Topic 3 Module Title

Computer Systems
Topic 3:
Computer Hardware
© NCC Education Limited

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Scope and Coverage

This topic will cover:

• Component Architecture:
• CPU (re-cap)
• Memory (Cache, RAM, ROM)
• Backing storage (Internal & External HDD)
• Power supplies and Cooling
• Interfaces & Expansion (Networking, Graphics, Sound)
• Component Identification (PC lab)

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Learning Outcomes

By the end of this topic students will be able to:

• Explain the hardware, software and peripheral
components of a computer system.
• Build and configure a computer system to meet
a design specification.

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CPU Re-cap…

• In the last Lecture (#2) we looked at:

• The Central Processing Unit (CPU)
• The Von Neumann architecture
• The Fetch-Decode-Execute cycle
• If the CPU is the ‘brain’, we now look at the
‘body’ of a typical computer – the hardware that
comes together build a working computer

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CPU Re-cap…

• Von Neumann Architecture

Maths Co-Processor?

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CPU Architectures

• Just as different human brains are ‘wired’

differently, so too can computer ‘brains’.
• CPUs are based on different ‘architectures’.
• The chosen CPU architecture will affect:
– Physical CPU structure and layout
– Logical CPU operations and sequencing of tasks
– Overall performance of the computer
– See…
https://www.cl.cam.ac.uk/teaching/1415/L25/4ModernProcessorArchitectures.pdf
https://www.intel.com/content/dam/www/public/us/en/documents/white-papers/ia-introduction-basics-paper.pdf

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Meet the Motherboard

• Like a human brain, the CPU needs to physically

reside somewhere - the ‘motherboard’…

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Mount the Motherboard

Related Concepts…
• ZIF (Zero Insertion Force)
• ZIF Socket
• Surface Mount Packaging
• BGA socket
• DIP socket
• And others…

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Beyond the CPU…

• The CPU needs a lot of assistance

• Lots of other components on the motherboard
• Just look at them all on this motherboard…

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Never Forget…

• It is necessary to store (and recall) program

instructions and data - both whilst they are in
use and over longer periods.
• Several broad classifications of memory:
1. Primary Storage: To be accessed ‘right here, right now’ by
CPU
2. Secondary Storage: To be accessed ‘as and when needed’
by CPU
3. Archived Storage: To be accessed (or not) at some unknown
time

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Thanks for the Memory

• Also called ‘main memory’

• Implemented as ‘solid state’ (electronic) random
access memory (RAM)
• RAM is fast, small with low power consumption,
but relatively expensive (cost per bit) and volatile
(data is lost when switched off)
• Like a CPU, it is build as an IC (integrated
circuit)

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Thanks for the Memory

• Two basic RAM technologies:

• Static RAM (SRAM) – uses a flip-flop circuit and
remembers as long as it has power but costs more
• Dynamic RAM (DRAM) – uses a capacitor to hold
charge, which leaks out so needs refreshing but
costs less
• Most PC systems (and games consoles etc) use
dynamic RAM because of cost.
http://computer.howstuffworks.com/ram.htm

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Thanks for the Memory

• Modern computers have multiple Gigabytes (GB) of

RAM in a small number of chips mounted on a circuit
board package called a ‘dual in-line memory module’
(DIMM) which mount in slots on the motherboard.
• There is also ‘single in-line memory module’ (SIMM)

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ROM stands Firm

• ROM: Read Only Memory
• Also known as ‘firmware’
• A variation on the previous main memory
• The data or program instructions are built into the
chips when they are made and cannot be changed
• Non-volatile – will retain data when power removed
• Used for code that does not change, such as PC
BIOS
http://computer.howstuffworks.com/rom.htm

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ROM Variations

• PROM – Programmable ROM – made as a

“blank” which can then be programmed once or
“burned” (after which it can not be changed).
• EPROM – Erasable PROM – made blank,
programmed like PROM but can be erased
(blanked) usually using UV light.

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ROM Variations
• EEPROM – Electrically Erasable PROM – usually
read only, but can be erased and re-written. This is
very slow compared with normal RAM and there is a
limit to the number of cycles (changes) that can be
made before the unit fails. It is useful for configuration
settings which do not change very often.

• Flash Memory – a variation of EEPROM that can be

changed more easily and quickly – has a much higher
cycle limit (currently about 1 million cycles) – used in
cameras, PDAs, MP3 players and USB flash drives
(memory sticks) etc.

