Component of A Computer System
Component of A Computer System
Component of A Computer System
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A System
A collection of parts
Acting together
For some defined purpose
A system has a boundary
A system
Processing
Input Output
System
Sub
System
System
Boundary
Examples of systems
Digestive system
Banking system
Transport system
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Computers consist of hardware and
software.
Hardware Software
All the machinery and All the instructions that tell
equipment in a computer the computer how to
system perform a task
Computers also consist of firmware and
liveware.
Firmware Liveware
Computer
Hardware Software
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Hardware
CPU: Central Processing Unit
– Brain of a computer
– Manages all devices and performs the actual processing
of data
– Carry out instructions given by user
– For Personal Computer (PC), the CPU is usually included
in a single Integrated Circuit (IC) chip (called
Microprocessor)
– Nowadays, one or more microprocessors (chips) can be
used to form a CPU
Parallel Processing
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Hardware
Input and Output devices (I/O devices)
– Interface between the outside world and the computer
system
– Input devices: keyboard, mouse
– Output devices: monitors, printers
– Other I/O devices: scanner, joystick, touch screen, …
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Hardware
Memory
– Internal memory / Main memory
Random Access Memory (RAM)
– Main feature 1: volatile
requires continuous supply of electrical power to retain information
– Main feature 2: cheap in terms of bytes per dollar
suitable for large volume data storage
– Functions:
Receive commands / data from keyboard
Store information ready to be sent to output
Store currently running programs/their data
Store immediate data generated by the currently running programs
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Another kind of memory
Read Only Memory (ROM)
– Main feature 1: non-volatile
data retain even when the power is off
– Main feature 2: relatively expensive and can only be written
once
suitable for storing essential data but in small volume
– Usually used for system boot up and basic control of I/O
devices
When a computer first powers up, nothing is in RAM
Need ROM to store the instructions to set up various
I/O devices, such as disk interface card, video adapter card,
sound card, etc.
– ROM is used to store BIOS (Basic Input/Output Systems)
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Hardware
Storage devices
– External memory
Non-volatile
Used to store programs/data for future use
Also used when the capacity of the internal storage is
insufficient to keep the currently running programs and the
data required
Floppy disks, hard disks, CD ROMs, Magnetic tapes
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Hardware
Main differences between storage & memory:
– Larger capacity in storage than in memory
– Data in storage are retained while data in memory
disappear when power is off
– Storage is much cheaper than memory
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Buses
– Path along which “bits” are transmitted
– Linking up the CPU, Memory and I/O devices
Address
Memory
Instructions / I I I I I D D D I I
00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09
CPU Data
I I I I D D D D D D
Control 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19
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I: Instruction 21
I/O 22 External
I/O
D: Data I/O Storage
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Put all the hardware together and…
You still need the software!
System software
(Operating System)
and…
System Software
Exists primarily for the computer itself
Hides the hardware complexities
Brings the different hardware configurations into
common platforms and accessible by the users
Consists of several programs, the most important
one is the operating system (master control
program that runs the computer)
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You still need the software!
Utility Software:
Video
Interface
Disk Interface
Main Memory (RAM)
Bootstrap loader
OS
CPU
BIOS
(Stored in
Mother Board ROM)
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You still need the software!
Application software
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Software ‘Discussion’ (2)
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Machine Language Programming
– No application nowadays
Assembly Language Programming
– Advantage: Less complicated than Machine Language. Usually
generate more efficient code than HLL
– Disadvantage: Need the understanding of CPU structure. Still difficult
to program
– Application: Sometimes used in the programming of embedded
systems (e.g. CPU of printer, washing machines, etc.)
High Level Language Programming (such as C/C++)
– Advantage: Need the least amount of effort to write a program
– Disadvantage: The program written may not be optimal (depends on
the compiler)
– Application: For large scale programs
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Hardware & Software Summary
User interacts with application software
System software enables the application software
to interact with computer CPU and help the
computer to manage its internal resources
(hardware)
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Hardware & Software Summary
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