COMPONENTS OF A COMPUTER SYSTEM
COMPONENTS OF A COMPUTER
SYSTEM
A computer system
consists of three main parts otherwise called components. They are :
- Hardware
- Software
- People ware
HARDWARE COMPONENT
The computer hardware
could be defined as the physical parts of the computer that we see, feel and
handle. It consists of device for input, processing, storage, output and
communications.
Hardware can be divided
into two sections:
- System Unit
- The peripherals
HARDWARE
Hardware is the physical
parts of the computer system that you can see and touch. They are the
components that make up the visible computer. It consists of devices for input,
processing, storage, output and communications.
The basic parts of
computer hardware can be divided into:
- System Unit
- Peripherals
CPU/SYSTEM UNIT
The CPU is the brain of
computer system and it can subdivided into:
- Control Unit
- Arithmetic and Logic Unit
- Memory Unit
CONTROL UNIT
This is the unit of the
computer system that fetches instructions from the main storage, interpret them
and issue all the necessary signals to the components making up the system.
ARITHMETIC AND LOGIC
UNIT
This part of the CPU is
where all arithmetic operations are carried out in the computer. This
unit is also involved in decision making. Logic functions such as less than
(<), equal (=), greater than (>) etc which are operations of comparisons
are used for decision making.
MEMORY UNIT
The memory or primary
storage unit is the place in the computer where the program and the data
are stored. The computer memory is divided into two namely:
- Random Access Memory (RAM)
- Read Only Memory (ROM)
PERIPHERALS
The peripherals are
devices outside the CPU but function under the control of the CPU e.g mouse,
keyboard, printer etc.
SOFTWARE
Software is the set of
instructions that is used to direct the computer hardware to perform its tasks.
That is, it is a set of instructions that makes the users to do work and allow
the computer to operate. Software is basically programs i.e another name for
software is program.Program is the sequence of instructions given to computer
to solve a given problems or accomplish a given task. There are two main
classes of software which are:
- System software
- Application software
SYSTEM SOFTWARE
These are programs
written by the manufacturer to control the smooth running of the computer.
APPLICATION SOFTWARE
These are programs
written by programmers to instruct the computer to perform a particular task.
PEOPLE WARE
These are people who
make and use the computer. They range from professional users to operational
users. A user could also be anyone who makes use of computer. Without people,
the computer cannot work. There two main classes of people ware:
- Computer professionals.
- Computer users.
PERIPHERALS
Peripherals are in three
categories:
- Input Devices
- Output Devices
- Auxiliary Storage Devices
MICRO COMPUTER
Sizes of Microcomputer
are:laptop, palmtop, handtop, desktop, tower etc.
PARTS OF MICROCOMPUTER
- SYSTEM UNIT
- MONITOR (VDU)
- KEYBOARD
- MOUSE
THE MICROCOMPUTER
A computer is an
electronic machine which accepts data as input, processes the data and gives
out information under the control of stored programs. The information which the
computergives out is called OUTPUT.
There are three keywords
to note in the definition:
- COMPUTER AS A MACHINE
This is the physical aspect of a computer known
as computer hardware. It consists of electronic and electro-mechanical parts
working together to process data.
2.
COMPUTER
PROCESSES DATA
i.It
accepts data (input).
ii.It
processes data (processing).
iii.It
supplies information (output).
3.
A
COMPUTER IS CONTROLLED BY A STORED PROGRAM
A program is a set of instructions which tells
the computer to perform a given task. A computer does not understand English or
any of the Nigerian languages. Rather it has its own language called PROGRAM.
MAIN PARTS OF A MICRO
COMPUTER
The microcomputer is
divided into three main parts namely:
1. Central Processing Unit (CPU)
2. Monitor
3. Keyboard
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