JOMO KENYATTA UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURE AND

TECHNOLOGY

EEC2102: COMPUTER SYSTEMS

Presented by
Dr. Linus A. Aloo, PhD
References
Course Text Books
1. Campbell, J., Ciampa, M., Freund, S. M., Frydenberg, M., Sebok, S., Vermaat, M. E., Clemens, B. (2022).
2. Discovering Computers: Digital Technology, Data, and Devices. Cengage Learning: ISBN-10: 0357675363 ISBN-13:
9780357675366
3. Parsons, J. J. (2023). New perspectives on computer concepts 2016, comprehensive (21st ed.). Cengage Learning, Asia.
ISBN-13: 9780357674611
References Textbooks and Materials
1. Nagpal, D. P. (2008). Computer fundamentals. S. Chand Publishing. ISBN: 8121923883.
2. Microsoft Office documentation; support site, https://support.office.com
3. Microsoft Windows documentation; [online], Available: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/store/b/software-
support
4. Stallings W., (2010) Computer Organization and Architecture: Designing for Performance, Prentice Hall 10th
Edition
5. Performing with Computers by Iris Blanc.

9/5/2024 EEC 2102 Computer Systems Lecture Notes by Dr. L. A. Aloo 1

 WEEK 1: INTRODUCTION
Purpose of course

 This course aims to enable the learner to understand the fundamental components of a computer system
and develop the skills necessary to securely operate a computer for the day-to-day requirements of a
university course.

 Learning outcomes

At the end of the course, students will be able to :

 Describe the difference between hardware and software and explain the roles and inter-relationship of
different components of computer hardware

 Differentiate between operating systems and application software and between different types of
application software.

9/5/2024 EEC 2102 Computer Systems Lecture Notes by Dr. L. A. Aloo 2

 WEEK 1: INTRODUCTION

 Learning outcomes

At the end of the course, students will be able to :

 Describe the roles of the operating system and demonstrate the ability to manage
files, and carry out basic troubleshooting and system security operations

 Use a computer under the Windows operating system to produce documents,

spreadsheets and presentations

9/5/2024 EEC 2102 Computer Systems Lecture Notes by Dr. L. A. Aloo 3

 WEEK 1: INTRODUCTION
Course Contents
Introduction: Types of Computers – desktops, laptops, tablets, servers, supercomputers;
Components of computers:- Hardware and Software; Historical development of computers.;
Hardware: CPU – function and historical development, Memory – RAM and ROM, function and
development; internal and external storage – hard disks, flash memory, tape; input and output
devices – keyboard, mouse, multimedia input, printers etc.; Software: Firmware – basic input output
systems, operating systems – types and functions, computer programs, application software.;
Windows 8 operating system: File management.; Microsoft Office applications: Word, Excel, Power
Point, Visio.; Computer Networks – Local area networks – server and client; the internet and cloud
based operations, e-mail systems, search engines.; Information format and number systems: data,
binary, bit, byte, ASCII (American Standard Code for Information Interchange)
9/5/2024 EEC 2102 Computer Systems Lecture Notes by Dr. L. A. Aloo 4
 WEEK 1: INTRODUCTION
Methods of evaluation

Class assignments, take-home assignments, tests, small projects to demonstrate use and
application of Computers as shown in Table 1.1

Table 1.1. Methods of evaluation

Course Item Count Weighted Contribution

Assignments Min 2 5%
LABS Min 3 15%
CATS Min 2 10%
END SEM EXAMS 1 70%
Total 100%

9/5/2024 EEC 2102 Computer Systems Lecture Notes by Dr. L. A. Aloo 5

 WEEK 1: CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION

Chapter Objectives:

At the end of this sub-unit module, students should be able to:

 Describe the structure and organization of a computer

 Explain computer evolution and performance

 Enumerate applications of computers

9/5/2024 EEC 2102 Computer Systems Lecture Notes by Dr. L. A. Aloo 6

 Week 1: Chapter 1: Introduction

1.1. Computer Organization and Architecture

1.1.1. Computer Architecture vs Computer Organization

Computer architecture

 Refers to those attributes of a system visible to a programmer e.g. the instruction set, the number of

bits used to represent various data types (e.g., numbers, characters), I/O mechanisms, and techniques for

addressing memory.

Computer organization

 Refers to how features are implemented i.e. hardware details transparent to the programmer, such

as control signals; interfaces between the computer and peripherals; and the memory technology

used.
9/5/2024 EEC 2102 Computer Systems Lecture Notes by Dr. L. A. Aloo 7
 Week 1: Chapter 1: Introduction

1.1.2. Structure and Function

 At each hierarchical level, the designer is concerned with structure and function:
■ Structure: The way in which the components relate to each other.
■ Function: The operation of individual component as part of the structure.
 In terms of description, we have two choices:
(i) Bottom-up approach where we start at the bottom and build up to a complete description of
system, or
(ii)Top-down approach in which we begin with a top view and in a step by step way, decompose the
system into its subparts.
 The top-down approach is the clearest and most effective.

