Topic 2:

Computer Hardware

CIN506 Computer Principles

Semester 1, 2023
 2 Chapter Contents
 Section A: Personal Computer Basics
 Section B: Microprocessors and Memory
 Section C: Storage Devices
 Section D: Input and Output Devices
 Section E: Hardware Security

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 2 Section A: Personal
Computer Basics

 Desktop Computer Systems

 Portable Computers
 Buying a Computer
 Home, Game, and Small Business Systems

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 2 Desktop Computer Systems
 A desktop computer fits on a desk and runs on
power from an electrical wall outlet
 The main component of a typical desktop computer
is a system unit that houses the processor, memory,
storage devices, display circuitry, and sound
circuitry
 The term peripheral device designates input,
output, and storage equipment that might be added
to a computer system to enhance its functionality

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 2 Desktop Computer Systems

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 2 Desktop Computer Systems
 A typical desktop computer system includes several
components
 System unit
 Keyboard
 Mouse
 Hard disk drive
 Optical drive
 Removable storage
 Sound system
 Display system
 Network and Internet access
 Printer

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 2 Desktop Computer Systems
 In the computer industry, the term form factor
refers to the size and dimensions of a component,
such as a system board or system unit

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 2 Portable Computers
 A portable computer is a small, lightweight personal computer
 Form factors: clamshell styles and slate styles
 A laptop computer (also referred to as a notebook computer) is
a small, lightweight portable computer that opens like a
clamshell to reveal a screen and keyboard

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 2 Portable Computers

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 2 Portable Computers
 Three types of slate form factor computers:

 Enhanced media player - handheld device designed for playing

music/video, offers a camera, Internet access, other apps

 Smartphone - an enhanced mobile phone with Internet access

capabilities and other features of the enhanced media player

 Tablet - handheld computer that is essentially a large version of an

enhanced media player

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 2 Portable Computers

Topic 2: Computer Hardware 11

 2 Buying a Computer
Technology changes rapidly so even if you bought a computer
a year ago, many things may have changed.
 Browse magazines and online computer stores to get a
general idea of features and prices
 Decide on a budget and stick to it
 Make a list of the ways you plan to use your computer
 Select a platform
 Decide on a form factor
 Select peripherals, software, and accessories

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 2 Buying a Computer

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 2 Home, Game, and
Small Business Systems
 Today, the term home computer system encompasses a vast
array of computer configurations designed to accommodate
consumers who use computers for personal tasks

 The most cutting-edge computers are usually designed for

gaming

 Computers marketed for small business applications tend to

be middle-of-the-line models pared down to essentials

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 2 Section B: Microprocessors
and Memory
 Microprocessor Basics
 Today’s Microprocessors
 Random Access Memory
 ROM and EEPROM

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 2 Microprocessor Basics
 A microprocessor is an integrated circuit designed to process
instructions
 Your CPU
 Usually the most
expensive component
of a computer

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 2 Microprocessor Basics
 Microprocessor clock
 Gigahertz
 Multicore processor
 Front side bus
 CPU Cache
 Level 1 cache (L1)
 Level 2 cache (L2)
 Level 3 cache (L3)
 Word size

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 2 Cache Memory

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 2 Microprocessor Basics
 CISC vs. RISC technology
 Serial processing
 Pipelining
 Parallel processing
 Benchmarks

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 2 Today’s Microprocessors

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 2 Random Access Memory
 RAM (random access memory)
 temporary holding area
 Where programs reside while running including theoperating system
 Volatile – erased when turn off computer

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 2 Random Access Memory
 Microscopic capacitors hold the bits that represent data
 Most RAM is volatile
 Requires electrical power to hold data

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 2 Random Access Memory
 RAM capacity is expressed in gigabytes
 Typically, 4 to 16 GB of RAM
 If a program exceeds its allocated space, the operating
system uses an area of the hard disk, called virtual memory,
to store parts of programs or data files until they are needed

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 2 ROM and EEPROM - original
 ROM is a type of memory circuitry that that is housed in a
single integrated circuit
 Permanent and non-volatile
 EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only
Memory)
 Non-volatile but user-modifiable
 ROM contains a small set of instructions and data called the
bootstrap loader
 Sometimes referred to as the BIOS
 Tells the computer how to access the hard disk, find the operating
system, and load it into RAM

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 2 ROM and EEPROM – use this
 ROM (Read Only Memory)
 Permanent and non-volatile
 Contains the BIOS (Basic Input/Output System) aka bootstrap loader
 Checks hardware and tells computer how to access the hard disk, find
the operating system and load it into RAM

 EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory)

 Non-volatile but user-modifiable

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 2 ROM and EEPROM

Topic 2: Computer Hardware 26

 2 Section C: Storage Devices
 Storage Basics
 Magnetic Storage Technology
 Optical Storage Technology
 Solid State Storage Technology
 Storage Wrap-up

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 2 Storage Basics
 A storage medium contains data
 A storage device records and
retrieves data from a storage
medium
 Data gets copied from a storage
device into RAM, where it waits to
be processed
 Processed data is held temporarily
in RAM before it is copied to a
storage medium
 Storage density
 Vertical vs. horizontal storage

