Hardware

Computer Hardware Components

Computer Hardware

includes

  • input device

  • output devices

  • storage devices

  • processing components

System Unit

The system unit (chassis/tower) houses critical hardware components and contains the motherboard - the main circuit board connecting all components.

Key Components:

  • Motherboard with CPU socket, chipset, and expansion slots

    • connects and allows communication between all computer components

    • contains CPU socket

    • chipset

    • expansion slots: PCIe, PCI

    • power connectors

    • ports: USB, HDMI, etc

  • Power Supply Unit (PSU)

  • Storage devices (HDD/SSD)

  • Optical drives (where applicable)

CPU (Central Processing Unit)

The CPU is the brain of the computer, executes instructions and manages data processing, containing:

  • Control Unit (CU): Interprets and directs operations

  • Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU): Performs calculations

  • Registers: Temporary data storage

Performance Factors:

  • Clock Speed (measured in GHz)

    • higher speed=more instructions per second

  • Number of cores (single-core to multi-core)

  • word length: the number of bits that can be processed by the CPU at any one time

    • bit: smallest unit of information the computer can process

    • byte: a group of 8 bits

  • bus width: the size of the internal electrical pathway along which signals are sent, wider=more data

  • chip line width: the distance between transistors on a chip, shorter=faster the chip

CPU architecture

Complex instructions set computer (CISC)

a type of CPU chip that can recognize as many as 100 or more instructions

Reduced instruction set computer

a type of CPU chip that limits the number of instructions the CPU can execute to increase processing speed (usually runs faster than CISC)

Memory Types

Primary Memory:

  • Registers: fastest, located within the CPU

  • RAM (Random Access Memory): Volatile(loses data when power is off), temporary storage

    • dynamic RAM (DRAM): requires frequent refreshing, used in main memory

    • Static RAM (SRAM): does not require refreshing, used in cache, faster

  • Cache Memory: Fast access, close to CPU

    • L1 cache: closest to CPU core, small fast

    • L2 cache: larger, slightly slower, shared between cores

    • L3 cache: largest, shared by all cores, slower

  • ROM (Read-Only Memory): Non-volatile(doesn’t loose data), permanent storage

    • PROM: programmable once

    • EPROM: erasable and reprogrammable

    • EEPROM: electronically erasable, commonly used for firmware

  • secondary storage: SSD, HDDS, less expensive

Secondary Storage:

Hard Disk Drives (HDD):

  • platters: stores data magnetically

  • read/write heads: access data on the platter

  • actuator arm: moves the read/write heads over platters

  • spindle: rotates platter at high speeds

  • High capacity, lower cost

Solid State Drives (SSD):

  • Flash memory, no moving parts

  • Faster access times

  • More expensive per GB

Serial Advanced technology attachment (SATA)

these SSD’s connect solid-state drives to the motherboard.

  • better read/write speeds>HDDS

  • cost effective

  • SATA III (6Gbps): used in modern systems

Non-Volatile Memory express (NVME)

use PCIe (peripheral component interconnect express) interface gor high speed memory

  • quick access

  • higher cost

SATA vs. NVMe SSDs:



Feature SATA III SSD NVMe SSD

Max Speed

~600 MB/s

~4 GB/s

Queue Depth

32 commands

65,536 commands

Use Case

General storage

High-performance computing

Cloud storage

  • digital storage

  • save data on remote servers

  • accessible through internet unlike HDD or SSD

  • public cloud: hosted by third party providers (google drive, dropbox)

  • private cloud: single organization, enhanced security

  • hybrid cloud: combined, allows data to be stored across both

Input/Output Devices

Input Devices:

  • Keyboard and Mouse

  • Scanner and Microphone

  • Specialized devices

    • optical character recognition (converts printed text to digital format)

    • barcode scanner

    • RFID scanner (use radio waves to track items)

Output Devices:

  • Monitors

    • Cathode Ray Tube (CRT)

      • older, bulkier technology

    • Liquid Crystal Display Monitors (LCD)

      • thin-panel technology

      • improved energy efficiency over CRT

    • Light Emitting Diode Monitors (LED)

      • A type of LCD monitor that uses LED lighting

      • better colors

      • brightness control

      • reduced environmental impact

  • Printers

    • laser

      • high quality, fast, text and graphics

    • inkjet printer

      • versatile, affordable, photo printing

    • 3D