Chaper 3: Computer Hardware

Introduction to Information Technology
Turban, Rainer and Potter

Chapter 3 Computer Hardware
CHAPER 3
COMPUTER HARDWARE
Chapter Overview
The Central Computer Computer
Processing Unit Memory Hierarchy
• How the • Memory Capacity • Supercomputers
CPU Works • Primary Storage • Mainframe Computers
• Advances in • Secondary Storage • Minicomputers
Microprocessor • Workstations
Design • Microcomputer
• Computing Devices
Input Output Strategic
Technologies Technologies Hardware Issues
• Human Data • Monitors • • Productivity
Entry Devices Printer • Changing Work Styles
• Source Data • Voice Output • New Products and
Automation • Multifunction Services
Devices • Improve
• Multimedia Communications
The Significance of Hardware
Some basic understanding of

computer hardware design and
function is essential because firms
(and individuals) frequently must
assess their competitive advantage in
terms of computing capability.
Desktop or Portable PC : The Tradeoffs

Desktop Personal Computer Portable Personal Computer
Impractical for mobile computing Designed for mobile computing
Lower cost Higher cost
Easily expanded Difficult to expand
Comfortable ergonomics Uncomfortable ergonomics (small
keyboard, often with inconvenient
placement of function keys)
Easy-to-use mouse or other Awkward pointing devices (some allow
pointing device traditional mouse to be connected)
High resolution/brightness monitor Lower resolution, less bright
High RAM and hard-drive capacity Somewhat less RAM and hard-drive capacity
Easy serviceability More difficult to service/repair
Can utilize all current PC chips Some models cannot use some chips, due
to cooling problems
Computer Hardware
 The physical equipment used for the input,
processing, output, and storage activities of a
computer system
 Central processing unit (CPU)
 Memory (primary and secondary storage)
 Input technologies
 Output technologies
 Communication technologies
The Central Processing Unit (CPU)

 a microprocessor is made up of millions of microscopic
transistors embedded in a circuit on a silicon wafer or
“chip”
 Control unit
» controls the flows of information
 Arithmetic-logic unit
» performs the arithmetic calculations
 Registers
» stores very small amounts of data and instructions
for short periods of time
CPU (continued …)
 How the CPU Works?
THE MICROPROCESSOR
CONTROL UNIT ARITHMETIC -
LOGIC UNIT
Instruction Instruction Instruction
EDCODE EXECUTE
FETCH STORE
INPUT
FROM Results
REGISTERS
SOFTWARE Instruction
PRIMARY STORAGE (MAIN MEMORY)

CPU (continued …)
 Advances in Microprocessor Design
 increasing miniaturization of transistors
 making the physical layout of the chip’s components
as compact and efficient as possible
 new materials for the chip that improve the
conductivity (flow) of electricity
 amount of basic instructions programmed into the chip
» complex instruction set computing (CISC)
» reduced instruction set computing (RISC)
Computer Memory
 Computer memory affects the type of program it can run and the
work it can do, its speed, and both the cost of the machine and the
cost of processing data
 Memory capacity
» bits - ‘0’ or ‘1’
> eight bits are needed to represent any one of alphanumeric character or mathematical
operation
» byte - eight-bit string
» kilobyte (KB) - 1,024 bytes (210 bytes)
» megabyte (MB) - 1,048,576 bytes (210 x 210 bytes)
> most PC have several megabytes of RAM memory
» gigabyte (GB) - 1,073,741,824 bytes (210 x 210 x 210 bytes)
> hard drive in modern PCs is often more than one GB
» terabyte - 1,078,036,791,296 bytes
Computer Memory (continued …)

 Primary storage
 stores for very brief periods of time three types of information
» data to be processed by the CPU
» instructions for the CPU as to how to process the data
» operating system programs that manage various aspects of the
computer’s operation
 four types of primary storage
» registers
» random access memory (RAM)
» cache memory
» read-only memory

 Secondary storage
 stores very large amounts of data for extended periods
of time
 can have memory capacity of a gigabyte or more
 can be non-volatile
 takes much more time to retrieve data
 can be much more cost effective than primary storage
 can take place on a variety of media, each with its
own technology

 Secondary storage (cont’)
 Magnetic media - store data via magnetism
» Magnetic tape - kept on a large open reel or in a smaller
cartridge or cassette
» Magnetic disks - allow much more rapid access to the data
than does magnetic tape
» Hard drive (hard disk) - permanently mounted in a unit that
may be internal or external to the computer
» Magnetic diskettes (floppy disks) - have much less capacity,
ranging from 1.44 megabytes for a standard high-density
disk to 200 megabytes for a disk formatted for a zip drive

