MICROCOMPUTER

1

• MICROCOMPUTER
• SYSTEMS
• Hardware, Software, and the Operating System

2
An Introduction to Computers

• Widespread use of computers
• in all sectors of our lives.

3
An Introduction to Computers

• Computers used for
• Spreadsheets
• Word processing
• Databases
• Internet

4
Categories of Computers

• Major categories of computers
• Supercomputer
• Mainframe
• Minicomputer
• Microcomputer

5
Computer Components

• For computer to function, need
• Hardware
• Software
• Data

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Components of Computer SystemFig R1 p. 2
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Microcomputer Hardware Components

• System Configuration is . . .
• the basic hardware components of a complete
  system.

8
Typical Microcomputer SystemFig R2 p. 3
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Microcomputer Hardware Components

• Peripherals communicate
• with what is inside
• the computer through ports.

10
Cables Attached to a CaseFig R3 p. 4
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The System Unit

• System Unit . . .
• houses the electronic and mechanical parts of the
  computer.

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The System Unit

• System Unit contains
• System board
• Expansion slots
• Secondary storage units
• Power supply

13
Inside the System UnitFig R4 p. 4
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The System Unit

• System Board contains
• Processor socket/slot
• Chipset
• Super Input/Output chip
• BIOS or ROM-BIOS (Special chip containing
  software)

15
The System Unit

• System Board contains
• SIMM/DIMM
• System buses
• Voltage regulator
• Battery

16
Components on a System BoardFig R5 p. 5
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The System Unit

• ROM-BIOS chip
• Collection of programs set in
• chip (flash ROM chip)
• Nonvolatile chip

18
The System Unit

• ROM-BIOS chip
• Contains start up programs and
• drivers.
• Acts as interface to basic hardware
• in system.

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The System Unit

• ROM-BIOS has four functions
• POST
• Bootstrap loader
• BIOS
• CMOS

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The System Unit

• Bus . . .
• is a path which data travels on within the
  computer.

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The System Unit

• Main buses in system
• Processor
• AGP - Accelerated Graphics Port
• PCI - Peripheral Component
• Interconnect
• ISA - Industry Standard
• Architecture

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Central Processing Unit

• Central Processing Unit (CPU). . .
• carries out the instructions sent to it by a
  program.

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Central Processing Unit

• Intel processors running
• Windows are commonly
• called Wintel machines.

24
Central Processing Unit

• CPU rated by
• Speed
• Efficiency of program code built
• into CPU chip
• Internal data path size
• Data path

25
Central Processing Unit

• CPU rated by
• Maximum number of memory
• addresses that CPU can assign
• Internal cache
• Multiprocessor ability
• Special functionality

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Input/Output (I/O) Buses

• Adapter cards are installed
• to allow installation and
• control of peripheral devices.

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Input/Output (I/O) Buses

• I/O buses allow CPU
• to communicate with peripheral device.

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Input/Output (I/O) Buses

• A port is where devices
• connect to the CPU.

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Input/Output (I/O) Buses

• Not every peripheral
• has a built-in connection.

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Input/Output (I/O) Buses

• Expansion slot - place to add interface card.
• Interface card - enables PC to use peripheral
  device for which there is no connection or port.

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Input/Output (I/O) Buses

• BUS is . . .
• a set of hardware lines used for data transfer
  among the components of the computer system.

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Input/Output (I/O) Buses

• Buses are characterized by number of bits that
  they
• can transfer at one time.

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Input/Output (I/O) Buses

• Buses have standards which are . . .
• technical guidelines that establish uniformity in
  areas of hardware or software development.

34
Input/Output (I/O) Buses

• FireWire is new
• bus technology.

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Random Memory Access

• RAM (Random Access Memory) is . . .
• the workspace of the computer.
• volatile (temporary).

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Random Memory Access

• Two types of RAM
• DRAM (Dynamic RAM)
• SRAM (Static RAM)

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Cache Memory

• Cache memory . . .
• a place in memory where data can be stored
  for quick access.

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Cache Memory

• Caching data improves processing speed.

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Controllers

• Controller . . .
• determines number and kinds of devices that can
  be attached to a computer.

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Controllers

• Disk-drive controllers
• IDE (Integrated Device Electronics)
• SCSI (Small Computer System
• Interface)

41
Connectors

• Location on CPU to plug in devices
• Serial ports (COM ports)
• Parallel ports (LPT ports)

42
I/O PortsFig R6 p. 9
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Peripherals -Input Devices

• Input devices . . .
• are used to get data or information into RAM.

