The Internal Functioning of the Computer

Internal functioning of a computer:

The cabinet of a personal computer is a true center of information processing.

what

1. receives data from the outside through input peripherals;

2. it processes them through the microprocessor;

3. stores them in storage devices, and

4. it sends them abroad through the output peripherals.

The route of information:

1. Input: The information enters the cabinet through the connections or ports (ports
parallel, MIDI port, internet connections, etc.), or storage media (floppy disk, CD-
ROM, etc.). For example, suppose that by using a word processor (a program), you open a
text (information) stored on a floppy disk.

2. Distribution: The information is distributed within the cabinet through the circuits of the board.
mother and the data buses. Most of that information goes to the RAM, and from
there to the microprocessor. Continuing with the example, the text travels through the data bus of the floppy disk to the
RAM memory, and from there to the microprocessor.

3. Processing: The microprocessor extracts data from memory and modifies it according to a
a series of instructions given by a program. For example, when a word is selected and it
it goes bold, that is an instruction (change to bold) that the word processor (the program)
gives it to the microprocessor. It extracts the word from the text (which is in the RAM) and modifies it
and it is recorded again modified (in the RAM). As this memory is very fast, the
the modification is immediately reflected on the monitor, but it has not yet been saved in the
floppy or on the hard drive, so that if the power supply is interrupted they will lose
the information said modification.

4. Storage: There are two types of information storage: 1.- storage

temporary, which occurs in the RAM while processing is being done, and 2.- the
permanent storage, which is carried out on a storage device when it
partially or totally ends the processing. For example, if they are writing a report of three
pages, they can save it to the hard drive.

5. Output: It has to do with how the results of the processing are visualized or perceived. There are two
output classes: 1.- real-time output, that is, as processing is carried out, and 2.-
the final output, when the processing was finished. For example, see on the monitor the words that are going
writing (real time) and the printing of the finished report (final output).

A computer is a digital system with microelectronic technology capable of processing data.

starting from a set of instructions called a program. The basic structure of a
computer includes microprocessor (CPU), memory and input/output devices. The
main characteristic that distinguishes it from other similar devices, such as a calculator not
programmable, it can perform very diverse tasks by loading different programs into the
memory for the processor to execute.

Data is a set of symbols used to express or represent a numerical value.

a fact, an object, or an idea, in the proper form to be subjected to treatment. For example
These are the data: the address of a person, the NIF, the fact that a sale has been made, among others.
others.

The Input - Internal functioning of the computer

The information enters the cabinet through the connections or ports (parallel ports, port
MIDI, internet connections, etc.), or storage media (floppy disk, CD-ROM, etc.). Therefore
example, suppose that, using a word processor (a program), you open a text (information)
what is stored on a floppy disk.

What is Software?

The software or logical support of a computer system includes the set of

necessary logical components that make the execution of specific tasks possible,
contraposition to the physical components, which are called hardware.

Software Classification

System software: Its purpose is to properly disengage the user from the programmer.
details of the computer system in particular that is used, isolating it especially from the
processing related to the internal characteristics of: memory, disks, ports, and devices of
communications, printers, screens, keyboards, etc.

Operating systems

Device drivers
Programming software: It is the set of tools that allow the programmer to develop
computer programs, using different alternatives and programming languages, of a
practical way.

Text editors

Compilers

Application software: It is the one that allows users to carry out one or more tasks.
specific, in any field of activity susceptible to being automated or assisted, with special
emphasis on business

Applications for Control of Systems and Industrial Automation

Office applications

Free Software: When its license does not restrict our freedom to:

Use the program for any purpose;

Study the program and adapt it to our needs;

Distribute copies of the program;

Improve the program and share the improvements with others.

In order for studying and improving the program to be possible, free programs are not only distributed
in executable language: users also have access to the program expressed in language
of programming. The people who engage in programming call this the 'source code',
of the program.

