INTRODUCTION

TO COMPUTING SCIENCES
COS101
Module 1 Unit 2
Computer Hardware

TUTOR: Dr.(Mrs.) Abisoye O.A

Phone: +23460546074
E-mail: o.abisoye@futminna.edu.ng
 INTRODUCTION TO HARDWARE

Computer hardware refers to the mechanical

and electronic parts of a computer that can
be touched and seen. Hardware is what the
layman often refers to as the computer.

In this unit we will discusses the different

parts of computer hardware or components
of computer hardware.
Components of Computer Hardware
The following hardware components are required by all general-
purpose computers:
Central processing unit (CPU) for executing instructions.
Memory for storing data and programs, at least temporarily.
Input devices for sending data and instructions into the
computer.
Output devices for bringing or retrieving information from the
computer.
Storage devices for retaining large amounts of information
permanently
Shows how the different hardware components
interact in a general-purpose computer.

Input Devices CPU Output Devices

Memory

Storage
Devices

Parts of the Computer Hardware

1. Central Processing
Unit
The central processing unit or simply the processor, is
the part of the computer that executes program
instructions and controls the operation of all other
hardware components. It is sometimes described as
the computer’s brain. In a microcomputer, the CPU is
contained in a single chip and referred to as a
microprocessor.
The CPU is made up of three parts- the control unit,
arithmetic-logic unit, and registers.
Control Unit: It coordinates other hardware
components in order to carry out program instructions.
During program execution, it directs electronic signals
between memory and arithmetic-logic unit as well as
between CPU and input/output devices.
Arithmetic-Logic Unit: The arithmetic-logic unit
(ALU) performs two types of operations – arithmetic
operations and logical operations. Arithmetic
operations are fundamental mathematical operations
such as addition, subtraction, multiplication and
division. Logical operations compare two values to
determine whether one is less than, greater than or
equal to the other.
Registers: Registers are high speed storage locations
within the CPU that temporarily hold data and
instructions during processing. Because they are part
of the CPU, register contents can be handled much
faster than the contents of memory.
2. Memory
General-purpose computers have two kinds of
memory:
Random Access Memory (RAM) and
Read Only Memory (ROM).
Random Access Memory: RAM is the working
memory of the temporary area for holding raw data for
processing, instructions for processing the data, and
information. It is the working memory of the computer.
When a program is started, it is loaded from storage to
RAM. The program remains in RAM until it closed. When
data is entered into the computer through the input
device, it is first stored in RAM. During processing, data
and instructions are fetched from RAM and stored in
CPU registers. At the end of processing, results are
stored in RAM before they can be displayed to the user.
There are two reasons why RAM is a temporary
storage:
RAM is volatile, meaning that it requires electric
power to hold data. When the computer is turned
off, everything stored in RAM disappears.
Data stored in RAM can easily be changed.
Read Only Memory: ROM is a type of memory that
holds the built-in instructions that tell the computer what
to do when it is turned on. Unlike RAM, which is
temporary and volatile, ROM is permanent and non-
volatile. Instructions stored in ROM cannot be changed,
and they are preserved even when the computer is
turned off.
3. Storage Devices
Do you know that storage devices are non-volatile and
long-term memories unlike RAM whose contents are lost
when power supply goes off, storage devices preserve
their contents even when there is no power supply? As a
result, storage devices are commonly used to transfer
data and programs from one computer to another.
They can also be used to back up valuable data, so that
the data can be restored after a computer crash results in
loss of data. In comparison to ROM whose contents
cannot be changed, information held in storage devices
can be easily replaced. Examples of storage devices are
hard disks, optical discs and flash drives.
A Hard Disk: is the main storage device in most
computers. It is slower, less expensive and has higher
capacity than RAM. A hard disk is made up of several
platters, which are coated with magnetic material. Each
platter requires read/write heads to retrieve or modify
the information stored in the platter.
Optical Disks: allow data to be read (i.e., retrieved) or
written (i.e., changed) by lasers. The process of creating
an optical disk is called burning. Even though optical
disks can tolerate temperature fluctuations better than
hard disks, they can easily get scratched hence they
need to be stored in a case or jacket. The types of
optical disks include:
Compact Disk Read Only Memory
Compact Disk Write Once Read Many times
Compact Disk Rewriteable

Universal Serial Bus Flash drives: or simply flash drives

are amongst the most popular storage devices. There are
several reasons for their popularity
4. Input Devices
Input Devices: are you aware that an input device is
any machine used to send data and instructions into
the computer? Examples of input devices are:
Keyboard

Mouse

Digital cameras
Scanners etc.
5. Output Devices
Let us talk about output devices, it retrieves
information from the computer and present it to the
user. Examples of output devices are:
Monitors

Printers

Speakers

Projector etc.
Thank you