COMPUTER FUNDAMENTALS
Basic operations performed by all types of computer systems
Basic organization of computer system
Input unit and its functions
Output unit and its functions
Storage unit and its functions
Types of storage used in computer system
Components
Arithmetic Login Unit(ALU)
Control Unit (CU)
Central Processing Unit (CPU)
Computer as a system
Five basic Operations of a computer
System
Inputting- The process of entering data and instructions
into the computer system
Storing – Saving data and instructions to make them
readily available for initial or additional processing
whenever required
Processing – Performing arithmetic operations(add,
subtract,multiply,divide,etc) or logical operations
(comparisions like equal to, less than, greater than, etc)
on data to convert them into useful information
Outputting – The process of producing useful information
or results for the user such as printed report or visual
display
Five basic Operations of a computer
System
Controlling – Directing the manner and sequence in
which all of the above operations are performed
Input Unit
An input unit of computer system performs the following
Functions
1) It accepts (or reads) instructions and data from
outside world
2) It converts these instructions and data in computer
acceptable form
3) It supplies the converted instructions and data to the
computer system for further processing
Output Unit
An output unit of computer system performs the following
Functions
1) It accepts results produced by the computer, which
are in coded form and hence, cannot be easily
understood by us
2) It converts these coded results to human acceptable
(readable) form
3) It supplies the converted results to the outside world
Storage Unit
An output unit of computer system holds or stores the
following
1) Data and instructions required for
processing( received from input devices)
2) Intermediate results of processing
3) Final results of processing, before they are released to
an output device
Primary Storage
Used to hold running program instructions
Used to hold data, results, and results of ongoing
processing of job(s)
Fast in operation
Small Capacity
Expensive
Volatile(looses data on power dissipation)
Secondary Storage
Used to hold stored program instructions
Used to hold data and instructions of stored jobs
Slower than primary storage
Larger capacity
Lot cheaper than primary storage
Retains data even without power
Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU)
Arithmetic Logic Unit of a computer system is the place
where the actual executions of instructions takes place
during processing operation
Control Unit (CU)
Control Unit of a computer system manages and
coordinates the operations of all other components of
the computer system
Central Processing Unit(CPU)
Arithmetic Logic Unit(ALU) + Control Unit(CU) = Central
Processing Unit(CPU)
It is the brain of a computer system
It is responsible for controlling the operations of all the
other units of a computer system
Th e system Concept
A system has following three characteristics:
1) The system has more than one element
2) All the elements of a system are logically related
3) All elements of system are controlled in a manner to achieve the
system goal
A computer is a system as it comprises of integrated
Components (input unit, output unit, storage unit, and CPU)
That work together to perform the steps called for in the
Executing program