1. CHAPER 3 COMPUTER HARDWARE

2. Learning Objectives
Identify the major hardware components of a computer
Describe the design and functioning of the central processing unit
Discuss the relationships between microprocessor component designs and performance
Describe the main types of primary and secondary storage
Distinguish between primary and secondary storage along the dimensions of speed, cost, and capacity
Describe the hierarchy of a computer according to power and their respective roles
Differentiate the types of input and output technologies and their uses
Describe what multimedia systems are and what technologies they use
Discuss strategic issues that link hardware design and innovation to competitive business strategy

3. Chapter Overview The Central Processing Unit How the CPU Works
Advances in
Microprocessor
Design
Computer Memory
Memory Capacity
Primary Storage
Secondary Storage
Computer Hierarchy
Supercomputers
Mainframe Computers
Minicomputers
Workstations
Microcomputer
Computing Devices
Input Technologies
Human Data
Entry Devices
Source Data
Automation
Output Technologies
Monitors • Printer
Voice Output
Multifunction
Devices
Multimedia
Strategic
Hardware Issues
Productivity
Changing Work Styles
New Products and
Services
Improve
Communications

4. Case: Cutting Edge Hardware Solutions for the Bellagio Hotel
The Problem
select to assure uptime and minimize the strain on their massive network
tested the capabilities of the Intel Xeon processor
The Solution
Dell PowerEdge 6300 and PowerVault 650F five-channel storage - in addition to a mix of 100 Dell PowerEdge 2200 and 2300 workgroup-level servers
The Results
Able to implement the network they needed to help make this one of the truly great resorts in the world

5. Case (continued…) What have we learned from this case??
selecting the right IT infrastructure
‘out of the box’ thinking - imagining how business processes could ideally be configured and supported, rather than incremental technology-based improvement of an outdated process model
focus on three interrelated factors : capability (power and appropriateness of the task), speed, and cost
evaluating new hardware options and figuring out how to integrate them with existing systems
changing of computer hardware almost always means much of its software needs to be rewritten to run on the hardware’s new operating system

6. The Significance of Hardware
Some basic understanding of computer hardware design and function is essential because firms (and individuals) frequently must assess their competitive advantage in terms of computing capability.

7. Desktop or Portable PC : The Tradeoffs
Desktop Personal Computer
Portable Personal Computer
Impractical for mobile computing
Designed for mobile computing
Lower cost
Higher cost
Easily expanded
Difficult to expand
Comfortable ergonomics
Uncomfortable ergonomics (small keyboard, often with inconvenient placement of function keys)
Easy-to-use mouse or other
pointing device
Awkward pointing devices (some allow
traditional mouse to be connected)
High resolution/brightness monitor
Lower resolution, less bright
High RAM and hard-drive capacity
Somewhat less RAM and hard-drive capacity
Easy serviceability
More difficult to service/repair
Can utilize all current PC chips
Some models cannot use some chips, due
to cooling problems

8. Computer Hardware
The physical equipment used for the input, processing, output, and storage activities of a computer system
Central processing unit (CPU)
Memory (primary and secondary storage)
Input technologies
Output technologies
Communication technologies

9. The Central Processing Unit (CPU)
a microprocessor is made up of millions of microscopic transistors embedded in a circuit on a silicon wafer or “chip”
Control unit
controls the flows of information
Arithmetic-logic unit
performs the arithmetic calculations
Registers
stores very small amounts of data and instructions for short periods of time

10. PRIMARY STORAGE (MAIN MEMORY)
CPU (continued …)
How the CPU Works?
THE MICROPROCESSOR
CONTROL UNIT
ARITHMETIC -
LOGIC UNIT
Instruction
Instruction
Instruction
EDCODE
EXECUTE
FETCH
STORE
INPUT
FROM
SOFTWARE
Instruction
Results
REGISTERS
PRIMARY STORAGE (MAIN MEMORY)

11. CPU (continued …) Advances in Microprocessor Design
increasing miniaturization of transistors
making the physical layout of the chip’s components as compact and efficient as possible
new materials for the chip that improve the conductivity (flow) of electricity
amount of basic instructions programmed into the chip
complex instruction set computing (CISC)
reduced instruction set computing (RISC)

12. Computer Memory
Computer memory affects the type of program it can run and the work it can do, its speed, and both the cost of the machine and the cost of processing data
Memory capacity
bits - ‘0’ or ‘1’
eight bits are needed to represent any one of alphanumeric character or mathematical operation
byte - eight-bit string
kilobyte (KB) - 1,024 bytes (210 bytes)
megabyte (MB) - 1,048,576 bytes (210 x 210 bytes)
most PC have several megabytes of RAM memory
gigabyte (GB) - 1,073,741,824 bytes (210 x 210 x 210 bytes)
hard drive in modern PCs is often more than one GB
terabyte - 1,078,036,791,296 bytes

