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Computer Hardware & Processing Inside the Box

Computer Hardware & Processing Inside the Box. CSC 101 1.0 September 16, 2010. Why does computer technology change so quickly. Moore’s law Technology changes every 18 months. The Motherboard. CPU RAM Expansion cards and slots Built-in components. The CPU - Central Processing Unit.

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Computer Hardware & Processing Inside the Box

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  1. Computer Hardware & Processing Inside the Box CSC 101 1.0 September 16, 2010

  2. Why does computer technology change so quickly Moore’s law Technology changes every 18 months

  3. The Motherboard CPU RAM Expansion cards and slots Built-in components

  4. The CPU - Central Processing Unit • Referred to as the “brains” of the computer • Controls all functions of the computer • Processes all commands and instructions • Can perform billions of tasks per second

  5. How fast is a CPU? • Speed • Megahertz (MHz) • Gigahertz (GHz) • System clock • Cores • Single • Dual • Quad

  6. Parts of the CPU

  7. The Machine Cycle

  8. Computer Memory • RAM – Random Access Memory • ROM – Read Only Memory • Cache Memory – very fast memory used by the CPU

  9. ROM • Hard wired at the factory • Cannot be changed • Contains the instructions the computer needs to start

  10. RAM • Volatile – No power, no data • All programs and files must be loaded into RAM to be used • RAM connected to the CPU • Primary storage

  11. How much RAM do you need? It depends on what programs you run Operating system is always in RAM

  12. Virtual Memory • Space reserved on the hard drive • Computer act like it has more memory than it really has • Programs swapped between real memory and virtual memory as needed • Thrashing – computer spends too much time swapping between real and virtual memory

  13. Cache Memory & Registers • Very fast memory • On the CPU chip or in very close proximity • Holds processors immediate results • Holds frequently used instructions

  14. Device/Memory/Storage Hierarchy The higher in the hierarchy, the faster and more expensive memory is

  15. Expansion Slots • Adds versatility and expandability to the system

  16. Video Cards • Process binary data into images • Contain memory known as video memory • Control the number of colors a monitor can display (bit depth) • Standard VGA • True color

  17. Graphics Processing Unit • Performs the same work as a CPU • Specialized to handle • 3D graphics • Image and video processing • CPUs perform better with a GPU handling graphics computation.

  18. Audio Processing • Sound cards • Attach to motherboard • Process digital data into sounds • 3D sound cards • Surround sound • Allow you to connect audio devices

  19. Bus • Move bits between different areas on the motherboard • 32 bit • 64 bit

  20. Ports • Allow peripheral devices to be plugged in • On both front and back of desktop computers • USB • Ethernet • Firewire

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