INFORMATION TECHBOLOGY

Computer System Hardware Components

Computer System
A computer system, is a set of hardware and software components that work together
to perform tasks. These tasks may be relatively simple, as in a calculator, or they may be
very complex, as in air traffic control systems. The computer system that you are using
now, probably include the hardware components, such as monitor, keyboard, mouse,
system unit, web camera, scanner among so many other devices.

It should be noted that computers are capable of storing and processing large amount of
data with speed, accuracy, and reliability. The computer system is designed to perform
four (4) basic operations, notably, input, process, output and storage.

Categories of Computer System

There are five main categories of computer system: supercomputers, mainframe
computers, desktop computers, mobile computers and finally embedded
Supercomputers
A supercomputer is pretty much exactly what it sounds like. It’s a term used to
describe computers that have the most capable processing power of its time. Early
supercomputers in the 60s and 70s used just a couple processors, while the 90s saw
supercomputers with thousands of processors at a time. Today, modern
supercomputers run hundreds of thousands of processors, capable of
computing quadrillions of calculations in just a few nanoseconds. You probably won’t
be needing that kind of power to access Facebook… Actually, supercomputers are
used in computational science to calculate and carry out a plethora of complex tasks.
Modeling molecular structures, weather forecasting, and the field of quantum
mechanics, among others, rely on supercomputers and their intense processing power
to solve their equations. see images of super computers

Mainframe Computers
At a slightly lower level than the supercomputer is the mainframe. Mainframes,
contrary to much popular thought, are not dead, but are thriving in American
businesses. Large insurance and financial firms rely on these large computers to process
the massive volumes of transactions in each business day. Mainframes were the
computer of choice in the 1960s and 1970s. Mainframes are distinguished by their speed
and use of complex, powerful operating systems, easily serving thousands of users
simultaneously see image of mainframe computers

Mr K Robinson]
Teacher, Computer Science and Information Technology
Desktop Computers
Another development of the microcomputer wave of computing was the personal
computer. Workstations provide individuals with computing power at the desk, using
applications such as spreadsheets, word processors and presentation software. Laptops
are essentially portable personal computers that have batteries for power and a screen
that folds down into a compact book-like form. Workstations have become more
powerful with advances in processor technology to the point that most desktop
computing power is vastly underutilized. See image of desktop computers

Mobile Computing Devices

Smartphones are forms of hand-held computing devices. Most computers in this
category can easily slip into a pocket or purse, while another form, tablets, are more like
small notebooks that use touchscreen technology for input, as do smartphones.
Smartphones are multi-purpose devices providing phone service and Internet
connectivity over wireless channels, bringing connectivity to an entirely new level. See
image of mobile device

Embedded Devices
An embedded device is a highly specialized device meant for one or very few specific
purposes and is usually embedded or included within another object or as part of a
larger system, they may or may not be able to connect to the internet.
Examples of embedded systems would be MP3 players, mobile phones, video game
consoles, digital cameras, DVD players, and GPS. Household appliances, such as
microwave ovens, washing machines and dishwashers, include embedded systems to
provide flexibility and efficiency.

Significance of Computers
As mentioned above, the power of computers is derived from their capability of
processing information with speed, reliability, accuracy and having huge storage
capacity

The functions of a computer are therefore:

Input Process Output Storage

Mr K Robinson]
Teacher, Computer Science and Information Technology
 Illustration of a typical Computer System

Mr K Robinson]
Teacher, Computer Science and Information Technology
Speed:
How fast is the processing speed for computers?
 The processing speed of computers is in the range of millions to billions of
instructions per second. In other words, the time required to execute an
instruction can be measured in nanoseconds or picoseconds.

 For example, it may take you about three minutes to find the location of a book in
the library by searching the index cards. However, if you use a computerised
library system to search the book’s location, it may only take you about a few
seconds, depending on how fast you can type. Normally, the computer only takes
less than a second to process your request.

Units of time
Computer operations are measured in milliseconds, microseconds, nanoseconds, and
picoseconds.
Units of time Abbreviation Fraction of a second

Millisecond ms Thousandth: 0.001

Microsecond µs Millionth: 0.000001

Nanosecond ns Billionth: 0.000000001

Picosecond ps Trillionth: 0.000000000001

Reliability
 Computers built with integrated circuits that make them more reliable. This
means that they will have a low failure rate.
 Computers are most suitable to handle repetitive tasks because they do not take
tea breaks and sick leaves, and they never complain.
 For example, the automatic teller machines (ATM) are in operation 24 hours a day,
7 days a week.