 Secondary storage (cont’)
 Optical storage devices - a pinpoint laser beam is used to burn
tiny holes into the surface of a reflective plastic platter
» Compact disk read-only memory (CD-ROM) - high-
capacity, low cost, high durability, and read only but not
written on
» Write once, read many disk (WORM) - can be written on,
but requires the laser technology (the “CD burner”) to do so
» Rewritable CDs - allow the disk to be written upon and
rewritten up to 1,000 times
Computer Hierarchy
 Supercomputer
 has the most processing power
 especially valuable for large simulation models of real-world
phenomena
 Mainframe Computer
 used in large corporations for centralized data processing and
maintaining large databases
 allowing for data and information to be shared throughout the
organization
 several hundreds or thousands of online computers can be
linked to a mainframe
Computer Hierarchy (continued …)

 Minicomputers (midrange computer)
 perform the same functions as mainframe computers but
to a limited extent
 designed to accomplish specific tasks such as process
control, scientific research, and engineering applications
 Workstations
 based on RISC (reduced instruction set computer)
architecture
 provide both very high-speed calculations and high-
resolution graphic displays

 Microcomputers (micros or personal computers, PCs)
 Desktop PCs - typical, familiar microcomputer system
» modular in design, with separate but connected monitor, keyboard, and CPU
» Network computers (NCs) - allow users to access a network
 Laptop and Notebook Computers - small, easily transportable,
lightweight microcomputers
» designed for maximum convenience and transportability
 Palmtop Computer - hand-held microcomputers
» configured for specific applications and limited in the number of ways they can
accept user input and provide output
» Personal digital assistants (PDAs) - a computer appliance

 Computing Devices - ever-smaller
computing/communication devices
 Wearable computers
» free users movements
 Embedded computers
» placed inside other products to add features and capabilities
 Active badges
» worn as ID cards by employees who wish to stay in touch at all times
while moving around the corporate premises
 Memory buttons
» store a small database relating to whatever it is attached to
Input Technologies
 Human Data Entry Devices
 keyboard - designed like a typewriter but with many
additional function keys
 mice and trackball - used to point a cursor at a desired place
on the screen
 touch screens - touch the desired area to trigger an action
 stylus - a pen-style device
 joy stick - used primarily at workstations that can display
dynamic graphics
 microphone - used to dictate to the computer
Input Technologies (continued …)

 Source Data Automation
 Cash transaction devices
» automated teller machines (ATMs)
» point-of-sale (POS) terminals
 Optical scanners - optical character recognition (OCR) software
is used in conjunction with a scanner
» bar code scanners
» optical mark reader
» magnetic ink character readers
 Voice recognition
 Sensors
 Cameras
Output Technologies
 Monitors
 the video screen used with most computers that displays
input as well as output
 Printers
 impact printers
» like typewriter, using some kind of striking action
 non-impact printers
» laser printer - uses laser beams to write information
 plotters
» uses computer-directed pens for creating high-quality images
Output Technologies (continued …)

 Voice Output
 can be played through speakers
 Multifunction Devices
 combine a variety of technologies - fax, printer,
scanner, copy machine, and answering machine
 Multimedia
 computer-based integration of text, sound, still
images, animation, and digitized motion video
Strategic Hardware Issues

 Productivity
 businesses need to assess whether employees’ personal productivity is likely to
increase as microprocessor power and speed increase
 Changing Work Styles
 organizations must consider whether new work styles will benefit employees
and the firm as a whole
 New Products and Services
 organizations should consider whether they are ready and able to take advantage
of the advances, and new products and services that hardware may make
possible for the business
 Improved Communication
 businesses need to judge whether they are ready to use multimedia

Chaper 3: Computer Hardware

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Chaper 3: Computer Hardware

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Introduction to Information Technology

Turban, Rainer and Potter

The Significance of Hardware

Some basic understanding of

Desktop or Portable PC : The Tradeoffs

The Central Processing Unit (CPU)

PRIMARY STORAGE (MAIN MEMORY)

Computer Memory (continued …)

Computer Memory (continued …)

Computer Memory (continued …)

Computer Memory (continued …)

Computer Hierarchy (continued …)

Computer Hierarchy (continued …)

Computer Hierarchy (continued …)

Input Technologies (continued …)

Output Technologies (continued …)

Strategic Hardware Issues

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