The document introduces basic computer concepts including hardware, software, and the components that make up a computer system. It describes different types of computers and their components like the CPU, memory, buses, input/output devices. It also discusses low-level machine instructions and assembly language versus high-level programming languages.
2. Computer??? Hardware Electronics circuit boards that provide functionality of the system Software Program consists of sets of instructions that control the system
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4. Computer Architecture Memory Program Storage Data Storage Output Units Input Units Control Unit Datapath Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU) Registers Common Bus (address, data & control) Processor (CPU) Figure 1: Computer Hardware Organization
A computer is an electronic system that performs arithmetic operation, manipulates data, and makes decision based on given instruction. A computer is made up of hardware and software.
Computer hardware consists of 4 main components: Processor: also called as central processing unit (CPU) Memory Input device Output device
A computer system may have one or multiple processors. The processor operates all computations in the system. The processor can be divided into 2 major parts: Control Unit & Datapath. Control Unit contains the hardware instruction logic that controls the flow of information of the CPU. The system clock synchronizes the activities of the CPU. The activities are measured by clock cycles. PC controls the memory address of the next instruction to be executed. A status register stores overflow, an addition carry, subtraction borrow, etc. ALU receives data from main memory and/or register, performs a computation, and, if necessary writes the result back to registers/main memory.
Memory is the place where the software programs and data are stored.
Input devices allow the computer user to enter data & programs into the computer so that computation can be performed. Examples: switches,keypads, keyboards, mice, microphones, thumb wheels
Output devices display the results of computation so that the user can read them and equipment can be controlled. Examples: CRT displays, LEDs, seven-segment displays, LCD displays, printers.