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 2 Magnetic Storage Technology
 Magnetic storage stores data by magnetizing microscopic
particles on the disk or tape surface

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 2 Magnetic Storage Technology
 Hard disk technology is the preferred type of main storage
for most personal computers
 Not as durable as many other storage technologies
 Head crash

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 2 Optical Storage Technology
 Optical storage stores data as microscopic light and dark
spots on the disk surface
 CD, DVD, and Blu-ray storage technologies

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 2 Optical Storage Technology
 Three categories of
optical technologies
 Read-only (ROM)
 Recordable (R)
 Rewritable (RW)

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 2 Optical Storage Technology
 CDDA
 DVD-Video
 CD-ROM
 DVD-ROM
 CD-R
 DVD+R or DVD-R
 CD-RW
 DVD+RW or DVD-RW
 BD-ROM, BD-R, and BD-RE

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 2 Solid State Storage
Technology
 Solid state storage
technology stores data in an
erasable, rewritable circuitry
 Non-volatile
 A card reader is a device
that reads and writes data
on solid state storage

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 2 Solid State Storage
Technology
 A solid state drive (SSD) is a package of flash memory that
can be used as a substitute for a hard disk drive
 A USB flash drive is a portable storage device that plugs
directly into a computer’s system unit using a built-in
connector

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 2 Storage Wrap-up

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 2 Storage Wrap-up

• Data Transfer Rate: amount of data that can be moved per

second from storage to the computer
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 2 Section D: Input and Output
Devices
 Basic Input Devices
 Display Devices
 Printers
 Installing Peripheral Devices

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 2 Basic Input Devices
 Keyboard
 Pointing device
 Mouse
 Game controller
 Trackpad
 Touchscreen

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 2 Display Devices
 An LCD display produces
an image by filtering light
through a layer of liquid
crystal cells
 Gradually, being replaced
by low-power light-emitting
diodes (LEDs)

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 2 Display Devices
 Screen size
 Dot pitch
 Width of viewing angle
 Response rate
 Resolution
 Color depth

Also:
http://www.satya-weblog.com/2013/07/desktop-laptop-mobile
-screen-resolution-most-common-worldwide.html

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 2 Display Devices

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 2 Display Devices
 Graphics circuitry generates the signals for displaying an
image on the screen
 Integrated graphics vs Dedicated graphics
 Graphics card
 Graphics processing unit (GPU)
 Graphics Memory (RAM)

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 2 Printers
 An ink-jet printer has a nozzle-like print head that sprays ink
onto paper
 A laser printer uses the same technology as a photocopier

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 2 Printers

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 2 Printers
 Dot matrix printers produce characters and graphics by
using a grid of fine wires
 The wires strike a ribbon and paper

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 2 Printers
 Printer features
 Resolution – Duplex capability
 Print speed – Memory
 Duty cycle – Networkability
 Operating costs

Topic 2: Computer Hardware 47

 2 Installing Peripheral Devices
 The front-side bus moves data between RAM and the CPU
 Peripheral devices can be connected:
 Internally: expansion slot (a long, narrow socket) directly on
the motherboard
 Expansion cards are small circuit boards that give the
computer additional capabilities
 Expansion slot
 Expansion port
 Externally: expansion port

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 2 Installing Peripheral Devices

Topic 2: Computer Hardware 49

 2 Installing Peripheral Devices

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 2 Installing Peripheral Devices
 An expansion port passes data in and out of a computer or
peripheral device

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 2 Installing Peripheral Devices
 Most peripherals connect to an external USB port
 You can easily add USB ports to your computer by using a
USB hub

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 2 Installing Peripheral Devices
 Other kinds of ports

 When you connect or disconnect a peripheral device while

the computer is operating, you are hot-plugging, a practice
that’s allowed with USB and FireWire devices
 Also known as hot-swapping

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 2 Section E: Hardware Security
 Anti-theft Devices
 Surge Protection and Battery Backup
 Basic Maintenance
 Troubleshooting and Repair

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 2 Anti-Theft Devices

Topic 2: Computer Hardware 55

 2 Anti-Theft Devices

Topic 2: Computer Hardware 56

 2 Surge Protection
and Battery Backup
 Power surge - a sudden increase in electrical energy

 A surge strip is a device that contains electrical outlets

protected by circuitry that blocks surges

 A UPS (uninteruptible power supply) is a surge strip that also

has battery backup power in case of a power outage

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 2 Surge Protection
and Battery Backup

Topic 2: Computer Hardware 58

 2 Basic Maintenance

 Computer component failures can be caused by

manufacturing defects and other circumstances beyond your
control
 Keep the keyboard clean
 Clean your computer screen on a regular basis
 Make sure fans are free of dust

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 2 Fans

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 2 Basic Maintenance

Topic 2: Computer Hardware 61

 2 Troubleshooting and Repair
 There are several telltale signs that your computer is in
trouble
 Failure to power up
 Loud beep
 Blank screens and/or error messages
 Blue screen of death
 Troubleshooting and diagnostic tools
 Safe Mode

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 2 Troubleshooting and Repair

Topic 2: Computer Hardware 63

 End of Topic 2

CIN506 – Computer Principles

Semester 2, 2020