Chapter 2
2. Computer System
Outline:
Overview of Computer System
Components of Computers
Hardware components of computer
Software components of computer
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2.1. Computer System
Computer: is an electronic device that can accept data and instructions,
store & process it to produce the required result.
COMPUTER: Stands for “Common Oriented Machine Particularly Used for
Trade, Education and Research”.
Computer system: group of Hardware & software components, designed
and assembled to perform a specific function or group of functions.
Computer system Components: Computer
1. Hardware Software and
2. Software peripheral devices
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A. Computer Hardware
Physical components of the computer that can be seen and touched.
Hardware consists of all the machinery and equipment in a computer system exist inside or
outside the computer.
Hardware contains three components:-
1. Input device
2. Output device
3. System unit(processing and storage device)
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1. Input device
Input devices allow people to put data into the computer in a form that the computer can
use. Input devices are:-
[Link]: contains Alphanumeric, Numeric, Function, Modifier and Cursor
movement keys
2. Pointing Devices:-like mouse, trackball, track pad (or touchpad), touch screen,
joystick, pens
3. Digital Camera
4. Scanner:
5. Speech recognition
6. Microphones
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2. Output Devices
Output devices translate information processed by the computer into a form that humans
can understand print, sound, graphics or video.
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3. System unit (processing and storage device)
The system unit is also known as case.
Consists the following components:-
1. Motherboard (CPU, Memory chips)
2. Power supply
3. Secondary storage devices (i.e., floppy-disk drive, hard-disk drive, and CD or DVD
drive.).
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A. Motherboard (system board)
Motherboard is the main circuit board in the system unit.
The primary function of mother board is to serve as the base up on which a computer
component is built.
Major components of Motherboard
CPU
RAM
ROM
Slot
Chips and CMOS battery
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CPU (Central Processing Unit)
It is the brain of the computer, b/c computing part of the computer;
It controls and manipulates the data to produce information.
In a PC CPU is usually a single, fingernail-size “chip” called a microprocessor with electrical
circuits printed on it.
The main components of a CPU are:-
Control Unit (CU):- directs the operation of the entire system.
obtains instructions, interprets and execute
Arithmetic and Logic Unit (ALU):- executes the computer's commands by doing arithmetic or the
logical comparisons.
Registers:- special purpose, high speed temporary memory units.
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Memory: is the storage unit of a computer system.
1. RAM (Random Access Memory): is volatile & temporary storage memory
2. ROM (Read Only Memory): is a Non-volatile memory whose contents cannot be
changed by the user & contains minimum instructions that the computer needs to get
started.
permanent storage memory
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B. Power Supplies
It converts normal household electricity, alternating current (AC) into electricity that can be
used by the computer, direct current (DC).
C. Secondary Storage Devices
Hard-disk drive
Floppy-disk drive:-uses laser technology to store information into a removable media known as
diskettes or floppy disks.
Compact Disk (CD) drive:- includes CD-ROM, CD-R(recordable) and CD-RW(rewritable)
Digital Versatile/video Disk (DVD) drive:- includes DVD-ROM, DVD-R(recordable), DVD-
RW(rewritable)
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B. Computer Software
The sets of instructions that instruct the computer to do d/t tasks.
It is the driving force behind the working of computer.
Types of Software
Software is generally divided into two main categories:
1. System:- concerned with the various operations of a computer system
2. Application: concerned with providing various services to the users.
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I. System Software
a set of master programs that keep the computer system working.
The basic components of system software are: -
1. Operating System: is a bridge between computer hardware & user.
2. Language Software: contains two components low level (machine and assembly)
language and high level language.
A. Machine Language:- 0 and 1. only computer understandable.
B. Assembly Language:- represented by letters & symbols instead of number.
C. High-level Language: Natural language
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II. Application Software
Application software allow users to perform specific tasks.
There are two main categories of application software:
1. Pre-Written: designed for common needs of various businesses.
e.g. Word Processing, Electronic Spreadsheets, Presentation Software, DBMS,
Communication Software, Desktop Publishing.
2. Customized: These are created for a specific application of a specific environment.
e.g. Software required by a student registration.
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Types of Application Software
A. General purpose: useful in controlling general activities.
e.g. MS-WORD, MS-EXCEL and DTP software.
B. Specialty: used for a special purpose.
e.g. Peachtree AutoCAD.
C. Entertainment: allow computer to be used as an entertainment tool.
e.g., Games.
D. Educational: allow computer to be used as teaching/learning tool.
e.g., Library searches etc.
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