Introduction to Information Technology, 2

nd
Edition
Turban, Rainer & Potter
2003 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
3-1
Introduction to Information Technology

2
nd
Edition
Turban, Rainer & Potter
2003 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Computer Hardware
Prepared by:
Roberta M. Roth, Ph.D.
University of Northern Iowa
Introduction to Information Technology, 2
nd
Edition
Turban, Rainer & Potter
2003 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
3-2
Chapter Preview
In this chapter, we will study:
The hardware components of an information
system:
CPU (central processing unit)
Memory (primary and secondary storage)
Input devices
Output devices.
The classification of computers by power.
Strategic issues regarding hardware.
Introduction to Information Technology, 2
nd
Edition
Turban, Rainer & Potter
2003 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
3-3
The Central Processing Unit (CPU)
Input
Devices
Secondary
Storage
Output
Devices
Control
Unit
Primary
Storage
ALU
Registers
The CPU
Communication
Devices
Introduction to Information Technology, 2
nd
Edition
Turban, Rainer & Potter
2003 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
3-4
The CPU (continued)
A microprocessor that executes instructions
to perform processing tasks. Component
parts are:
Control Unit
Arithmetic-Logic Unit
Registers
Primary Storage
Control
Unit
Primary
Storage
ALU
Registers
The CPU
Introduction to Information Technology, 2
nd
Edition
Turban, Rainer & Potter
2003 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
3-5
The CPU (continued)
Control Unit
Access program instructions
Decode (interpret)
instructions
Control flow of data
throughout system
Data flows through paths
called buses
Control
Unit
Primary
Storage
ALU
Registers
The CPU
Introduction to Information Technology, 2
nd
Edition
Turban, Rainer & Potter
2003 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
3-6
The CPU (continued)
Arithmetic-Logic Unit
Perform computations on data
Perform comparisons on data
Control
Unit
Primary
Storage
ALU
Registers
The CPU
Introduction to Information Technology, 2
nd
Edition
Turban, Rainer & Potter
2003 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
3-7
The CPU (continued)
Registers
High speed storage areas
Hold data and instructions
Control
Unit
Primary
Storage
ALU
Registers
The CPU
Introduction to Information Technology, 2
nd
Edition
Turban, Rainer & Potter
2003 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
3-8
The CPU (continued)
Primary Storage (Main Memory)
Stores instructions from programs
Stores data to be processed
Control
Unit
Primary
Storage
ALU
Registers
The CPU
Introduction to Information Technology, 2
nd
Edition
Turban, Rainer & Potter
2003 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
3-9
The CPU (continued)
Machine Instruction Cycle
An instruction is fetched from primary storage
by the Control Unit
The Control Unit decodes the instruction
The ALU receives the data and the instruction
and performs the calculation or comparison
The result is stored in primary storage.
Introduction to Information Technology, 2
nd
Edition
Turban, Rainer & Potter
2003 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
3-10
The CPU (continued)
Computer performance is measured in part by
the number of Machine Instruction Cycles
performed per second.
Factors affecting this performance include:
Clock Speed
Word Length
Bus Width
Line Width
Introduction to Information Technology, 2
nd
Edition
Turban, Rainer & Potter
2003 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
3-11
The CPU (continued)
Microprocessors evolved rapidly due to
Miniaturation of transistors
Decreasing distance between transistors on the
chip (decreasing line width)
Improved conductivity (flow) of electricity
Improved instruction sets programmed into
the chip.
Smaller, faster, cheaper, more powerful
chips with each generation.
Introduction to Information Technology, 2
nd
Edition
Turban, Rainer & Potter
2003 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
3-12
Computer Memory
Input
Devices
Secondary
Storage
Output
Devices
Control
Unit
Primary
Storage
ALU
Registers
The CPU
Communication
Devices
Introduction to Information Technology, 2
nd
Edition
Turban, Rainer & Potter
2003 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
3-13
Computer Memory Basics
Computers are digital, and represent data in bit
patterns
Bit is shorthand for Binary digIT. The binary
system consists of two values: 0 & 1
8 bits = byte
Bytes are the basic measure of storage in
computers
ASCII Code assigns a unique character to each
pattern of 0s &1s in a byte.
Kilobytes, Megabytes, Gigabytes, Terabytes
Introduction to Information Technology, 2
nd
Edition
Turban, Rainer & Potter
2003 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
3-14
Primary Storage (Main Memory)
Main memory is a temporary storage area
that holds three things
information you are working with
the application software you are using
the operating system software
Increasing memory capacity increases the
performance of the system
Introduction to Information Technology, 2
nd
Edition
Turban, Rainer & Potter
2003 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
3-15
Primary Storage (Main Memory)
Types of Primary Storage
Registers part of the CPU; very fast; very limited capacity
Random Access Memory (RAM) memory chips on
motherboard; general storage of program instructions and data;
volatile
Cache Memory faster than RAM; used to provide
intermediate storage between secondary storage and RAM
Read-only Memory (ROM) chips storing permanent
instructions needed by computer; non-volatile
Introduction to Information Technology, 2
nd
Edition
Turban, Rainer & Potter
2003 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
3-16
Secondary Storage
Non-volatile storage of data and
instructions
Huge storage capacity
Cheaper than Primary Storage
Slower than Primary Storage
Magnetic and optical storage media
Introduction to Information Technology, 2
nd
Edition
Turban, Rainer & Potter
2003 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
3-17
Secondary Storage Types
Magnetic tape
Cheap, slow, sequential access: good for backup
Magnetic Disk
Floppy
Hard disk
Zip drive
Memory Cards and Cartridges
Optical
CD-ROM, CD-RW
DVD
FMD-ROM
Introduction to Information Technology, 2
nd
Edition
Turban, Rainer & Potter
2003 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
3-18
Storage for the Enterprise
Enterprise Storage Systems provide
coordinated, secure, managed storage for all
enterprise data.
Redundant array of independent disks (RAID)
Storage area network
Network-attached storage
Storage Service Providers third party
storage utilities