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Secondary Storage – Hard Disks

• Also called backing store - normally implemented

as a hard-disk drive (HDD)

• Non-volatile, low cost per bit, high power

consumption, many times slower than RAM
• Originally developed by IBM for mainframes - been
massive advances in data storage density and
overall capacity – even in laptops and desktops
http://computer.howstuffworks.com/hard-disk1.htm

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Secondary Storage – Hard Disks

• HDD capacity now multi-terabytes (TB)

• Multiple ‘platters’ are held in a stack, coated with
a magnetic material, and divided into sectors,
tracks and clusters
• These partitioned platter surfaces can be
magnetised in two ways – giving binary storage
• A read/write head hovers over the spinning disk
surfaces and through electro-magnetism can
detect (read) the values or record (write)new data
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Secondary Storage – Solid State Disks

• SSD capacity multi-terabytes (TB)

• Uses interconnected flash-memory chips, not
magnetic media, to store data.
• No moving parts, SSDs can deliver improved
reliability.
• Significant increase in the performance of a
computer equipped with an SSD.
• SSDs consume far less power than traditional
hard drives.

https://computer.howstuffworks.com/solid-state-drive.htm

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Secondary Storage – Optical Disks

• Originally based on Compact Disk (CD) technology from

the music industry – have variations like CD-R
• Then came Digital Versatile Disk (DVD) from the movie
industry - due to higher data compression and thus storage
capacity
• Now we have Blu-ray disks
• Hard disks (HDD) use spots of magnetism to store data
• Optical disks use spots of light – as reflective disk surface
stamped with “pits” and “lands”- giving a binary storage
system - read by bouncing a laser off the surface and
detecting changes in reflection from pits and lands
http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/cd.htm
http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/dvd.htm
http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/blu-ray.htm

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Secondary Storage – Flash

• Use flash RAM technology as secondary storage

• Common examples include USB memory stick
and camera data cards
• Should be regarded as temporary storage as they
are less reliable long term than hard disk or optical
storage
• Subject to physical damage

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Archived Storage

• Sometimes you have data that you don’t need right

now or may never need again – but for some
reason, it needs to be retained
• Over time, that volume of data will get very large
which means the storage solution needs to be
cheap and scalable
• You could therefore use:
– Magnetic tape
– DVD
– Cloud-based storage

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Interconnection – Buses

• The interconnection between parts of a computer

is called a bus (for obvious reasons)
• There are three buses in a computer system…

1. Data Bus
2. Address Bus
3. Control Bus

There is also power distribution, but this is not called a bus

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Expansion Slots

• From the very first IBM PC, the facility to add extra
devices via plug-in expansion cards/slots has
provided a high degree of flexibility
• Many devices that used to be provided on
expansion cards are now usually built into the core
motherboard
• Sound, network interface, graphics etc
• But expansion slots are still important for new
technologies and upgrades
https://computer.howstuffworks.com/pc.htm#pt2

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Expansion Slots

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Expansion Slots

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Buses – Peripheral Connections

• There have been a number of different ways of
connecting peripherals to PCs
– Originally parallel port and RS232 serial port
– Now commonly Universal Serial Bus (USB)
• Many generations: USB 1.x, USB 2.0, USB 3.0 etc.
– Less commonly Firewire
• An Apple trademark - properly known as IEEE 1394

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Power Supply (PSU)

• All PCs need power

• Usually comes from:
– Mains electricity
– Battery (laptops etc.)

• Modern power supplies will detect input voltage

• Better supplies have modular cable systems,
allowing you to just use the cables you need
• Heed health & safety warnings!

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Cooling

• Computers use a lot of power - ends up as heat!

• Heat is very bad for computers – causing
processors and other components to fail
• It is usual to have a number of fans:
– Case fan
– Processor fan
– Graphics processor fan
– PSU fan
• In general, larger fans move more air, so they can
run slower, which makes them quieter

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Graphics Cards
• Produce the image that you see on the screen
• One major manufacturer of graphics processors is
Nvidia (https://www.nvidia.com/en-gb/)
• Most motherboards now have a graphics chip set
built in, which is fine for office use but will struggle
with games
• Hence the popularity of specialised games
consoles – optimised for graphics processing

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Sound Cards

• The original IBM PC could only beep

• Sound cards were common additions
• Creative Labs (https://uk.creative.com/) have been at
the forefront of sound card technology for many years
• Now, sound is built in to the vast majority of
motherboards
• Not always very good quality
• OK for MS-Windows sound effects but not very good
for music - better speakers may improve things
more than changing the sound card

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Network Interface Card (NIC)

• The vast majority of computers are now networked

• Most PCs will have at least one network interface build into
the motherboard
• Usually Ethernet running at 100Mbps or gigabit Ethernet at
1000Mbps
• May also have a wireless Ethernet (Wi-Fi, 802.11 a/b/g/n)
interface for connecting to wireless access points
• Can still get separate network interface cards, allowing
upgrade of older systems or the installation of multiple
cards for building firewalls, bridges and routers

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References

• http://computer.howstuffworks.com/computer-hardware-
channel.htm
• https://www.computerhope.com/
• http://www.learning-about-computers.com/

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Topic 3 Module Title

Topic 3 – Computer Hardware

Any Questions?

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