Computer Hardware: Processing Devices

Processing Devices

• Common processing devices include CPU, GPU, Motherboard, NIC, and Sound card.

CPU (Central Processing Unit)

• The main function of a CPU is to take input (keyboard, mouse, printer, etc.) or computer program and interpret what it needs, then output information (monitor, printer, etc.).
• The first processor released by Intel was the 4004 processor.
• A CPU consists of two primary components:
  • ALU (arithmetic logic unit) - performs mathematical, logical, and decision operations.
  • CU (control unit) - directs all the processor's operations.
• CPUs come in different architectures (32-bit and 64-bit), speeds, and capabilities.

GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) - Video Card

• A GPU is used to create a picture on a display and processes images and video, some of the tasks normally handled by the CPU.
• GPU ports include:
  • DVI (Digital Visual Interface)
  • HDMI (High Definition Multimedia Interface)
  • S-Video (Super Video)
  • VGA (Video Graphics Adapter)
• Some motherboards may also use an onboard video card, which means the video card is not a separate expansion card.

Motherboard

• A motherboard is a printed circuit board and the foundation of a computer, allocating power and allowing communication to and between the CPU, RAM, and all other computer hardware components.

NIC (Network Interface Card)

• A NIC is a computer expansion card for connecting to a network (e.g., home network or Internet) using an Ethernet cable with an RJ-45 connector.

Sound Card

• A sound card is an expansion card or IC (integrated circuit) for producing sound on a computer that can be heard through speakers or headphones.
• Sound card connections include:
  • Digital Out (white or yellow) - Used with surround sound or loudspeakers.
  • Sound in or line in (blue) - Connection for external audio sources, (e.g., tape recorder, record player, or CD player).
  • Microphone or Mic (pink) - The connection for a microphone or headphones.
  • Sound out or line out (green) - The primary sound connection for your speakers or headphones.
  • FireWire (not pictured) - Used with some high-quality sound cards for digital video cameras and other devices.
  • MIDI or joystick (15-pin yellow connector) - Used with earlier sound cards to connect MIDI keyboard or joystick.

Storage: Primary (Temporary)

• Primary storage is temporary and holds data waiting to be processed.
• Types of primary storage include:
  • RAM (Random Access Memory)
  • ROM (Read Only Memory)
  • Cache Memory
  • Buffers

Primary Storage: RAM

• RAM stores volatile data that is constantly cycled in and out and disappears after power is removed.
• RAM directly affects the performance of a computer, as it acts as a middleman between the CPU and non-volatile storage devices.
• Data stored in RAM is available to the CPU quickly, allowing for fast computer operation.
• A minimum of 8 GB of RAM is required for a computer to function fast and smooth, with 16 GB or more needed for intensive use cases.
• RAM is expensive compared to other storage types, but serves an invaluable purpose.

Primary Storage: ROM

• ROM can only be read from the computer, but not written to.
• ROM is non-volatile, meaning it does not lose its data when the power is off.
• ROM is used to store critical and essential data that helps to power-up a computer system and perform an initial hardware test and setup.
• An example of ROM is the BIOS of the computer (Basic Input Output System), which initializes the hardware and helps to start-up the whole computer system.

Primary Storage: Cache Memory and Buffers

• Cache Memory is faster than RAM but has a much smaller storage capacity.
• Buffers are also a type of primary storage.

Permanent Storage Devices

• Non-volatile storage mediums that retain data unless rewritten or deleted
• Categories of permanent storage devices: Magnetic, Flash, Optical, and Online

Magnetic Storage

• Uses electromagnets to create positive or negative charges on the disk surface, read as binary code
• Types of Magnetic Storage:
  • Hard Disk Drive (HDD)
  • Magnetic Tape Device
  • Floppy Disks

Hard Disk Drive (HDD)

• Data is read along concentric circles (tracks) and sectors (wedges)
• Benefits: high storage capacities, low cost, and mainly used for backup and archiving purposes
• Features a rotating head, with specs like 7.5K RPM or 10K RPM (Revolutions Per Minute)

Magnetic Tape Device

• Data is written onto magnetic tape along its length or width
• Advantages: higher storage capacities than hard drives, more reliable than HDDs, and used in academic fields and backup storage systems
• Ongoing research for commercial use

Floppy Disks

• Relied on a magnetic disk read and written via read/write heads
• Historical use: booting up computers (e.g., older computers using MSDOS operating system)
• Limited storage capacity: usually less than 2MB, maxed out at 240 MB

Flash Storage

• Rely on flash memory for fast read/write speeds
• Transistors wired in series on a circuit board enable instant data access
• Types:
  • SSD (Solid State Drive)
  • USB Flash Drive
  • SD Card

Solid State Drive (SSD)

• Higher cost than HDDs with similar storage capacities
• Degrade in memory quality over millions of write operations, but resistant to damage like hard drives
• Advantages: quieter, smaller form factors, and improve portable device battery life due to non-mechanical function

