chapter 3

Introduction to Information TechnologyTurban, Rainer and Potter

Chapter 3 Computer Hardware

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CHAPER 3COMPUTER HARDWARE



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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



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Chapter OverviewThe 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

StrategicHardware Issues• Productivity• Changing Work Styles• New Products and Services• Improve Communications



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The Problem

Case: Cutting Edge Hardware Solutions for the Bellagio Hotel

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



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What have we learned from this case??

Case (continued…)

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ideally be configured and supported, rather than incremental technology-based improvement of an outdated process model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



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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.



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Desktop or Portable PC : The TradeoffsDesktop 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 otherpointing device

Awkward pointing devices (some allowtraditional 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, dueto cooling problems



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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



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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

The Central Processing Unit (CPU)



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CPU (continued …)

How the CPU Works?THE MICROPROCESSOR

CONTROL UNIT ARITHMETIC -LOGIC UNIT

PRIMARY STORAGE (MAIN MEMORY)

REGISTERS

EDCODE EXECUTE

FETCH STORE

Instruction

Instruction Instruction Instruction

ResultsINPUTFROM

SOFTWARE



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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)



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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

Computer Memory



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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

Computer Memory (continued …)



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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



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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



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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



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Computer Hierarchy Supercomputer

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



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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



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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



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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



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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



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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



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Monitors 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

Output Technologies



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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



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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

chapter 3

Documents

computer hardware solutions

potter chapter

edge hardware

information technology

new hardware options

major hardware components

problem introduction

world introduction