Distribution - Internal functioning of the computer

For the effective processing of all the data, we must know that first there is hardware: It is
the physical part of the computer. Hardware also refers to the physical components of a computer
such as the hard drive, CD-ROM, floppy disk drive among others. This set includes the
electronic and electromechanical devices, circuits, cables, boards, cabinets or boxes, peripherals
of all kinds and other physical elements.

Information is distributed within the cabinet through the circuits of the motherboard and the
data buses. Most of that information goes to the RAM, and from there to the
microprocessor. Continuing with the example, the text travels through the data bus of the floppy disk of this
memory, and from there to the microprocessor.

What is a Power Supply?

It is a device that converts the alternating voltage from the power supply network into one or more.
tensions, practically continuous, that supply the different circuits of the electronic device to
that connects (computer, television, printer, router among others).

What is a Motherboard?
 It is the most important component of a computer, as it integrates and coordinates everything.
the other elements that allow it to function properly. a motherboard behaves
like that device that operates as the main platform or circuit of a computer.
the tremendous importance of a motherboard lies in the fact that all
the connectors needed to cover the other cards of the computer.

The motherboard is a main board that supports the internal communication infrastructure.
that is, those electronic circuits where data travels and is processed and where some reside
internal components of the computer.

What is the Fan Cooler?

They are the cooling turbines that some work together with the heat dissipators.
They exist in the micro, power supply, video cards, general use in the PC case, in
hard drives, etc.

Processing - Internal functioning of the computer

What is a Microprocessor?

It is the central and most complex integrated circuit of a computer system; for illustration,
It is usually associated by analogy as the brain of a computer. It is an integrated circuit.
consisting of millions of electronic components.

He is responsible for executing the programs; from the operating system to the applications of
user; only executes programmed instructions in low-level language, performing operations
simple arithmetic and logical operations, such as adding, subtracting, multiplying, dividing, binary logics and
memory accesses.

The microprocessor extracts data from memory and modifies it following a series of
instructions given by a program. For example, when they select a word and pass it to
bold, that is an instruction that the word processor (the program) gives to the microprocessor.
This extracts the word from the text (which is in the RAM), modifies it, and writes it back.
modified in memory. As this memory is very fast, the modification is seen
immediately reflected on the monitor, but has not yet been saved on the floppy disk or on the disk
rigid, so that if the power supply is interrupted they will lose the said information.
modification.

Arithmetic operators allow us, basically, to perform any arithmetic operation, which
we need (for example: addition, subtraction, multiplication, etc.). The following table shows the
operators available in C and their associated function.

Table: Arithmetic Operators

Operator

Action

Example

Stay
x = 5 3; // x is worth 2
Sum
x = 2 3; // x is worth 5

Multiplication
x = 2 3; // x is worth 6

Division
x = 6 2; // x is worth 3

Module
x = 5 % 2; // x is worth 1

Decrease
x = 1; x; // x is worth 0

Increase
x = 1; x; // x is worth 2

The logical operators are:

- && AND: The result is true if both expressions are true

- || OR: The result is true if any expression is true)

- ! NOT: The result inverts the condition of the expression

The logical operator AND

result

true

true
true

true

false

false

false

true

false

false

false

false

The logical operator OR

result

true

true

true

true

false

true

false

true

true

false

false

false

The logical operator NOT

result

true

false
false

true

Binary System: The language of computers

Bytes: To represent anything significant, it is necessary to use groups of bits. The byte is a
Grouping of eight bits. In a computer, bytes are used to represent numbers, letters.
and special characters. This allows representing all the characters on the keyboard, including letters
(uppercase and lowercase), numbers, punctuation marks and other symbols through one of
these combinations.

Bit: When referring to computer data, each switch that is off (value 0) or on
(value 1) is a bit. The word bit is the abbreviated form of binary digit and constitutes the
smallest possible data unit.

What is a processor?

It is an integrated electronic circuit that acts as the central processing unit of a computer.
providing control of the calculation operations.

