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Computer Hardware
Week # 02
INTRODUCTION
Definition Of Computer Electronic device that converts and process data It is controlled by hardwares and softwares
Dual-Function
Fax Machine Modems Network Cards
Output Devices
Printer Monitor
Processing: (CPU)
Performs the majority of processing Usually Intel or AMD Chips
Celeron, Athlon, Pentium, Xeon are brand names for these companies
CPU TERMS
Cache: Internal memory in the CPU, housing frequently accessed data and instructions for superfast turnaround on memory requests. Clock speed: The speed at which a CPU executes its instructions, usually measured in gigahertz (billions of cycles per second); also known as the chip's "frequency. Code name: A company's nomenclature for a new series of chips; may refer to a processor lineup ("Gulftown" or "Deneb"), a microarchitecture (Intel's "Nehalem"), or a platform (AMD's "Dragon"). Core: The part of the processor that reads and executes program instructions
Multi-core systems
Multi-Core systems (ie Intel Core Duo) connect two CPUs together to the same die on the motherboard. A dual-core processor with two cores at 2GHz may perform very nearly as fast as a single core of 4GHz Intel core i7 Six cores
DDR SDRAM
DDR2 SDRAM
Cache Ram:
Small block of expensive, high speed memory located between on the CPU or between the CPU and main memory
RAM Speeds
RAM speed is measured in ns (nano seconds). The fewer ns, the faster is the RAM. Years ago, RAM came in 120, 100 and 80 ns. Today, we are talking about 60 ns and faster
Dedicated Graphics card most powerful Integrated graphics solution uses portions of RAM for graphics
Ports (cont)
Modem
Power
Firewire
Parallel (printer)
Ports (cont)
Video
Cat-5 (network)
USB Serial
vs.
Electronic Very fast Expensive Small capacity Temp storage Magnetic Very slow Cheap Large capacity Long term storage
Computer Longevity
Always buy as much CPU and RAM as you can afford Longevity will depend on usage Everyday business tasks require less processing power Graphics, multimedia, require large amts of CPU and RAM
Classification of Computers
The most powerful and expensive computers are called supercomputers. They are used for special purposes, such as worldwide weather forecasting or weapons research, stock analysis, movie effects. Large computers called mainframes are used by large businesses such as banks, airlines, and large manufacturers to process very large amounts of data quickly. They are designed for multiple users.
Classification of Computers
Minicomputers are the next step down from mainframes in terms of power and capacity but are being squeezed between mainframes and powerful personal computers. Desktop computers are called personal computers (PCs), microcomputers, or sometimes home computers.
Classification of Computers
Workstations combine the compactness of a desktop computer with power that almost equals that of a mainframe. Notebook computers are small portable computers; somewhat larger, heavier versions are called laptop computers. Today notebook computers are competing with PCs.
Classification of Computers
Personal digital assistants (PDAs), also called penbased computers, are handheld computers that accept handwritten input directly on a screen. A network computer (NC), sometimes called simply a net computer or net box, operates in concert with a television set to access the Internet and send and receive e-mail.
Input
Processing
Store for later use on a storage medium: hard disk, floppy, USB, CD, DVD, etc
Storage
Output
Computer
Primary Memory
Input Units
Output Units
This model of the typical digital computer is often called the von Neumann computer. Programs and data are stored in the same memory: primary memory. The computer can only perform one instruction at a time.
3-27
Previously stored data or information: Data that has already been processed by a computer and is being stored for later use.
These are forms of binary data useful only to the computer. Examples: Floppy disks, DVD disks, and music CDs.
Input Devices
Input hardware: Those that deal with original data.
Keyboard Mouse Voice recognition hardware Scanner Digital camera
Digitizing: The process of taking a visual image, or audio recording and converting it to a binary form for the computer.
Used as data for programs to display, play or manipulate the digitized data.
Input Devices
Connecting Hardware to the computer: Hardware needs software on the computer that can service the device.
Device driver: Software addition to the operating system that will allow the computer to communicate with a particular device.
Input Devices
Common Basic Technologies for Storing Binary Information:
Electronic Magnetic Optical
Input Devices
Electronic Circuits
Most expensive of the three forms for storing binary information. A flip-flop circuit has either one electronic status or the other. It is said to flip-flop from one to the other. Electronic circuits come in two forms:
Permanent Non-permanent
Input Devices
Magnetic Technology
Two parts to most of the magnetic forms of information storage:
The medium that stores the magnetic information.
Example: Floppy disk. Tiny spots on the disk are magnetized to represent 0s and 1s.
The device that can read that information from the medium.
The drive spins the disk. It has a magnetic sensing arm that moves over the disk. Performs nondestructive reading.
Input Devices
Optical
Uses lasers to read the binary information from the medium, usually a disc.
Millions of tiny holes are burned into the surface of the disc. The holes are interpreted as 1s. The absence of holes are interpreted as 0s.
Input Devices
The four most important characteristics of storage devices:
Speed and access time Cost / Removable versus non-removable Capacity Type of access
Input Devices
Speed (Access time) - How fast information can be taken from or stored onto the computer memory devices medium.
Electronic circuits: Fastest to access.
40 billionths of a second.
Input Devices
Cost
Megabyte: A Million bytes. Gigabyte: A billion bytes. Two parts to a removable secondary storage device:
The cost of the medium. (Cheaper if bought in quantity) The cost of the drive.
Input Devices
Capacity - The amount of information that can be stored on the medium.
Unit 1 bit 1 nibble 1 byte 1 kilobyte 1 megabyte 1 gigabyte 1 terabyte Description 1 binary digit 4 bits 8 bits 1,024 bytes 1,048,576 bytes 1 million bytes 1,073,741,824 bytes 1 billion bytes 1 trillion bytes Approximate Size
1 character 1/2 page, double spaced 500,000 pages 5 million pages 5 billion pages
Input Devices
Type of Access
Sequential - Obtained by proceeding through the storage medium from the beginning until the designated area is reached (as in magnetic tape). Random Access - Direct access (as in floppy and hard disks).
Primary Memory
Primary storage or memory: Is where the data and program that are currently in operation or being accessed are stored during use.
ROM (permanent)
Contents do not change.
Output Devices
DVD (Digital Versatile Disk)
Allows up to 17 gigabytes of storage (from 4.7 GB to 17 GB). Compatible with older CD-ROM technology. The four versions of the DVD:
Voltage pulses corresponding to the ASCII codes would pass through the cable.
QUIZ TIME