 What is a parallel port?byte representation for
number 1
byte representation for
number 3
byte representation for
 Connects devices number 5

that can transfer

more than one bit
at a time, such as a
printer

DB-25 male
connector

Next
p. 4.27 Fig. 4-36 DB-25 female
connector
 What is a universal
serial bus port (USB) ?

– Can connect up to 127

different peripherals
– Devices: mouse, printer,
digital camera, scanner,
speakers, portable
media players, optical
disc drive, smart phone,
PDA, game console and
removable hard disk.
– You can attach multiple
peripherals using a single
USB port with a USB hub

Next
p. 4.28 Fig. 4-37
 Ports and
Connectors

• Other types of ports include:

Pages 234 - 236 Discovering Computers 2010: Living in a Digital World 43

Chapter 4
 Ports and
Connectors
A Bluetooth wireless port
adapter converts a USB port
A smart phone might
into a Bluetooth port communicate with a notebook
computer using an IrDA port

Page 235 Discovering Computers 2010: Living in a Digital World 44

Figures 4-33 – 4-34 Chapter 4
 What ports are on a
notebook computer?

keyboard/mouse
port

IrDA
port USB port
serial port parallel video port
Next
port
p. 4.34 Fig. 4-45
 What is a bus?
 Channel that allows devices inside
computer to communicate with each
other. processo
 Used to transfer bits :-
 From input devices to memory
 From memory to processor system
bus
 From processor to memory
 From memory to output
devices/storage devices
 Bus width determines number
of bits transmitted at one time.
 Word size determines number
of bits processor can interpret
Next
and execute at a given time.
p. 4.29 Fig. 4-39
RAM
 What is an
expansion bus?
 Allows processor to communicate with peripherals
(outside the system unit)
 Expansion buses commonly found in today’s PC:-
 PCI bus (video cards, sound cards, etc.)
 PCI Express bus (video cards)
 AGP bus (3-D graphics and video transmission in
processor)
 USB (USB devices)
 FireWire bus (FireWire devices)
 PC Card bus (PC card)

Next
p. 4.31 Fig. 4-41
 What is an
expansion bus?
 Allows processor to communicate with peripherals
fastest memory
next fastest
next fastest
slowest
processor

Next PCI bus

p. 4.31 Fig. 4-41 expansion slots ISA bus expansion slots
 Keeping Your
Computer
or Mobile Device
Clean

Page 240 Discovering Computers 2010: Living in a Digital World 49

Chapter 4
Q& A