Essay on inside of a computer

Submitted By naijababes_23
Words: 4195
Pages: 17
Open Document
Topic: The Inside of a Computer

Introduction
This page introduces you to the basic concept of a computer and the inside of a computer for more research work would be discussed in other pages. This report would define computer, the processor which includes the central processing unit (CPU), and cache. Also we have the memory which is divided into the primary and secondary memory. The main primary memory includes the RAM and ROM while the secondary memory is divided into two which include the magnetic and optical device.
In addition to the processor and the memory, we will be discussing input and output of the computer. Examples of some input device are the keyboard, microphone, joystick and many others while some examples of the output device are printer, projector, speakers and many others. The introduction would be describing the Von Neuman model.
A computer is defined as a machine “whose actions are ruled by programs (Rob Williams 2000). According to Von Neuman (1958 pg3) in an analogy machine numbers are represented by an appropriate active measure whose digits is deliberated in pre assigned unity. Again Neuman(1958 pg37) wrote out a principle of direct addressing which he said “ every word in a memory has a numerical address of its own which distinguishes it and its pose within the memory. Von Neumann was also known for his contributions to the foundations of quantum mechanics and fields of mathematical logic.Below is a diagram of the Von Neuman model.

Processor
CPU
A processor can be defined as a personal computer or a small device it can also be called the microprocessor (Larry and Nancy 2004). A motherboard is in shape of a “rectangular card containing electrical circuit which the processor is mounted on, it is also an example of a circuit board” (Norton 2005 pg28). The main component of the processor is the CPU (central processing unit) which is also called the brain of the computer. The most important function of the processor is to “execute programs that are stored in the main memory taking instruction, observing them and executing them one after the other” (Andrew 2005 pg51). The CPU components are “connected by the bus which is a collection of parallel wires for transferring data, control signals and address” (Andrew 2005). Also “buses can be extraneous to the CPU connecting the memory and the I/O devices” (Andrew 2005).

fig1: CPU

ALU
Arithmetic logic unit also known as ALU is a part of the CPU which carries out the mathematical operation. This includes group of registers which uses the register to hold data which are being used for calculations. For example loads a calculation from the memory to the registers then into the ALU. This might tell the ALU if the numbers needcalculation which is an arithmetic operation or if the numbers are equal which is a logical operation (Peter 2005pg190).
In addition the CPU is formed with loads of distinct parts. The control unit has the ability of collecting instructions for the memory the ALU (arithmetic logic unit performs the operations. For example additions.

I/O device

Bus

fig2: CPU
The diagram above shows a simple computer with two I/O devices. A CPU can also hold a little amount of high-speed memory which is use for storing temporary findings or useful information. The memory is made up of registers which all have different functions. A register according to (Andrew 2005 pg52) “can be read and also written at high speed”. There are two most important registers and they are program counter (PC) and the instruction register (IR).
Fetch Execute Cycle
The CPU fetch cycle according to (Whitney 2011) it’s an order “where by instruction within a program is read into the CPU form the program memory”. During a fetch phase the instruction is read from the memory and translated by the control unit (CU). It was also mentioned by (Whitney 2011) that during execute stage the CU yields or renders the entire signal important
Show More

Related Documents: Essay on inside of a computer

Memory Management Requirements

controls the computers available memory. The management system coordinates and assigns portions of memory known as blocks to application and programs. In addition to residing in programs and applications, memory management also resides in the system hardware, and the OS. Hardware When we discuss memory management in terms of hardware it speaks of physical components that store data. These components are RAM, memory caches, and hard drives. The most important component for computer performance…

Words 477 - Pages 2

Abstract Art Essay

devices |Networks | | |Desktop-computer is designed to |Output devices-carry |Microprocessor-is the |Hard drive-the most widely|A network is a group of| |remain in one location |information out of a computer|brain of the computer |used secondary storage |computers that are | | | | |devices |connected to each other| |Laptop-computer is designed to be |Monitor-displays…

Words 534 - Pages 3

Animal Cell Analogy: Bentleigh Croom

Animal Cell Analogy Bentleigh Croom For my Animal Cell analogy I chose a computer. I chose a computer because I thought they were both very similar. They both do extraordinary things even if one keeps our body going and the other helps us connect with the world! For my first one, golgi bodies I compared them to the mouse. I compared them together because the mouse moves things around on the desktop. The golgi bodies move things around the cell in a small sac called a vesicle. They are similar in…

Words 390 - Pages 2

Pansy: Operating System and Hard Disk Essay

The system unit is the actual computer; everything else is called a peripheral device. Your computer's system unit probably has at least one floppy disk drive, and one CD or DVD drive, into which you can insert floppy disks and CDs. There's another disk drive, called the hard disk inside the system unit, as shown in Figure 2. You can't remove that disk, or even see it. But it's there. And everything that's currently "in your computer" is actually stored on that hard disk. (We know this because there…

Words 330 - Pages 2

Essay on Identifying a Operating System

identify the operating system in my lab computer. My operating system that my computer is using is Windows 7. I was asked to talk about five features of my operating system. The five features I will talk about are Libraries, Microsoft Office, the control panel, Internet Explorer, and Windows sidebar. The first thing I would like to talk about is the LIBRARY part of my computer which is probably my favorite component.…

Words 443 - Pages 2

Essentials Homework Essay

1. Is a Mainframe Computer considered to be a Personal Computer(PC)? A Mainframe Computer is not considered a PC, since it’s faster, faster and they are typically used by larger businesses and the government. 2. The intangible components of a computer system, including the programs are called. Software is the intangible components of a computer system, including programs and applications. 3. To display graphics a computer needs a monitor and a(n). To display graphics a computer must have a graphics…

Words 527 - Pages 3

Nt1310 Central Processing Unit

Also known as the CPU (Central Processing Unit). It is the brain of the computer. You can have different types of cores stored in the processor. You can have single core, dual core and a quad core, the bigger you have the better it is. Its main job is to receive input and give the appropriate output. The processor can handle trillions of calculations per second. (Random Access Memory) It is a computer data storage that allows information to be stored and accessed any time and from different locations…

Words 482 - Pages 2

Nt1310 Unit 4 Components

Computer Components: Motherboard: The motherboard is the backbone of the computer and holds all of the other components together. Each motherboard has a heat sink to control the temperature and prevents it from overheating. On the motherboard, there are usually other heat sinks to keep other components cool like the CPU. There are many ports on the motherboard such as; USB, VGA & DVI, Ethernet, RGB and SATA. There are 2 types of USB, 2.0 and 3.0. They use different interfaces for connection of devices…

Words 715 - Pages 3

How computers evolved Essay

about summarize how computers have evolved. A few years ago, we would have never thought that a computer would look so sleek and sophisticated. There is one interesting thing that you need to note about computers. While it was initially launched, it took several years to evolve. But in the 1990s and especially in the new millennium, there has been a great deal of evolution in its design as well as its performance. Evolution of computers has been drastically and dramatic. Computers have been in the existence…

Words 581 - Pages 3

Experiment: Cooling Curve Of An Unknown Substance

October 10, 2013 Experiment 5 - Cooling Curve of an Unknown Substance In this lab, using the computer, we were able to form a line graph showing the decrease of temperature as the substance changed from a solid to a liquid. The cooling curve from the computer showed us what the experimental Melting/Freezing point was, which was 65.2˚C. By using the Known Melting/Freezing Points table, I determined the substance was Palmitic Acid, with an actual Melting/Freezing point at about 62˚C. The percent…

Words 542 - Pages 3