COMPUTING COMPONENTS

Objectives Overview :

1. Describe the various computer and mobile device cases and the contents they protect.

2. Describe multi-core processors, the components of a processor, and the four steps in a machine cycle.

3. Identify characteristics of various personal computer processors on the market today, and describe the ways processors are cooled.

4. Explain the advantages and services of cloud computing.

5. Define a bit, and describe how a series of bits represents data.

6. Explain how program and application instructions transfer in and out of memory.

7. Differentiate among the various types of memory.

8. Describe the purpose of adapter cards and USB adapters.

9. Explain the function of a bus.

10. Explain thepurpose of a power supply and batteries.

11. Describe how to care for computers and mobile devices.

Inside the Case :

• The case contains and protects the electronics of the computer or mobile device from damage.

• The motherboard is the main circuit board of the computer.

    - A computer chip contains integrated circuits

Processors :

• The processor, also called the central processing unit (CPU), interprets and carries out the basic instructions that operate a computer.

• A multi-core processor is a single chip with two or more separate processor cores.

• Processors contain a control unit and an arithmetic logic unit (ALU).

• The control unit is the component of the processor that directs and coordinates most of the operations in the computer.

• The arithmetic logic unit (ALU) performs arithmetic, comparison, and other operations.

• For every instruction, a processor repeats a set of four basic operations, which comprise a machine cycle.

* The processor contains registers, that temporarily hold data and instructions.

* The system clock controls the timing of all computer operations.

• The pace of the system clock is called the clock speed, and is usually measured in gigahertz (GHz).

• The leading manufacturers of personal computer processor chips are Intel and AMD.

• A processor chip generates heat that could cause the chip to malfunction or fail.

• Require additional cooling

    - Heat sinks

    - Liquid cooling technology

    - Cooling pads

Cloud Computing :

• Home and business users choose cloud computing for a variety of reasons.

    a. Accessibility

    b. Cost savings

    c. Space savings

    d. Scalability

* Analog signals are continuous and vary in strength and quality.

* Digital signals are in one of two states: on or off.

• Most computers are digital

• The binary system uses two unique digits (0 and 1)

    * Bits and bytes

Data Representation :

The circuitry in a computer or mobile device represents the on or the off states electronically by the presence or absence of an electronic charge.

Eight bits grouped together as a unit are called a byte. A byte represents a single character in the computer or mobile device.

Memory :

• Memory consists of electronic components that store instructions waiting to be executed by the processor, data needed by those instructions, and the results of processing the data.

• Stores three basic categories of items:

    a. The operating system and other programs 

    b. Applications

    c. Data being processed and the resulting information

• Each location in memory has an address.

• Memory size commonly is measured in gigabytes (GB) or terabytes (TB).

• Computers and mobile devices contain two types of memory :

    a. Volatile memory :

        * Loses its contents when power is turned off.

        * Example includes RAM.

    b. Nonvolatile memory :

        * Does not lose contents when power is removed

        * Examples include ROM, flash memory, and CMOS.

• Two common types of RAM exist:

    a. Dynamic RAM (DRAM)

    b. Static RAM (SRAM)

• RAM chips usually reside on a memory module and are inserted into memory slots.

• Memory cache speeds the processes of the computer because it stores frequently used instructions and data.

Read-only memory (ROM) refers to memory chips storing permanent data and instructions.

    •Firmware

• Flash memory can be erased electronically and rewritten.

    - CMOS technology uses battery power to retain information when when the power to the computer         is off.

• Access time is the amount of time it takes the processor to read from memory.

    - Measured in nanoseconds.

Adapters :

• An adapter card enhances functions of a component of a desktop or server system unit and/or provides connections to peripherals.

    - Sound card and video card

• An expansion slot is a socket on a desktop or server motherboard that can hold an adapter card.\

• With Plug and Play, the computer automatically can recognize peripheral devices as you install them.

• A USB adapter enhances functions of a mobile computer and/or provides connections to peripheral devices.

Buses :

• A bus allows the various devices both inside and attached to the system unit to communicate with one another.

    - Data bus

    - Address bus

• Word size is the number of bits the processor can interpret and execute at a given time.

• A computer might have these three types of buses :

    a. System bus

    b. Backside bus

    c. Expansion bus

Power Supply and Batteries :

• The power supply or laptop AC adapter converts the wall outlet AC power into DC power.

• Mobile computers and devices can run using either a power supply or batteries.

• Batteries typically are rechargeable lithium-ion batteries.

Summary :

1. Various components inside computers and mobile devices.

2. Types of processors, steps in a machine cycle, and processor cooling methods.

3. Advantages and services of cloud computing.

4. How memory stores data and describe various types of memory.

5. Adapters, buses, power supplies and batteries.

6. Ways to care for computers and mobile devices.