The System Unit and Storage Devices

The System Unit
A system unit usually contains one or more processors, several types of memory,
interfaces to connect external peripheral devices (such as printers), and other
components all interconnected through sets of wires called buses on the motherboard.
The motherboard
A circuit board is a thin board containing computer chips and other electronic
components. Computer chips also called integrated circuits (ICs), contain
interconnected components (such as transistors) that enable electrical currents to
perform particular functions. The main circuit board inside the system unit is called
the motherboard.
Figure 1: System Unit
Processors
Computers and mobile devices today contain one or more processors which consist of
a variety of circuitry and components that are packaged together and connected
directly to the motherboard. The primary processor is the central processing unit
(CPU)—also called the microprocessor when talking about personal computers—

which does most of the processing for a computer. CPUs are typically designed for a
specific type of computers, such as desktop computers, servers, portable computers
(like notebook and tablet computers), or mobile devices (like tablets and
smartphones). Most desktop computers and servers today use Intel or Advanced
Micro Devices (AMD) CPUs.
Most CPUs today are multi-core CPUs; that is, CPUs that contain the processing
components or cores of multiple independent processors on a single CPU. For
example, dual-core CPUs contain two cores and quad-core CPUs contain four cores.
In earlier years, most CPUs designed for desktop computers had only a single core; as
a result, a common way to increase the amount of processing performed by the CPU
was to increase the speed of the CPU. However, heat constraints are making it
progressively more difficult to continue to increase CPU speed, so CPU manufacturers
today are focusing on multi-core CPUs to increase the amount of processing that a
CPU can do in a given time period.
Multi-core CPUs allow computers to work simultaneously on more than one task at a
time, such as burning a DVD while surfing the Web, as well as to work faster within
a single application if the software is designed to take advantage of multiple cores.
Another benefit of multi-core CPUs is that they typically experience fewer heat
problems than single-core CPUs because each core typically runs slower than a single-
core CPU, although the total processing power of the multi-core CPU is greater. Multi-
core CPUs also increase the performance of mobile devices while, at the same time,
delivering better battery life.
Another processor located inside the system unit is the graphics processing unit
(GPU), which takes care of the processing needed to display images (including still
images, animations, and video)—and particularly 3D images—on the screen. While
GPUs motherboard or on a video graphics card, a growing trend is to integrate both
the CPU and GPU into the CPU package.

Figure 2: Central Processing Unit
One measurement of the processing speed of a CPU is the CPU clock speed, which is
typically rated in megahertz (MHz) or gigahertz (GHz). A CPU with a higher CPU
clock speed means that more instructions can be processed per second than the same
CPU with a lower CPU clock speed.
Storage devices
A storage device is a computing device employed for storing data and information.
Memory (RAM)
RAM (random access memory), also called main memory or system memory is used
to store the essential parts of the operating system while the computer is running, as
well as the programs and data that the computer is currently using. When someone
uses the term memory in reference to computers, he or she is usually referring to RAM.
Because RAM is volatile, its content is lost when the computer is shut off.
Figure 3: RAM
RAM capacity is measured in bytes. The amount of RAM that can be installed in a
computer depends on both the CPU in that computer and the operating system being
used. when you are considering adding more RAM to a computer, it is important to
first determine that your computer can support it.
Hard Disk
The hard disk, also known as a hard drive, or secondary storage, is where the
computer permanently stores all your files and software currently installed on the
computer. Sometimes this is incorrectly referred to as the computer’s memory which
is misleading, as it is often confused with main memory (RAM).
When you start up an application such as Microsoft word, the Microsoft word
software is loaded up off the hard disk into the computer’s main memory (RAM),
where you can work on your documents. There are two types of hard disk - the
traditional hard disk shown, simply known as a hard disk drive, and a new type called
a solid-state drive (SSD). Solid State Drives perform much like a traditional Hard Disk
but are extremely fast and also expensive. They have no moving parts and are
composed of flash memory, which is a type of memory that retains data even if the
power is turned off.

Read-Only Memory (ROM)
ROM (read-only memory) consists of nonvolatile chips that permanently store data or
programs. Like RAM, these chips are attached to the motherboard inside the system
unit, and the data or programs are retrieved by the computer when they are needed.
An important difference, however, is that you can neither write over the data or
programs in ROM chips (which is the reason ROM chips are called read-only) nor
erase their content when you shut off the computer’s power.
Ports and connectors
Ports are the connectors located on the exterior of a system unit that are used to
connect external hardware devices. Each port is attached to the appropriate bus on the
motherboard so that when a device is plugged into a port, the device can communicate
with the CPU and other computer components.

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The System Unit

interfaces to connect external peripheral devices (such as printers), and other

components. Computer chips also called integrated circuits (ICs), contain

interconnected components (such as transistors) that enable electrical currents to

Figure 1: System Unit

(CPU)—also called the microprocessor when talking about personal computers—

specific type of computers, such as desktop computers, servers, portable computers

Micro Devices (AMD) CPUs.

components or cores of multiple independent processors on a single CPU. For

progressively more difficult to continue to increase CPU speed, so CPU manufacturers

CPU can do in a given time period.

a single application if the software is designed to take advantage of multiple cores.

delivering better battery life.

images, animations, and video)—and particularly 3D images—on the screen. While

GPUs motherboard or on a video graphics card, a growing trend is to integrate both

the CPU and GPU into the CPU package.

CPU with a lower CPU clock speed.

first determine that your computer can support it.

computer. Sometimes this is incorrectly referred to as the computer’s memory which

is misleading, as it is often confused with main memory (RAM).

power is turned off.

Ports and connectors

with the CPU and other computer components.

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