HARDWARE
The physical components of a computer system, in the form of computer hardware.
CPU
The central processing unit (CPU) interprets and carries out the basic instructions that operate a computer.
· Processor – another name for CPU
CPU impacts overall computing power and manages most of a computer’s operations. That is, most of the devices connected to the computer communicate with the CPU in order to carry out a task.
Two components of the CPU that work together to perform processing operations:
1. Control unit
2. Arithmetic/ Logic unit
Control unit
Directs and coordinates most of the operation in the computer.
Four basic operations:
1. Fetching an instruction
2. Decoding the instruction
3. Executing the instruction
4. Storing the result.
Fetching – is the process of obtaining a program instruction or data item from memory.
Decoding – is the process of translating the instruction into commands the computer understands.
Executing- is the process of carrying out the commands.
Storing- is the process of writing the result to memory.
* Instruction Time- the time it takes to fetch also known as I-time.
* Execution Time- the time it takes to decode and execute also known as E-time.
Arithmetic/Logic Unit (ALU)
The ALU performs the arithmetic, comparison, and logical operations.
Arithmetic operations – include addiction subtraction, multiplication and division.
Comparison operations – involve comparing one data item to another to determine if the first item is greater than, equal to, or less than the other item
Logical operations – work with conditions and logical operators such as AND, OR, and NOT.
PIPELINING – the CPU begins executing a second instruction before the first instruction is completed.
System Clock – the CPU relies in a small chip called the system clock
- used to synchronize, or control the timing of, all computer operations
Clock Cycle- Tick
Superscalar- CPU can execute more than one instruction per clock cycle
Clock Speed or Clock Rate- the speed at which a processor executes instructions
Clock speed is measured by megahertz(MHz)
Zero-Insertion Force(ZIF) socket – has a small lever or screw designed to facilitate the installation in removal of processor chip
Three Forms of processor upgrade:
(1) chip for chip
(2) piggyback
(3) daughterboard
Chip For Chip Upgrade- the existing processor chip is replaced with a new one
Piggyback Upgrade- the new processor chip is stacked on top of the old one
Daughterboard Upgrade- the new processor chip is located on a daughterboard
Heat Sink- a small ceramic or metal component with fins on its surface that is designed to absorb and ventilate heat produced by electrical components
Heat Pipe- it cools laptop computers
Coprocessor- another way to increase the performance of a computer
-a special processor chip or circuit board designed to assist the processor in performing specific task
Parallel Processing- method that uses multiple processors simultaneously to execute a program
DATA REPRESENTATION
Analog – it uses continues signal to represent data and information
Digital – only understands two discrete states: on & off