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Peripherals - Output Devices

• Output devices are . . .
• where information is sent.
• used to view data.

45
Output Devices - Monitors

• When purchasing a monitor consider
• Size standard
• Resolution

46
Output Devices - Monitors

• Resolution of monitor measured
• by number of pixels on the screen.

47
Output Devices - Monitors

• When purchasing a monitor consider
• Interlace factor
• Interlaced
• Noninterlaced

48
Output Devices - Monitors

• Video card (graphics adapter
• card) controls the monitor.

49
Output Devices -Printers

• The printer is an output device that is used to
  produce a hard (paper) copy.

50
Output Devices - Printers

• Types of printers
• Impact
• Non-impact
• Laser

51
Modems

• Modem (MOdulator/DEModulator) . . .
• translates digital signals into analog signals
  that travel over phone/cable lines.

52
Modems

• Modems allow computers to communicate over phone
  lines.

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Modems

• Baud rate - speed at which signal
• travels.
• Bandwidth - pipe that moves data
• from one point to another.

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Modems

• Other transmission choices
• Cable modems
• ISDN
• DSL

55
Modems

• Other transmission choices
• Dedicated leased line
• Satellite modems

56
Capacity Measurement - Bits and Bytes

• Computer is made up of switches that are either
• on or off.

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Capacity Measurement - Bits and Bytes

• Bit (binary digit) . . .
• smallest unit computer can recognize.

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Capacity Measurement - Bits and Bytes

• A byte is . . .
• a grouping of eight bits.

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Capacity Measurement - Bits and Bytes

• Computer storage and memory are both measure in
  bytes.

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Disks and Disk Drives

• External (Secondary) storage media are necessary
  to save information permanently.

61
Disks and Disk Drives

• Two common types of secondary storage media
• Floppy disks
• Hard disks

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Floppy Disks

• Disks are . . .
• permanent means to store data.
• transportable.

63
Floppy Disks

• Two sizes
• 3-1/2 inch disk.
• 5-1/4 inch disk

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A Floppy 31/2 - inch DiskFig R7 p. 14
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CD-ROM

• CD-ROM (compact disc-read-only memory) is a
  common transport device for software.

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CD-ROM

• DVD is enhancement
• of CD-ROM technology.

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Removable Disks

• Removable disk is another type of external
  storage media.

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Removable Disks

• Other removable disk media
• Zip drives
• Jaz drives

69
Hard Disks

• Hard disk . . .
• is a nonremovable disk.
• holds more information than a
• removable floppy disk.

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A Hard DiskFig R8 p. 15
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Dividing a Disk

• Disks . . .
• are divided into numbered tracks and sectors.

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Dividing a Disk

• Density of disk is the number of tracks and size
  of the sectors.

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Hard Disk CylindersFig R9 p. 15
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Dividing a Disk

• A cluster is . . .
• the basic unit of disk storage.
• the smallest unit of disk space
• DOS or Windows 95/98 can
• read to/write from.

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Dividing a Disk

• A disk is a random
• access medium.

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Disk Drives

• Disk drive . . .
• writes information to and from a disk.

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A Floppy Disk DriveFig R10 p. 16
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Device Names

• Device . . .
• is a place for computer to send or receive
  information.

79
Disk Drive ConfigurationsR 11 p. 17
80
Software

• Software . . .
• step-by-step instructions that tell the computer
  what to do.

81
Software

• Two categories of software
• Application software
• System software

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Software

• Application software
• User oriented
• Solves problems
• Handles information

83
Software

• System software
• Computer oriented
• Coordinates operations of hardware
• components
• Runs application software

84
Software

• Operating system
• is a generic term.

85
Operating System Fundamentals

• OS (Operating System) . . .
• program that is always working.

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Operating System Fundamentals

• ROM-BIOS . . .
• interface between hardware and Operating System.

87
Operating System Fundamentals

• Boot Up Process
• 1. Power goes to ROM-BIOS.
• 2. Runs self-test to check hardware.
• 3. Checks to see if disk drive installed.
• 4. Looks for boot record.
• 5. When proper boot record found, reads record
  from disk into RAM.
• 6. Turns control over to this program.

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Operating System Fundamentals

• Operating System files loaded into RAM manage
  resources and
• primary functions of computer.

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Networks

• A network . . .
• is two or more computers
• connected together.
• enables users to communicate
• and to share resources.

90
Networks

• Two kinds of networks
• LAN (Local Area Network)
• WAN (Wide Area Network)

91
Typical NetworkConfigurationFig R12 p. 22