Computer Systems Unit 2

Download the unit specification from moodle or the BTEC website Or alternatively visit ahmedictlecturer.wikispaces.com

1. Understand the components of computer systems Internal system unit components: Peripherals: Backing storage: Operating system software: Software utilities:

Internal system unit components: Processors; motherboard; BIOS; power supply; fan and heat sink or cooling; hard drive configuration and controllers eg SATA, IDE, EIDE, master, slave; ports eg USB, parallel, serial internal memory eg RAM, ROM, cache; specialized cards eg network, graphic cards

Processor CPU – Central processing unit Processes data Controls flow of data to specific devices Task 1: List and name few processors that are currently available.

Heat Sink – Helps to cool the CPU & not overheat PC FAN – to keep the internal components cool by ventilating air

RAM & ROM RAM: Random Access Memory Data held is volatile – i.e loses data when the power is OFF ROM: Read only memory Data held is non volatile (retainable)

BIOS Basic input / output system Stored on a ROM Checks the actual Hardware (HW) configuration Handles the I/O of the PC allowing the OS to use features of the HW

Cache memory Acts as a buffer between the CPU and the RAM in order to have quick access to commonly used data Internal Cache is located inside the CPU: also known as primary cache or Level 1 cache External cache located on the motherboard between the CPU and RAM. Also knows as secondary or level 2 cache

PSU - Power supply Unit

Network Interface Card (NIC)

Graphics Card Due to advancement of the graphical nature of applications; graphic cards also include it’s own CPU – commonly know as GPU

Motherboard Most important component It is a printed circuit board (PCB) that accommodates all the essential parts of the PC and provides the connection between these components

Components together

Report writing…..aiming towards P1 Of all the components discussed today write in your own words explaining what each of these components do and how do they communicate with each other. Use diagrams to aid your explanation.