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Introduction to Computers

  • What is a Computer?

    • An electronic calculating machine that:

      • Accepts input information

      • Processes the information per internally stored instructions

      • Produces resulting output information

    • Key Functions:

      • Accepting information as input

      • Storing processing instructions

      • Processing information per instructions

      • Outputting results

Hardware Components

  • Main Components Include:

    • Processor

    • Memory (Hard Disk, DVD ROM, Graphics Card, Ethernet)

  • Study Focus:

    • Internal component schematics

    • Interconnections of components

    • Programming methods

    • Performance improvement

Computer Hardware Components

  • Key Hardware Components of a Computer System:

    • Personal Computer

    • Main System

      • CPU, RAM, disks, etc.

    • Input Devices (keyboard, mouse)

    • Output Devices (monitor, speakers)

    • Input/Output Devices (touchscreen, Ethernet)

Anatomy of a Computer

  • Components:

    • Processor

    • Motherboard

    • Main Memory

    • Disk Drives

    • Expansion Cards

    • I/O Ports

Computer Architecture vs. Computer Organization

  • Computer Architecture (CA):

    • Rules and methods for functionality, management, and implementation of computers

  • Computer Organization (CO):

    • How hardware components are organized and interrelated

Key Differences

  1. Architecture: What the computer does

  2. Organization: How the computer does it

  3. Focus on high-level design vs. low-level design issues

  4. Architecture indicates hardware; Organization indicates performance

Basic Terminology

  • Input: Data entered into the system

  • Data: Symbols representing facts or ideas

  • Information: Processed data stored as bits/bytes (words, numbers, sounds, graphics)

  • Output: Results of processing

  • Processing: Manipulation of data

  • Memory: Temporarily holds data

  • Storage: Permanent data holding area

Programming Languages

  • Assembly Language Program (ALP):

    • Uses mnemonics to write instructions

  • Mnemonic: English-like form of instructions

  • Assembler: Converts ALP to Machine Level Language (MLL)

  • High-Level Language (HLL): Uses English-like statements

  • Compiler: Converts HLL to MLL all at once

  • Interpreter: Converts HLL to MLL statement by statement

Historical Development

  • First Electronic Computers: The ENIAC and EDVAC

    • Proposed by John von Neumann

    • Established foundational computer design still influential today

Von Neumann Architecture

  • Conceptual Model:

    • A processing unit, memory, and I/O mechanisms based on a 1945 description by von Neumann

  • Components of the Architecture:

    • Processing unit with an ALU and registers

    • Control unit, memory for data and instructions, external storage

    • Input and output mechanisms

Information Flow

  • Components connected by wires (bus) for data flow

Units of a Computer

  • Key Units:

    • Control Unit

    • Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU)

    • Memory Unit

    • Input/Output Units

Input Unit Overview

  • Input Devices Include:

    • Keyboard, Mouse, Joysticks, Input Sensors

  • Function:

    • Accepts and processes digital information using connected devices

Output Unit Overview

  • Functionality:

    • Accepts processed binary results and converts to output device formats

Memory Unit Overview

  • Storage of Data:

    • Temporary and Permanent storage through RAM and disk drives

    • Addresses associated with data for retrieval

Main Systems and Disk Drives

  • Types of Secondary Memory:

    • Hard Disks, Floppy Disks, Optical Disks, Solid State Disks

  • Access Speed:

    • Cache (fastest) to Main Memory (slowest)

Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU)

  • Functions:

    • Performs arithmetic and logical operations

    • Operands stored in high-speed storage registers for fast access

Control Unit Overview

  • Operational Summary:

    • Manages inputs, memory, processing (ALU), and outputs

    • Generates timing signals for coordinated operations

Summary

  • Key internal components, input/output devices, von Neumann architecture, and functional units of a computer system discussed.