PC HARDWARE AND NETWORKING
1. Computer Parts or
Components
Computer components
are the essential building parts of developing a functional computer system.
The components that make up a computer are called computer components. The
processor (CPU), memory, and input/output devices are every computer's three
main building blocks.
There are 5 main
computer components that are given below:
- Input Devices
- CPU
- Output Devices
- Primary Memory
- Secondary Memory
Input devices
A computer system's
input devices are important because they allow users to enter commands and
data. Keyboards, mice, scanners, and microphones are numerous examples of input
devices.
- The keyboard is
the most commonly utilized input device for inserting text and queries
into a computer system.
- Mice are another common input tool used to move the
cursor on a computer screen.
- Scanners are used for inputting physical documents or
images into a computer system.
- Microphones are used to input audio data into a system
for computing. They can be used for various tasks, including recording
audio for podcasts, participating in video conferences, and creating voice
memos for later use.
CPU
A computer machine's
"brain" is its central processing unit (CPU). It executes the
calculations and commands required for functioning of the computer device. The
CPU comprises some components: the control unit, the arithmetic logic unit
(ALU), and registers.
- The CPU's control unit is a crucial component. It is in
charge of reading and decoding instructions from memory. The right part of
the CPU receives and executes these instructions from the control unit.
- The ALU, often known as the arithmetic logic unit, is
another crucial CPU part. The ALU operates addition, subtraction,
comparison calculations, and other logical and mathematical processes.
These operations are carried out using binary logic, which limits
operations to the 0 and 1 digits.
- Registers are compact, high-speed data and instruction
storage spaces within the CPU. They are utilized to store data that is
being processed by the CPU momentarily. Registers are used to accelerate
data processing because they are much faster than other forms of memory,
such as RAM.
- The CPU's clock speed is yet another crucial aspect
that affects overall performance. The clock speed, measured in GHz
(gigahertz), controls what number of commands the integral processing unit
can process in a second.
.
Primary Memory
The CPU has direct
access to primary memory, sometimes referred to as random access
memory (RAM). The data and instructions that are currently being processed are
kept in primary memory. The data and instructions are accessed by the CPU from
primary memory when a computer programme is running. The information is removed
from primary memory once the programme is completed.
Primary memory is
classified into two types: random access memory (RAM) and read-only memory
(ROM).
- RAM is the most common form of primary memory and is
used to store data and instructions that the CPU wishes to access
frequently. RAM is volatile, which means that its contents are lost when
the computer is turned off. But RAM can be effortlessly and quickly
written to and read from, making it a really perfect storage medium for
temporary data and instructions.
- ROM is a form of memory this is used to store data and
instructions that don't change. ROM is non-volatile, which means that its
contents aren't lost while the computer is turned off. ROM is used to keep
firmware and the laptop's basic input/output machine (BIOS), that are
required for the computer to boot up and function well.
Secondary Memory:
Secondary memory, also
called auxiliary storage, is a type of computer memory that is used to store
data and programs that aren't currently being utilized by the CPU. In contrast
to primary memory, secondary memory is non-volatile, which means that its
contents are not lost when the computer is turned off.
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There are several
types of secondary memory devices, such as hard disk drives (HDD), solid-state
drives (SSD), optical disks (including CDs and DVDs), and USB flash drives.
Output Devices:
Output devices are
hardware components of a computer system that are used to show or send data
from the pc to the user or any other device. They enable customers to view and
engage with the information and applications the computer is processing.
Speakers, projectors, printers, and monitors are a few examples of output
devices.
2. Types of Computer
We can categorize computer in two
ways: on the basis of data handling capabilities and size.
On the basis of data handling
capabilities, the computer is of three types:
Analogue Computer
Digital Computer
Hybrid Computer
1) Analogue Computer
Analogue computers are designed to
process analogue data. Analogue data is continuous data that changes
continuously and cannot have discrete values. We can say that analogue computers
are used where we don't need exact values always such as speed, temperature,
pressure and current.
Advantages of using analogue
computers:
1. It allows real-time operations and
computation at the same time and continuous representation of all data within
the rage of the analogue machine.
2. In some applications, it allows
performing calculations without taking the help of transducers for converting
the inputs or outputs to digital electronic form and vice versa.
3. The programmer can scale the problem
for the dynamic range of the analogue computer. It provides insight into the
problem and helps understand the errors and their effects.
2) Digital Computer
Digital computer is designed to
perform calculations and logical operations at high speed. It accepts the raw
data as input in the form of digits or binary numbers (0 and 1) and processes
it with programs stored in its memory to produce the output. All modern
computers like laptops, desktops including smart phones that we use at home or
office are digital computers.
Advantages of digital
computers:
1. It allows you to store a large
amount of information and to retrieve it easily whenever you need it.
2. You can easily add new features to
digital systems more easily.
3. Different applications can be used
in digital systems just by changing the program without making any changes in
hardware
3) Hybrid Computer
Hybrid computer has features of both
analogue and digital computer. It is fast like an analogue computer and has
memory and accuracy like digital computers. It can process both continuous and
discrete data.