13. Computer Memory (continued …)
Primary storage
stores for very brief periods of time three types of information
data to be processed by the CPU
instructions for the CPU as to how to process the data
operating system programs that manage various aspects of the computer’s operation
four types of primary storage
registers
random access memory (RAM)
cache memory
read-only memory

14. Computer Memory (continued …)
Secondary storage
stores very large amounts of data for extended periods of time
can have memory capacity of a gigabyte or more
can be non-volatile
takes much more time to retrieve data
can be much more cost effective than primary storage
can take place on a variety of media, each with its own technology

15. Computer Memory (continued …)
Secondary storage (cont’)
Magnetic media - store data via magnetism
Magnetic tape - kept on a large open reel or in a smaller cartridge or cassette
Magnetic disks - allow much more rapid access to the data than does magnetic tape
Hard drive (hard disk) - permanently mounted in a unit that may be internal or external to the computer
Magnetic diskettes (floppy disks) - have much less capacity, ranging from 1.44 megabytes for a standard high-density disk to 200 megabytes for a disk formatted for a zip drive

16. Computer Memory (continued …)
Secondary storage (cont’)
Optical storage devices - a pinpoint laser beam is used to burn tiny holes into the surface of a reflective plastic platter
Compact disk read-only memory (CD-ROM) - high-capacity, low cost, high durability, and read only but not written on
Write once, read many disk (WORM) - can be written on, but requires the laser technology (the “CD burner”) to do so
Rewritable CDs - allow the disk to be written upon and rewritten up to 1,000 times

17. Computer Hierarchy Supercomputer Mainframe Computer
has the most processing power
especially valuable for large simulation models of real-world phenomena
Mainframe Computer
used in large corporations for centralized data processing and maintaining large databases
allowing for data and information to be shared throughout the organization
several hundreds or thousands of online computers can be linked to a mainframe

18. Computer Hierarchy (continued …)
Minicomputers (midrange computer)
perform the same functions as mainframe computers but to a limited extent
designed to accomplish specific tasks such as process control, scientific research, and engineering applications
Workstations
based on RISC (reduced instruction set computer) architecture
provide both very high-speed calculations and high-resolution graphic displays

19. Computer Hierarchy (continued …)
Microcomputers (micros or personal computers, PCs)
Desktop PCs - typical, familiar microcomputer system
modular in design, with separate but connected monitor, keyboard, and CPU
Network computers (NCs) - allow users to access a network
Laptop and Notebook Computers - small, easily transportable, lightweight microcomputers
designed for maximum convenience and transportability
Palmtop Computer - hand-held microcomputers
configured for specific applications and limited in the number of ways they can accept user input and provide output
Personal digital assistants (PDAs) - a computer appliance

20. Computer Hierarchy (continued …)
Computing Devices - ever-smaller computing/communication devices
Wearable computers
free users’ movements
Embedded computers
placed inside other products to add features and capabilities
Active badges
worn as ID cards by employees who wish to stay in touch at all times while moving around the corporate premises
Memory buttons
store a small database relating to whatever it is attached to

21. Input Technologies Human Data Entry Devices
keyboard - designed like a typewriter but with many additional function keys
mice and trackball - used to point a cursor at a desired place on the screen
touch screens - touch the desired area to trigger an action
stylus - a pen-style device
joy stick - used primarily at workstations that can display dynamic graphics
microphone - used to dictate to the computer

22. Input Technologies (continued …)
Source Data Automation
Cash transaction devices
automated teller machines (ATMs)
point-of-sale (POS) terminals
Optical scanners - optical character recognition (OCR) software is used in conjunction with a scanner
bar code scanners
optical mark reader
magnetic ink character readers
Voice recognition
Sensors
Cameras

23. Output Technologies Monitors Printers
the video screen used with most computers that displays input as well as output
Printers
impact printers
like typewriter, using some kind of striking action
non-impact printers
laser printer - uses laser beams to write information
plotters
uses computer-directed pens for creating high-quality images

24. Output Technologies (continued …)
Voice Output
can be played through speakers
Multifunction Devices
combine a variety of technologies - fax, printer, scanner, copy machine, and answering machine
Multimedia
computer-based integration of text, sound, still images, animation, and digitized motion video

25. Strategic Hardware Issues
Productivity
businesses need to assess whether employees’ personal productivity is likely to increase as microprocessor power and speed increase
Changing Work Styles
organizations must consider whether new work styles will benefit employees and the firm as a whole
New Products and Services
organizations should consider whether they are ready and able to take advantage of the advances, and new products and services that hardware may make possible for the business
Improved Communication
businesses need to judge whether they are ready to use multimedia