Understanding Computers

Understanding Computers

“Getting Inside the Computer”

Computer Hardware

Real Estate?

• Motherboard = real estate

Power

• Integrated circuits = power lines

Cheese Wagons

• Buses = mass transportation

Buildings

• Memory Chips & Adapters = buildings

Integrated Circuits

A super thin slice of semi–conducting material packed with microscopic circuit elements such as wires, transistors, capacitors, logic gates, and resistors. Bits are represented as electrical pulses that travel over these circuits.

Also called a chip, microchip Also called a chip, microchip and computer chip.and computer chip.

Integrated Circuit Uses

• Processors • Memory• Support circuitry

Chip Chip

PackagePackage

ISA

• Industry Standard Architecture– Mouse, Speakers– ISA only– Large

PCI

• Peripheral Component Interconnect– Sound, Video, Network– PCI Only– “Plug & Play”

AGP

• Accelerated Graphic Port– 3D graphics & video– Gaming– Small

Processor Packages

• DIPs (dual in-line packages)

– Has 2 sets of rows of pins that connect IC circuitry to a circuit board (“caterpillar”)

Processor Packages

• DIMMs (dual in-line memory modules)– A small circuit board containing

several chips (used for memory purposes)

Processor Packages

• PGAs (Pin-grid arrays)– A square chip package with pins

arranged in squares (typically used for processors)

Processor Packages

• SECs (single-edge contact cartridges)– Houses a circuit board and

processor chip

Resist, Trans & Capac

• Resistor: limit flow of elec. to circuit

• Capacitor: hold charge & work w/ transistor to hold bits

• Transistor: open & close circuits of computer

Refresher

• PC = – Ex: Desktop, Notebook, Tablet,

Handheld

• CPU = – “Brains of computer”

• Input vs. Output– Example of devices…

INPUT

OUTPUT

Refresher

• Processing =

• Processor =

• System unit =

• Storage devices =

Manipulation of data

Processor Performance

• Speed: processor clock set clock speed (MHz or GHz )

• MHz = ???– Mega hertz

Motherboards

• Companies– ASUS Tek, Chaintech, Intel

Motherboards

• Names– AT, Baby-AT, ATX, mini-ATX