3. “What is a computer?
*A computer is an electronic device that manipulates information or
data. Once entered, it has the ability to store, retrieve and process this
data typically in a binary form of 0’s and 1’s.
⇨
4. Step 1
Power Up
Step 2
Start Boot
Program
Step 3
Power-on
Self Test
Step 4
Identify
Peripheral
Devices
Step 5
Load
Operating
System
Step 6
Check
Configuration
and
customization
When you push the power button on your computer that was previously
powered off, several things begin to happen. First the ROM circuitry
receives power then your computer begins a series of steps called the
boot process by executing the bootstrap program.
The boot process contains a sequence of events that occurs between the time that you turn
on your computer and the time it is ready for your commands.
5. Central Processing Unit
The Brain of the computer…
Within the brain, the arithmetic logic unit (ALU), performs simple arithmetic
and logical operations while the control unit (CU), manages the various
components of the computer by reading and interpreting instructions from
memory and transforming them into a series of signals to activate other
parts of the computer.
The number of
bits that a CPU
can process at
one time is
called…
Word
size
6. The most important parts of a CPU are tucked away inside a case which
allows the computer to display things on the screen.
• CPU
• RAM
• Motherboard
• Hard Drives
• Peripherals
• CD/DVD Drives
7. CPU
Registers
RAM
Cache
All of the items listed are different types of memory storage that can be
located in a computer.
The relationship between them all are quite simple.
If a CPU calls for a new instruction or data and the cache memory is
full, the system overwrites cache memory by the amount needed to store
the new instructions. If the information cannot be located in cache
memory, the computer searches for them in RAM. If the information
cannot be located in RAM, the computer searches the hard drive.
9. Input devices are whatever is typed,
submitted or even transmitted to a
computer system.
Output devices are the ending
results produced by a computer.
Mouse
Microphones
Scanners
Keyboards
Computer Monitors
Speakers
Printers
Headphones
10. Storage devices are the areas in
which data is left on a permanent
basis when not immediately in use.
Processors are the brain of the
computer where the thinking is
executed. Its primary function is to
process data at extremely fast rates.
DVDs
Floppy Disks
Hard Drives
Cassettes
AMD Processor
ARM Processor
Neotion Processor
Intel Processor
11. These devices not only can accept information but
also have the capability of outputting information.
13. Fetch
Decode
Execute
Increment
Pointer
1. Getting the
instructions
2. Translating the
instructions
3. Performing the
action specified by
the instructions
4. Going to the
next instruction
An instruction set is a collection of pre-programmed activities such as
addition, subtraction, counting, etc. with each corresponding to a
sequence of 0’s and 1’s.
14. A system bus transfers data between components inside or between a
computer. It is circuitry that transports data to and from the microprocessor.
Types of Busses
Data Bus:
These buses carry data from one unit to the other
in both directions.
Address Bus:
These buses carry addresses given by the CPU
from one unit to the other unit.
Control Bus:
These buses carry control signal from the ALU to
memory and from the memory to the ALU.
15. Lets review…
1. A Printer is an input, output or combo device?
2. The shoe process contains a sequence of events that
occurs between the time that you turn on your computer
and the time it is ready for your commands. True or False?
3. Which arrangement is correct for an instruction set to be
executed.
a) fetch, execute, decode, increment pointer
b) execute, decode, fetch, increment pointer
c) fetch, decode, execute, increment pointer
4. What is the brain of a computer called?
Answer key:
• output
• false
• fetch, decode, execute, increment pointer
• CPU (Central Processing Unit)