USB Flash Drive

• Portable, pocketable storage solutions that plug into a computer's USB port
• Fast read/write speeds, often used as backup devices for large amounts of data
• Various storage capacities available, although capacities over 256 GB are uncommon

SD Card

• Rely on flash memory and designed for portable devices (e.g., cameras, smartphones)
• Frequently found in laptops and smartphones with SD Card readers
• Offered in various capacities and sizes: full-size SD, miniSD, and microSD cards
• Categorized by read/write speed, ranging from 12.5 MB/s to 3938 MB/s

Optical Disks

• Optical disks feature a spiral track with microscopic pits and bumps that represent binary data.
• The disk rotates at a constant speed while being read by an optical lens, which sends the data to the computer or laptop.
• Types of optical disks include CD, DVD, and BluRay.

CDs

• CDs typically contain audio and small amounts of data, with a limited storage capacity of 700 MB.
• They are inexpensive and take up little space, but are prone to scratches that render the disk unreadable, leading to reliability problems.

DVDs

• DVDs have a spiral track with higher data capacity than CDs, thanks to a finer laser.
• They feature dual layering to increase storage capacity, with an average of 4.7 GB of read/write data.

BluRay Disks

• BluRay disks use layering technology to increase capacity, with a specialized violet laser.
• Storage capacity ranges from 25 GB to 128 GB.
• They are more expensive than CDs and DVDs, but are considered the gold standard of optical media.

Online Storage (Cloud Storage)

• Cloud storage relies on data stored on servers accessible over the Internet.
• Data is stored on multiple servers to ensure 100% uptime and reliability.
• Companies like Amazon, Google, and others offer cloud storage solutions, but costs increase based on overall data storage needs.
• Unavailable internet connections render cloud storage useless, and security is sometimes questionable.

Primary and Secondary Storage

• Primary storage includes RAM, ROM, Cache, and Buffers, and is used to hold data currently in use.
• Secondary storage includes Hard Disk Drive (HDD), Solid State Drive (SSD), CD-Rom, DVD, and Blu-Ray disks, and is used for long-term storage of data and programs that might not be used currently.
• Primary storage provides the fastest data access, but is limited in size and data is lost when power is off.
• Secondary storage is not as fast, but has larger storage capacity and data is not lost when power is off.

Computer Parts

Hardware

• Hardware refers to the physical components of a computer system, including the electronic circuitry and parts.

Inside Hardware

• Components found inside the computer case:
  • Motherboard
  • Central Processing Unit (CPU)
  • Random Access Memory (RAM)
  • Power Supply Unit (PSU)
  • Video card
  • Hard Disk Drive (HDD)
  • Solid-State Drive (SSD)
  • Optical disk drive (e.g., BD/DVD/CD drive)
  • Card reader (SD/SDHC, CF, etc.)

Input & Output Interfaces

• Input hardware: devices that translate data into a form the computer can process (e.g., keyboard, mouse, scanner, camera, etc.)
• Output hardware: devices that translate information processed by the computer into a form humans can understand (e.g., monitor, printer, speakers, etc.)

Outside Hardware

• Components connected to the outside of a computer:
  • Monitor
  • Keyboard
  • Mouse
  • Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS)
  • Flash drive
  • Printer
  • Speakers
  • External hard drive
  • Pen tablet

Input

• Input: raw information entered into a computer from input devices (e.g., keyboard, mouse, scanner, camera, etc.)

Output

• Output: processed data given by the computer after data processing (e.g., monitor, printer, speaker, etc.)

Integrated Hardware

• Components integrated into other devices or replaced with newer technology:
  • Sound card
  • Network Interface Card (NIC)
  • Expansion card (FireWire, USB, etc.)
  • Scanner
  • Webcam
  • Microphone

Auxiliary Hardware

• Additional hardware components:
  • Fan (CPU, GPU, Case, etc.)
  • Heat sink
  • Data cable
  • Power cable
  • CMOS battery
  • Daughterboard

Software

• Software refers to all the instructions that tell the computer how to perform a task
• There are two main types of software: system software and application software

System Software

• Helps the computer perform essential operating tasks and enables the application software to run
• Provides a platform for other software to run on
• Acts as the interface between the hardware and the end users
• Examples: macOS, GNU/Linux, Android, iOS, and Microsoft Windows

Features of System Software

• Closeness to the system
• Fast speed
• Difficult to manipulate
• Written in low-level language
• Difficult to design

macOS

• Previously known as Mac OS X and later OS X
• A proprietary graphical operating system developed and marketed by Apple since 2001
• The primary operating system for Apple's Mac computers
• The second most widely used desktop OS in the market of desktop and laptop computers

GNU/Linux

• A free software, mass collaboration project
• Goal: to give computer users freedom and control in their use of their computers and computing devices
• Collaboratively develops and publishes software that gives users the rights to freely run, copy, distribute, study, and modify it
• GNU software grants these rights in its license
• Can be run by combining the GNU packages with the Linux kernel

Android and iOS

• Android: a mobile operating system developed by Google, based on a modified version of the Linux kernel and other open source software
• Designed primarily for touchscreen mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets
• iOS: a mobile operating system created and developed by Apple Inc.
• Formerly known as iPhone OS

Application Software

• Enables users to perform specific tasks, solve problems, perform work, or entertain themselves.

