COMPONENTS OF
SYSTEM UNIT
System unit
It contains electronic components of the computers used to process data.
it is where all your computer peripherals are attached. It is composed of 6 basic
components of system unit, namely; motherboard, processor, ram, hard drive, video card
and power supply. It is often called as CPU but it is not, the CPU (central processing unit).
is the processor itself.
Components of System Unit
Processor
Memory
Adapter cards
Ports
Hard Drive
Power supply
Motherboard:
Itis the core of the system, it
really is the PC. Everything
else is connected to it, and it
controls everything in the
system.
The motherboard or system
board is the main circuit board
of the system unit.
(Cont.)
Connects all components.
Allows communication
between devices
Contains adapter cards,
processor chips, and
memory chips
Processor
it is often thought of as the engine of the computer. It is also called the CPU.
Microprocessor is a solid-state central processing unit much like a computer on a chip. An
integrated circuit that accepts coded instructions for execution. For me, processor is the
brain of the system. There are two types of processor; with pins and the pin-less .
Memory
Electronic components that store instructions, data, and results
It is the system memory often called as RAM (random access memory). This is the
primary memory, which holds all the programs and data the processor is using at a given
time
All memory accessible at any instant (randomly) by a microprocessor. The latest type of
RAM is the DDR5.
(Cont.)
Memory chips that can be
RAM Task
read from and written
to by processor
Explore, SRAM, DRAM,
SIMM, DIMM and RIMM. Most RAM is
Also called
Virtual Memory volatile, it is lost
main memory
when computer’s
or primary
Small portion of hard Disk power is
storage
turned off
acts as RAM.
Cache
The more RAM a
It helps to increase speed of computer. computer has, the
It stores frequently used data and instructions faster it responds
(Cont.)
ROM
Memory chips that store permanent data
and instructions.
Nonvolatile memory, it is not lost when
computer’s power is turned off.
Registers
A register is a single storage location within the CPU
Unlike memory, which is “outside” the CPU
Flash Memory
Nonvolatile memory that can be erased electronically and reprogrammed.
Hard Drive
is the primary archival storage memory for the system
It is where we saved our files and data including our operating system, antivirus and other
applications.
There are two types of Hard drive, we have PATA (Parallel Attachment Packet Interface)
then SATA (Serial Attachment Packet Interface).
Adapter Cards & Expansion slots
Enhances system unit or provides connections to external devices called
peripherals
Also called an expansion card
Flash Memory Cards, PC Cards
Ports
Port connects external devices
to system unit.
Serial Port
Transmits one bit of data at a time.
Connects slow-speed devices, such as
mouse, keyboard, modem.
Parallel Port
Connects devices that can transfer more
than one bit at a time, such as a printer.
Serial port VS Parallel port
Power Supply
It is the one that feeds electrical power (voltages and currents) to every single part in the
PC.
The latest power supply support both SATA and PATA connectors.
