Scribd
Upload
18 views

Hardware Specifications in Computer Systems

The document discusses key hardware specifications of a computer system including the central processing unit (CPU), memory, and hard disk. It notes that the CPU speed, measured in MHz or GHz, determines how fast instructions can be carried out. Main memory capacity, measured in GB, determines how many programs can be held at once. Memory speed is measured in MHz. Hard disk specifications include storage capacity, which determines how much can be stored, and speed in terms of data transfer rate and revolutions per minute.

Uploaded by

Keron Caton
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
18 views

Hardware Specifications in Computer Systems

The document discusses key hardware specifications of a computer system including the central processing unit (CPU), memory, and hard disk. It notes that the CPU speed, measured in MHz or GHz, determines how fast instructions can be carried out. Main memory capacity, measured in GB, determines how many programs can be held at once. Memory speed is measured in MHz. Hard disk specifications include storage capacity, which determines how much can be stored, and speed in terms of data transfer rate and revolutions per minute.

Uploaded by

Keron Caton
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 5

Topic: Interpreting The Hardware Specifications of a

Computer System

What is Specification?
- Specification is a set of requirements that a device should
possess.
It is important to understand the hardware specifications of a
computer, so that you know what it is capable of in terms of
memory, speed etc.
It is also useful increase you ever want to buy a computer-
you need to know:
- What you are bringing and what you can do.

The CPU or Processors


- Two main features of the CPU that you need to be
aware of is its speed and type.
Two main most popular companies that currently produce
CPU are intel and AMD (Advanced micro
devices).
CPU’s are also manufactured by Centaur Technology, Elbrus
and Trans meter Corporation.

Speed of Computer
- As the ‘brain’ of the computer, the CPU determines how
fast instructions can be carried out.
The CPU contains a clock. Each time the clock “ticks” one
instructions is carried out. So, the faster the clock, the more
instructions are carried out.
The Processor speeds of the most of todays’ person computers
‘PC’s are measured in MHz (Mega Hertz) or GHz (Giga
Hertz).
 MHz means that it can execute approximately 1 million
instructions.
 GHz means that it can execute approximately 1 billion
instructions.
Based on what you use the computer systems for the speed
will vary.
Hertz
- Hertz is the basic unit of measurements of a computer
speed, in cycles per second.
Main Memory
In Primary Storage Devices we know that main memory is
used to store programs and data that are used or are about to
be used.
- In terms of a computer’s memory, it is important to
known its capacity, type, word size and speed.

Memory Capacity
- The capacity of a computer’s memory determines the
number of programs that it can hold at a time, which
affects the performance at a computer system.
More memory capacity indicates that it can hold more
programs at a time.
In modern PC’s memory capacity is measured in GB (Giga
Bytes) and is distributed with 4GB or more.

Memory Types
There are two types of RAM, SDRAM (Synchronous
Dynamic RAM) and RDRAM (Rambus Dynamic RAM).
RDRAM’s are faster and more exposure than SDRAM and
are used mainly for high- performance computers SDRAM’s
are more common and be Double Data Rate (DDR) RAM,
which offers double data rate transfer rate.
WORD SIZE
In units of Storage, we know that word size determines the
number of bits that can be stored and processed at a time by
the CPU.
Most of today’s PCs have word size of 30-bit or 64 bit.

SPEED
RAM speed indicates how fast the chip updates the data that it
contains.
In modern day PC’s the RAM speed is measured in Mega
Hertz (MHz) and is approximately 2400 MHz by default.

HARD DISK
The main secondary storage medium used by a computer
system is a hard disk. The two main specifications to note for
a hard disk are its storage capacity and its speed.

STORAGE CAPACITY
The storage capacity of a hard disk determines the amount of
information that it can store for later use. More hard disk
space means you can store more programs and data.

SPEED
Hard disk speeds are normally expressed as data transfer rates
or revolutions per minute. The data transfer rate measures the
speed by which data can be transferred from the hard disk to
the CPU.
N.B:
- Data Transfer Rates is the rate at which data can be
transferred from the hard disk to the CPU.
- Revolutions per minutes (rpm) indicates how fast the
hard disk spins.
The rate at which data can be transferred partly depends on
have fast the disk is spinning. If the drive spins faster it can
positive the read/write head faster it can p

You might also like