Hardware

4 ESO MCC

October 2012

Informatics is the science of automatic processing of information by electronic machines.

Among the many areas of knowledge that distinguished in computing, these ones stand out: Computer Architecture. Algorithms. Data structure. Programming languages. Software ngineering. !perating systems. "etworks. Computability #heory. Artificial $ntelligence. are

Hardware

4 ESO MCC

October 2012

#he architecture used in today%s computers was established in &'() by the *ungarian+American mathematician ,ohn -on Neumann. "eumann made ma.or contributions to a -ast number of fields, including computer science: /inear programming computer architecture self+replicating machines

*e is generally regarded as one of the greatest mathematicians in modern history.

Hardware

4 ESO MCC

October 2012

0rom the physical point of -iew, according to Neumann architecture, we can distinguish the following elements in a computer: Central Processing Unit (CPU): $t is responsible for controlling the computer processing instructions. Main memory device: $t is reading and writing, but when the computer is disconnected from the power supply, it loses its content 1it is -olatile2. Buses: channels 1tracks, cables, electronics, etc32 Peripherals: Sometimes called $4! de-ices

Hardware

4 ESO MCC

October 2012

Central Processing Unit (CPU): $t is the most important electronic component in a computer. $t is responsible for controlling the computer processing instructions. #he CP5 comprises:
o

Arithmetic ogic Unit (A U2: $t is responsible for data processing and allows simple operations such as addition, subtraction, shifts and logical operations 1!6, A"D, comparisons ...2

o Control Unit (CU): is responsible for performing the control, that is, to generate the signals necessary to acti-ate elements of the computer according to the instructions.
o

!egisters: internal memory processor that pro-ides the data to the arithmetic logic unit and in which it stores the result of its operations.

Hardware

4 ESO MCC

October 2012

Peripherals: Depending on how data flows between them and the computer, they can be classified into:
Input Peripherals: they are de-ices that allow the user to feed information into the computer. Data flow from the peripheral 1keyboard, mouse, scanner, microphone or digital camera2 to the computer. "utput peripherals: Data flows from the computer to the peripheral, to show the results to the user 1monitor, printer, plotter, speakers2 Input and output Peripheral: #hey fulfilled the functions of sending and recei-ing data to or from the computer. #here are some input and output peripherals called storage 1modem, floppy disk, pen dri-e, network card, sound card, etc...2

Hardware

4 ESO MCC

October 2012

Buses: channels 1tracks, cables, electronics, etc...2 by which the instructions, data and control signals tra-el between the different units for the computer.

#ata $us: Carries the data that needs processing. Address Bus: Determines
%here data should be sent. $t is used to specify a physical address. #he width of the address bus determines the amount of memory a system can address.

Control Bus: Determines data

processing.

Hardware

4 ESO MCC

October 2012

BU&'& AN# '(PAN&I"N CA!#&

#hey allow the system to connect a wide -ariety of peripheral de-ices.
/et%s re-iew the main e7pansion bus: I&A Bus: Industry &tandard Ar8uitecture bus. #hey tend to be $lac). PCI Bus: Peripheral Component Interconnect. #hey are usually cream and there are usually 9 to ) at the plate. $t Allows interconnect -ideo cards, audio, network adapters and many other peripherals with the motherboard. Bus*A+P: Accelerated +raphics Port. #his bus is used only for -ideo and usually $ro%n.

Hardware

4 ESO MCC

October 2012

'(,'!NA C"NN'C,"!&
#here are normal peripheral de-ices to be connected from the outside: the keyboard, mouse, e7ternal modem, printer, etc... #o do this, most computer mother$oards incorporate connectors- commonly called ports, such as: parallel port, serial port, PS4: and 5S; port.

Chipset s

Hardware

4 ESO MCC

October 2012

Connector or serial port. Most of the e.ternal peripheral devices are serial type- a mouse- a modem- etc/// ,hese connectors are called C"M. 1if there are two connectors, C!<& and C!<:2 or !&010 connectors. #hey are of two types: o 2*pin o 03*pin 1obsolete2 0or these de-ices, the board pro-ides the male connectors, whereas the peripherals pro-ide the female connectors. #he :)+pin serial connectors ceased to be assembled when Pentium came out, so we can consider them o$solete/ 4o%ever- there are adapters to convert each other/
COMPUTER

SERIAL DEVICE (MOUSE)

Hardware

4 ESO MCC

October 2012

Connector or parallel port. #his type of connector is used to install parallel devices. Parallel connectors are 03*pin, female on the plate and male in the de-ice. #hese connectors are called P,.. #he largest parallel peripherals are some types of printer and scanner. "owadays, they are being increasingly replaced by 5S; connectors.
COMPUTER

PARALLEL DEVICE (PRINTER)

10

Hardware

4 ESO MCC

October 2012

#IN connector: $ts function is e7clusi-ely to connect the keyboard. $n the motherboard this is a circular female )+pin connector. =ith the birth of the mini+D$", this kind of connector is no longer in modern boards. #here are adapters to connect a D$" de-ice to a mini+ D$". Mini*#IN connector or P&0. $ts function is to support peripherals such as the mouse or )ey$oard. $t is a circular female )+pin connector. $n fact, their look is -ery similar in shape to the D$" connector but much smaller. "ormally, a computer integrates two such connectors, one for the mouse and one for the keyboard, which are usually green and violet respecti-ely. #he mini+D$" connectors are better known by the name of P&0 connectors. #here are adapters to connect a PS: de-ice to a serial port.

11

Hardware

4 ESO MCC

October 2012

#he U&B connector 15ni-ersal Serial ;us2 #hrough a U&B connector it is possible to chain up to a total of 506 peripherals. $t has its own symbol 1on the left2. 5sing a pair of 5S; connectors, you can connect all popular de-ices, from the )ey$oard to the modem, 1mouse, printer, spea)ers, monitor, scanner, digital cameras, video, plotter, etc...2 without the computer needing to ha-e a connector for each of these elements, thus sa-ing space and money. As $SA cards tend to disappear, all connectors aforementioned will probably disappear in the computers. #here are two U&B specifications: 70/8 and 75/5, which differ mainly in the transfer rate 1&: <b4s compared to :>? and (@? <b4s, respecti-ely2. #hey are also $ac)%ard compati$le, that is, a de-ice that fulfills

12

Hardware

4 ESO MCC

October 2012

the specification 5S; :.? will work connected to a 5S; port that fulfills the &.& specification, but it is not true in re-erse order.

13