Classification of Application Software

• By property and use rights:
  • Closed source, proprietary software (e.g. Microsoft Office)
  • Open source, free software (e.g. Open Office)
• By coding language:
  • Web applications (written with HTML, JavaScript, and other web-native technologies)
  • Traditional native applications (written in various languages for specific computer types)
• By purpose and output:
  • Information worker software
  • Entertainment software
  • Educational software
  • Infrastructure software
  • Simulation software
  • Media development software
  • Product engineering software
  • Software engineering software

Information Worker Software

• Accounting software
• Enterprise resource planning (ERP) software
• Data management software
• Financial software (e.g. banking, clearing systems, day trading)
• Documentation software (e.g. document automation, word processing, desktop publishing)
• Project management software (e.g. calendaring, employee scheduling, workflow)

Entertainment and Educational Software

• Screen savers
• Video games (e.g. arcade, console, mobile, PC games)
• Software art (e.g. demo, 64K intro)
• Classroom management software
• Reference software
• Sales readiness software
• Survey management software
• Encyclopedia software

Infrastructure and Simulation Software

• Artificial Intelligence for IT Operations (AIOps) software
• Business workflow software
• Database management system (DBMS) software
• Digital asset management (DAM) software
• Document management software
• Geographic information system (GIS) software
• Computer simulators
• Scientific simulators
• Social simulators
• Battlefield simulators
• Emergency simulators
• Vehicle simulators
• Simulation games

Media Development Software

• 3D computer graphics software
• Animation software
• Graphic art software (e.g. raster graphics editor, vector graphics editor)
• Image editing software
• Video editing software
• Audio editing software (e.g. digital audio workstation)
• Music sequencer software
• Scorewriter software

Classification of Computers by Size and Capacity

• Supercomputers:

  • Most powerful computers in terms of performance and data processing
  • Specialized and task-specific computers used by large organizations
  • Used in research and study of energy and nuclear weapons, designing aircraft, and climate research

• Mainframes (Server):

  • Used by large firms and government organizations to run business operations
  • Can process and store large amounts of data
  • Mainly used by departmental and commercial organizations like banks, companies, and scientific research centers
  • Can work for 24 hours, with hundreds of users working simultaneously

• Minicomputers (Server):

  • Digital and multi-user computer system with multiple CPUs
  • Allows multiple users to work simultaneously
  • More functional power than microcomputers, but less than mainframe and supercomputers
  • Can process with other accessories like printers and plotters

• Microcomputers (Client):

  • Include desktop computers, personal digital assistants, tablets, smartphones, and gaming consoles
  • Widely used and fastest growing type of computers
  • Designed for general usage like entertainment, education, and work purposes
  • Well-known manufacturers include Dell, Apple, Samsung, and Toshiba

Microcomputers: Mini PC’s

• Designed for single user at a time
• Used by individual departments of a large company or organization for specific purposes
• Less powerful than minicomputers

Comparison of Computer Categories

• Size and Capacity: Supercomputers (large), Mainframes (large), Minicomputers (middle), Microcomputers (small)
• Server: Supercomputers (no), Mainframes (yes), Minicomputers (yes), Microcomputers (not preferred)
• Tasks and Users: Supercomputers (specific), Mainframes (multi), Minicomputers (multi), Microcomputers (general)
• Cost: Supercomputers (high), Mainframes (high), Minicomputers (middle), Microcomputers (low)

Network Basics

• A network is a communication system that connects two or more computers.
• It can be classified into three categories: LAN, MAN, and WAN.

Local Area Network (LAN)

• Connects devices such as desktop PCs and printers in an office or building through cables.
• Typically maintained within a building or small campus.

Metropolitan Area Network (MAN)

• A data network that serves a large city area.
• Connects LANs together within a city.
• Implemented using innovative techniques, such as running optical fiber through subway tunnels.

Wide Area Network (WAN)

• A communications network that spans a larger geographic area than a LAN.
• Uses devices such as telephone lines, satellite dishes, or radio waves to connect LANs together across the country.

Network Connection

• Requires an access device (e.g., personal computer with a NIC).
• Physical connection can be through a wired (cable) or wireless LAN.
• MAN and WAN connections require an Internet Service Provider (ISP).

Internet Service Provider (ISP)

• A company that connects users to its servers through their network connection.
• Allows users to connect to MAN, WAN, and the Internet.
• WAN connections can also connect to other WANs through global broadband service companies.

The Internet

• A global system of interconnected computer networks.
• Uses WAN to communicate between networks and devices.