Hardware CSCE 101

Electricity: Voltage Gate: A signal enters the gate at a certain voltage. The gate performs operations on it, and sends it out was a new signal. The signals voltage will either be between 0-2 (binary 0), or 2-5 (binary 1) So Binary data is travelling around our computer as a voltage signal

Gates There are different types of gates, to accomplish different types of logic. NOT Gate, which negates the signal AND Gate, which takes two signals and combines them…

Integrated Circuits An integrated circuit is a piece of silicon on which multiple gates have been embedded. (CSI) The integrated circuit consists of pins which are the input and output to gates. The CPU (Central Processing Unit) is an advanced integrated circuit with a large number of pins

Computer Functions Input Process Output Store

Computer Functions Input: Gathers data often from user entry Process: Takes data performs instructions on it, to change it into the desired information Storage: Saves data for use later Output: Displays data in a human readable form

Measurement Units Since we can have large pieces of data we need ways to represent large binary numbers Unit Size Bit (0 or 1) Byte 8 bits Kilobyte (KB) 210 bytes = 1024 bytes Megabyte (MB) 220 bytes = about 1 million bytes Gigabyte (GB) 230 bytes = about 1 billion bytes Terabytes (TB) 240 bytes = about 1 trillion bytes Petabyte (PB) 250 bytes = about quadrillion bytes

Computer Hardware Hardware refers to the physical parts of the computer that can be touched. Examples: mouse keyboard graphics card hard disk drive

Input Devices Devices which let you enter data into the computer keyboard mouse / touchpad microphone scanner game controller stylus

Output Devices Sends data out from the computer to be seen in a human readable way: text, pictures, sound,… Examples: Monitor Printer GPS Speakers

Key Components Inside the Computer Motherboard: Holds the CPU, Memory, system Bus,… Bus: Shared communication channel for the components CPU: Computers Brain RAM: Holds data and instructions for currently running processes Input/Output Processors: Perform input/output related processing

Motherboard Main circuit board that contains the central electronic components of the computer Holds the CPU, memory, connectors for the hard drive, optical drive, video cards,… Connects directly or indirectly to every part of the computer

System Bus Communication link that connects all the different parts of the computer together.

CPU (Central Processing Unit) Also called a processor The brains of the computer Controls functions performed by other components Can perform up to 10s of billions of tasks per second Processor speed is measured in megahertz (MHz) or gigahertz (GHz) Well known manufactures are Intel and AMD

CPU on Motherboard CPU

How Does the CPU Process? The CPU performs the following commands in succession for every instruction Fetch: Get next instruction Decode: Determine what type of instruction Get Data: If external data is needed, it retrieves it Execute: Perform the operation Store: Save result

System Clock Acts as a metronome. Each tick (Clock Cycle) it executes the next instruction The clock speed is measured in Hertz (Hz)

CPU Instruction Cycle Clock Ticks Instruction 1 Instruction 2 Fetch 1 Fetch 1 Decode 2 Execute 3 Store Instruction 2 4 Fetch 5 Decode 6 Execute 7 Store

Single vs. Dual-Core Processor Processors become more efficient when they have multiple core’s. Multiple core’s allow the processor to execute multiple instructions at the same time.

32bit word vs. 64 bit The word size is describing the size of the instructions which can be executed 32 Bit 64 Bit Fetch Cookies Fetch Milk Eat Cookies Eat Milk Fetch Cookies & Milk Eat Cookies & Milk

Memory The computer associates locations (addresses) with contents. Just like your own brain, it has a certain spot where it stores certain information. Address Contents 00000000 11011001 00000001 10010101 00000010 11111101 00000011 10000001 00000100 01011001 00000101 00111001

RAM (Random Access Memory) This memory holds the data the computer is currently using It is called Random Access because you can retrieve any piece of data at any time, you do not need to sequentially retrieve it Much faster to read and write from than the hard drive Temporary or volatile storage, this data is erased when the computer is shut down. Must save to hard drive Measured in megabytes (MB), or gigabytes (GB)

RAM on Motherboard

ROM (Read Only Memory) Memory which holds the startup instructions for the computer The instructions are permanently stored in this memory

Data Storage RAM is useful for temporary storage (volatile) while the computer is running. Once the computer stops all data in RAM is gone We need permanent storage locations such as hard drive, cloud, DVD, or a flash drive

Hard Drive Nonvolatile storage (permanent) Holds programs and data Today’s hard drives have capacities up to 8TB External hard drives can be connected to the computer via a port for additional/backup storage

How Hard Drives Work Data is saved on the disk in a pattern of magnetized spots spot = 1 space = 0 Read write head can fail and lead to disk failures on your computer Binary

Hard Disk Organization When you save information to the hard drive it places the info around the tracks in sectors.

Solid State Drive (SSD) A replacement for hard disk drives They do not have moving parts, so they are less prone to failure Run more efficiently, are less noisy, and emit less heat Exist in your computer, in a drive bay.

Cache This data is more accessible than the RAM This is the information you’re program is currently using and must be readably accessible. Only a small amount of data can be stored here Think of when baking, the few ingredients you bring onto your small table that you want to use now

RAM The RAM holds the data and instructions your computer is currently using. Like the Cache this is volatile, and you need to store it away or it will be deleted when you close your computer Think of this as a temporary shelf, that isn’t as accessible as the table, but is still easy to get to

Hard Disk Here is your permanent storage. All data that you want to save needs to go here. Think of this as your pantry, where you put all your items away at the end of cooking.

Flash Drives External solid state drives Can fit into your pocket

Review http://computer.howstuffworks.com/23-computer-tour-video.htm Here’s a video of by How Stuff Works to review and visualize this pieces inside your computer http://computer.howstuffworks.com/23-computer-tour-video.htm

Inside your Computer

Embedded Systems Computers that are designed to perform a narrow range of functions as part of a larger system (CSI) Basically all our appliances that have digital interfaces

Desktop or Laptop Desktop Laptop Less Portable Less Expensive Harder to steal Easier to expand and upgrade More portable More expensive Easier to steal Harder to upgrade

Taking Apart your Computer Watch a YouTube video on your computer model to see how it is done Make sure you have the right screw drivers Make sure to unplug your computer Don’t lose the screws 