They are made up of extremely small components formed into a single flat piece
of low thickness. Its main component is semiconductors, mainly silicon and
germanium. They can have several tens of millions of transistors, in addition to others
electronic components such as diodes, resistors, capacitors.

Control unit

The control unit instructs the rest of the system on how to carry out the instructions of a
program. It commands the electronic signals between the memory and the arithmetic-logic unit, and between
the CPU and the input and output devices. It can be compared to a traffic agent directing
the data flow. The set of instructions to carry out the commands is incorporated in
the control unit and list all the operations that the CPU can perform.

To run any program, each command of it is broken down into instructions that
correspond to the available instruction set in the CPU. When an instruction is executed
program, a process is carried out at high speed, in which the CPU translates to microcode and carries to
it carries out millions of instructions per second in an orderly manner (as indicated by the program).

Storage - Internal operation of the computer

There are two types of information storage:

1.- Temporary storage, which takes place in the RAM while the
processing.
2.- Permanent storage, which takes place on a storage device when it
partially or totally ends the processing. For example, if they are writing a report of three
pages, you can save it to the hard drive.

What is a RAM memory?

Its acronym comes from (Random Access Memory). Type of memory

where the computer stores information so that it can be processed more quickly. In the
RAM memory stores all information that is being used at the moment. Its capacity of
Storage is measured in megabytes and more recently in gigabytes.

The information they contain is continuously updated and when the computer is restarted or
it turns off, all the information contained is lost, which is why it is called volatile memory.

Some types of RAM are:

SRAM memory: the acronym comes from ("Static Random Access Memory") or static, because
These chips are built based on transistors, which do not need to be constantly
refresh their load (bits) and this makes them extremely fast but also very expensive.

SWAP Memory: Virtual memory or Swap memory ("swap") is not about memory
RAM as such, but rather an emulation (functional simulation), this means that a file is created of
large dimensions on the hard drive or SSD unit, which stores information simulating being
RAM memory when it is partially full, this prevents the system from stopping
computer services

The following list shows the RAM memories in descending order, the first link is the oldest.
and the last one is the most recent.

TSOP type RAM memory.

SIP type RAM memory.

SIMM type RAM memory.

DIMM type RAM - SDRAM.

DDR/DDR1 and SO-DDR RAM memory type.

RIMM type RAM memory.

G-RAM / V-RAM Memory (Current).

DDR2 RAM type and SO-DDR2 (Current).

DDR3 RAM type and SO-DDR3 (Current).

DDR4 RAM type and SO-DDR4 (Next Generation).

What is a Hard Drive?

The Hard Drive is a magnetic device that stores all the programs and data of the
computer. Its storage capacity is measured in gigabytes (GB) and is greater than that of a
diskette (floppy disk).

What is a Cache Memory?

A cache is a special high-speed storage system. It can be both an area.

reserved from the main memory as a high-capacity storage device

independent speed.

What is a ROM Memory?

ROM (Read Only Memory) is also known as

BIOS is a chip that is built into the motherboard. This chip is essential because
that contains the set of instructions that allow the PC to start up and enables the loading of the
operating system. Therefore, it is of vital importance for the functioning of the system.

Output - Internal operation of the computer

It has to do with how the results of processing are visualized or perceived. There are two classes of
exit

1.- The output in real time, that is, as the processing is carried out.

2.- The final output, when the processing finished. For example, seeing the words on the monitor that
they are writing (in real time) and the printing of the finished report.

What is a real-time system?

It is that digital system that actively interacts with an environment with known dynamics.
relationship with its inputs, outputs, and time constraints, to ensure proper functioning
according to the concepts of predictability, stability, controllability, and reachability.
Relationship between Hardware and Software

A.- They work together to bring a computer to life, as the work depends on their union.
from a PC.

B.- Software refers to the programs and data stored on a computer. The programs provide
instructions to perform tasks on the hardware or serve as a connection with other software.

C.- Hardware is the physical substrate in which software exists. Hardware encompasses all the pieces.
physical characteristics of a computer