Lesson 4 How a Computer Processes Data

Unit 1—Computer Basics

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Objectives

Identify computer system components.Explain how the CPU works.Differentiate between RAM and ROM.Describe how data is represented.

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Computer Systems

A computer system requires many components to do its job: It requires some device or method to input

data so it can be processed. It requires circuit boards and programs to

process the data. It needs some type of output device to

display the result of its processing. It needs some mechanism for storing data.

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Common System Components

This figure shows several devices that are common components of a computer system.

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System Motherboard

The motherboard contains the electronic circuitry of the computer.

Components found on the motherboard include The primary processing chip (CPU) The memory chips Expansion slots for system interface cards

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System Motherboard (cont.)

Components found on a motherboard (cont.) Ports for connecting external devices BIOS chips that control system startup The circuitry that enables all of these

components to communicate

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Example of a Motherboard

This figure shows the devices inside a PC case including the motherboard, the power supply, and some storage devices.

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The Central Processing Unit

The CPU is the brains of a computer system.

The CPU is housed on a silicon chip that contains millions of switches and circuits.

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The Central Processing Unit (cont.)

The CPU has two primary sections: Arithmetic/logic unit (ALU)

This section performs arithmetic and logical operations.

Control unitThis section is the boss of the CPU and

coordinates all activity within the CPU.It uses programming instructions to control

what actions the CPU performs and when it performs them.

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A CPU Chip

This figure shows a CPU chip for a small computer.

Computer programs are written in programming languages.

Each program statement causes one or more actions to occur in the CPU.

The CPU determines which of the millions of switches that it contains should be turned on or off by processing program statements that tell it what to do.

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Computer Memory

Data being processed by a CPU is stored in system memory.

Memory consists of addressable locations within the machine that the computer can access directly.

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Computer Memory (cont.)

Data stored in memory is volatile. If the power fails, everything in memory is

lost.Data must be stored on a disk or some

other device when not being processed so it is not lost each time the computer shuts down.

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Types of Memory

RAM—Random Access Memory RAM is short-term memory in which data is

processed while a program is running. Data stored here can be accessed and

modified as needed. This type of memory loses any data it holds

if the computer is shut down.

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Types of Memory (cont.)

ROM—Read-Only Memory ROM is memory placed on the motherboard

by the manufacturer and contains instructions that tell the computer how to start itself.

This data cannot be accessed or modified by application programs.

The contents of this memory are not lost when the computer is shut down.

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Computer System Controllers

A PC motherboard contains several controllers.

Controllers are devices that control the transfer of data between the computer and peripheral devices.

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Computer System Controllers (cont.)

Common peripheral devices include a mouse, monitor, printer, keyboard, and so on.

Controllers usually are found on a single chip that can handle all common devices.

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Ports

Serial and parallel ports are used to connect peripheral devices to the computer circuitry. Serial devices (mice/monitors) transmit data

one bit at a time. Parallel devices (printers) transmit data

several bits at time.

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Ports (cont.)

USB is a newer, high-speed method of connecting devices and is beginning to replace serial and parallel ports. USB can connect up to 127 external

devices.Firewire is another high-speed method.

Firewire can connect up to 63 external devices.

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Expansion Slots

Expansion slots are electrical connections in the motherboard that can accept circuit cards to perform specific functions.

These commonly are used to plug in sound cards, video cards, scanners, and other devices.

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A Typical Expansion Card

Electrical prongs along the bottom are used to plug into the expansion slot and make an electrical connection to the main board.

This port protrudes from the back of the PC case and is used to attach the device that this card controls.

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Data Representation

Data is stored in a computer in binary format as a series of 1s and 0s.

Computers use standardized coding systems (such as ASCII) to determine what character or number is represented by what series of binary digits.

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Data Representation (cont.)

Data is stored in a series of 8-bit combinations called a byte.

Every letter, number, punctuation mark, or symbol has its own unique combination of 1s and 0s.