Accuracy
 Computers can generate results accurately, provided that the input data is correct
and the program of instructions is reliable.
 They are not affected by emotion and do what they are programmed to do. Hence,
they can produce consistent
 If inaccurate data is entered, the computers will generate incorrect results. This is
known as “Garbage In; Garbage Out” (GIGO).
 Most of the “computer errors” can be traced to human errors such as incorrect
input data and unreliable programs
 For example, the item prices determined by scanning the bar-codes at the point-of-
sale terminals in supermarkets are far more accurate than those typed in by
cashiers

Storage
Imagine, if you can, how many filing-cabinet drawers would be required to hold the
thousands of student records kept by your school. It would take a lot of space to store
data and information in paper form. However, computers can store them on several
disks that take up less space than a first-aid box.

Mr. K Robinson
Teacher: Computer Science & Information Technology
Categories of Devices
There are (i) Input Devices (ii) The Central Processing Unit (CPU) (iii) Output
Devices (iv) Storage Devices and (v) Memory.
 Input Devices – they get data into a computer. A mouse, keyboard and a scanner
are all input devices.
 The Central Processing Unit (CPU) – this is the brain of a computer and controls
how the rest of the computer works. It is assisted by the Control Unit (CU) and the
Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU). The CU carries out instructions in the software and
directs the flow of data through the computer, the ALU performs the calculations
and logic operations.
 Output Devices – they get processed information out of a computer, for example
to a printer, monitor or even speakers
 Storage Devices – include floppy drives, hard disk drives, flash drives, CD ROM
drives and so on that are used for storing information permanently.
 Memory enables a computer to temporarily store instructions and data.

 Peripheral Devices are additional hardware components attached to the system

unit, internally or externally, under the control of the computer system.

Together, they will help you to carry out a variety of tasks such as write letters, play
games and surf the internet. We will be looking in detail here, not at computers
themselves, but at the design of systems that are run by computers – they are
‘computer-based’.

Inside the Computer

Some parts you will not see because they are inside:
CPU: The CPU (Central Processing Unit) is the brains behind your computer. The CPU
is responsible for performing calculations and tasks that make programs work. The
faster the CPU, the quicker programs can process computations and commands.
RAM: A fast CPU is useless without an adequate amount of RAM (Random Access
Memory). RAM is usually referred to as a computer’s memory — meaning it stores
information that is used by running programs or applications. More memory lets you
run more applications at the same time without degrading your system’s performance.
Hard Disk Drive: The hard disk drive (HDD) of the computer is where permanent
information is stored. Documents, databases, spreadsheets, and programs are all stored
on the hard disk. The larger the hard disk, the more you can fit on the drive. The size of
the HDD does not affect the speed at which a program can run, but the HDD speed can
affect how fast you can access your files.
Video Card: The video card is a board that plugs into the PC motherboard to give it
display capabilities. New video cards come with their own RAM and processor to help
speed up the graphics display. Many computers come with video chips built in. That
makes a separate video card unnecessary, unless the computer is going to be used for
high-end multimedia work or to play video games.
Sound Card: Like video cards, sound cards are expansion boards used for enabling a
computer to manipulate sound. Most sound cards give you the power to plug in
speakers and a microphone. Some even give you the jacks for hooking your computer
up to a common stereo. As with video cards, many computers come with sound chips,
making it unnecessary to buy a separate card, unless you need higher sound quality for
your work.

Mr. K Robinson
Teacher: Computer Science & Information Technology
Modem: The modem allows your computer to use a telephone line to communicate and
connect to the Internet.
Network Card: A network card allows your computer to be connected either to other
computers or to the Internet if you are using a fast Internet connection such as cable or
DSL.
Fans: One or more fans inside the computer keep air moving and keep your computer
cool.
Cables: Numerous wires and flat, ribbon-like cables provide power and
communication to the various parts inside your computer.

Mr. K Robinson
Teacher: Computer Science & Information Technology