Advantages of using hybrid
computers:
1. Its computing speed is very high
due to the all-parallel configuration of the analogue subsystem.
2. It produces precise and quick
results that are more accurate and useful.
3. It has the ability to solve and
manage big equation in real-time.
4. It helps in the on-line data
processing.
On the basis of size, the computer
can be of fOUR types:
1) Supercomputer
Supercomputers are the biggest and
fastest computers. They are designed to process huge amount of data.
A supercomputer can process trillions of
instructions in a second. It has thousands of interconnected processors.
Supercomputers are particularly used
in scientific and engineering applications such as weather forecasting,
scientific simulations and nuclear energy research. The first supercomputer was
developed by Roger Cray in 1976.
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Characteristics or applications of supercomputers:
1. It has the ability to decrypt your
password to enhance protection for security reasons.
2. It produces excellent results in
animations.
3. It is used for virtual testing of
nuclear weapons and critical medical tests.
4. It can study and understand climate
patterns and forecast weather conditions.
2) Mainframe computer
Mainframe computers are designed to
support hundreds or thousands of users simultaneously. They can support
multiple programs at the same time. It means they can execute different
processes simultaneously. These features of mainframe computers make them ideal
for big organizations like banking and telecom sectors, which need to manage
and process high volume of data.
Characteristics of Mainframe
Computers:
1. It can process huge amount of data,
e.g. millions of transactions in a second in the banking sector.
2. It has a very long life. It can run
smoothly for up to 50 years after proper installation.
3. It gives excellent performance with
large scale memory management.
3) Workstation
Workstation is a single user computer
that is designed for technical or scientific applications. It has a faster
microprocessor, a large amount of RAM and high speed graphic adapters. It
generally performs a specific job with great expertise; accordingly, they are
of different types such as graphics workstation, music workstation and
engineering design workstation.
Characteristics of workstation
computer:
1. It is a high-performance computer
system designed for a single user for business or professional use.
2. It has larger storage capacity,
better graphics, and more powerful CPU than a personal computer.
3. It can handle animation, data
analysis, CAD, audio and video creation and editing.
4) Microcomputer
Microcomputer is also known as a
personal computer. It is a general-purpose computer that is designed for
individual use. It has a microprocessor as a central processing unit, memory,
storage area, input unit and output unit. Laptops and desktop computers are
examples of microcomputers. They are suitable for personal work that may be
making an assignment, watching a movie, or at office for office work.
Characteristics of a microcomputer:
1. It is the smallest in size among
all types of computers.
2. It is designed for personal work
and applications. Only one user can work at a time.
3. It is less expansive and easy to
use.
4. It does not require the user to
have special skills or training to use it.
5. It is capable of multitasking such
as printing, scanning, browsing, watching videos, etc.
3.Characteristics of Computer System
1. Speed:
Executing mathematical calculation, a computer works faster and
more accurately than human. Computers have the ability to process so many
millions (1,000,000) of instructions per second. Computer operations are
performed in micro and nano seconds. A computer is a time saving device. It
performs several calculations and tasks in few seconds that we take hours to
solve. The speed of a computer is measure in terms of Gigahertz and Megahertz.
2. Diligence:
A human cannot work for several hours without resting, yet a
computer never tires. A computer can conduct millions of calculations per
second with complete precision without stopping. A computer can consistently
and accurately do millions of jobs or calculations. There is no weariness or
lack of concentration. Its memory ability also places it ahead of humans.
3. Reliability:
A computer is reliable. The output results never differ unless the
input varies. the output is totally depend on the input. when an input is the
same the output will also be the same. A computer produces consistent results
for similar sets of data, if we provide the same set of input at any time we
will get the same result.
4. Automation:
The world is quickly moving toward AI (Artificial
Intelligence)-based technology. A computer may conduct tasks automatically
after instructions are programmed. By executing jobs automatically, this
computer feature replaces thousands of workers. Automation in computing is
often achieved by the use of a program, a script, or batch processing.
5. Versatility:
Versatility refers to a capacity of computer. Computer performs
different types of tasks with the same accuracy and efficiency. A computer can
perform multiple tasks at the same time this is known as versatility. For
example, while listening to music, we may develop our project using PowerPoint and
WordPad, or we can design a website.
6. Memory:
A computer can store millions of records. these records may be
accessed with complete precision. Computer memory storage capacity is
measured in Bytes, Kilobytes (KB), Megabytes(MB), Gigabytes(GB), and
Terabytes(TB). A computer has built-in memory known as primary memory.
7. Accuracy:When a computer performs a computation or
operation, the chances of errors occurring are low. Errors in a computer are
caused by human’s submitting incorrect data. A computer can do a variety of
operations and calculations fast and accurately.
8. No I.Q. :
Computer does not have any
intelligence. We have to give it instructions what to do and how to do.
Moreover, it can respond to only those instructions which are already fed into
it.
9. No Feeling:
Computers do not have any feeling;
they do not have any sense of joy, love, success, failure etc.