9/5/2024 EEC 2102 Computer Systems Lecture Notes by Dr. L. A. Aloo 8

 Week 1: Chapter 1: Introduction
1.1.3. Function
 Generally, we have only four basic functions that a computer can perform:

1. Data processing: Although data may take various forms, each with a corresponding processing need, there are only a few
fundamental methods of data processing.

2. Data storage: Even though ideally data should continuously come in and get out of a computer immediately after processing,
there is usually some form of storage function i.e. temporary/short term storage and long-term data or file storage.

3. Data movement: The devices constituting a computer’s operating environment serve as either sources or destinations of
data. For data exchange with a device connected directly to a computer, the process is called input-output (I/O), and the
device is called a peripheral. If data is exchanged over long distances with a remote device, the process is known as data
communications.

4. Control: Inside a computer there’s a control unit to manage its resources and orchestrates the performance of its functional
parts in accordance with instructions.

9/5/2024 EEC 2102 Computer Systems Lecture Notes by Dr. L. A. Aloo 9

 Week 1: Chapter 1: Introduction
1.2. Structure and organization
 From a top-level perspective, a computer is made up of the following components:

 CPU (central processing unit),

 memory, and

 I/O components.

 For the computer to perform a desired task, these components must be interconnected in some way,
usually by buses. There are 3 types of buses:

 1. Data bus-that carries data signals e.g. 64 bit computer has a 64-bit data bus.

 2. Address bus-that carries address signals used by CPU to access memory

 3. Control bus-Carries control signals that guide/direct operations of the computer.

9/5/2024 EEC 2102 Computer Systems Lecture Notes by Dr. L. A. Aloo 10

 Week 1: Chapter 1: Introduction
1.2. Structure and
Organization of computer

Figure 1.1 The Computer: Top-Level Structure

9/5/2024 EEC 2102 Computer Systems Lecture Notes by Dr. L. A. Aloo 11
 Week 1: Chapter 1: Introduction
1.3. Computer components
 Broadly speaking, there are two categories of computer components:
1. Hardware Components
2. Software Components
 With rare exceptions, all of today's computers have this same general structure and function and are
thus referred to as von Neumann machines.
 Based on the von Neumann architecture, contemporary computer designs are based on three key
concepts:
a) Data and instructions are stored in a single read–write memory.
b) The contents of this memory are addressable by location, irrespective of the type of data it
contains.
c) Execution occurs in a sequential fashion (unless explicitly modified) from one instruction to the
next.
9/5/2024 EEC 2102 Computer Systems Lecture Notes by Dr. L. A. Aloo 12
 Week 1: Chapter 1: Introduction

1.3. Computer components

 With rare exceptions, all of today's computers have this same general structure and function and
are thus referred to as von Neumann machines.
 Based on the von Neumann architecture, contemporary computer designs are based on three
key concepts:
a) Data and instructions are stored in a single read–write memory.
b) The contents of this memory are addressable by location, irrespective of the type of data it
contains.
c) Execution occurs in a sequential fashion (unless explicitly modified) from one instruction to
the next.

9/5/2024 EEC 2102 Computer Systems Lecture Notes by Dr. L. A. Aloo 13

 Week 1: Chapter 1: Introduction to Computer Systems
1.4. Computer von Neumann Architecture
 A complete view of the Von Neumann computer system architecture that integrates interaction
(human or otherwise) is shown in Fig. 1.2
Computer System
 It consists of Five Main Components: Computer
Input
Data
1. CPU Device
CPU Main
2. Main Memory Bus Memory Bus
(RAM/ROM), which stores Control Output
both data and instructions Device
3. I/O Devices, operated by Bus
the control unit of CPU. Secondary
Storage
4. Mass Storage Device
5. Interconnection network
(Bus)
 Fig. 1.2
9/5/2024 IST 2010 Lecture Notes by Dr. L.A. Aloo 14
 Week 1: Chapter 1: Introduction
1.5. Computer evolution and performance
1.5.1. The Five Generations of Computers
The First Generation: Vacuum Tubes (1940-1956)
 The first computers used vacuum tubes for circuitry

and magnetic drums for memory.

 They were often enormous and taking up entire room.

 First generation computers relied on machine

 The UNIVAC and ENIAC computers are
language.
examples of first-generation computing
 They were very expensive to operate and in addition to
devices.
using a great deal of electricity, generated a lot of heat,
 They are based on the stored-program
which was often the cause of malfunctions.
concept developed by John von Neumann.

9/5/2024 EEC 2102 Computer Systems Lecture Notes by Dr. L. A. Aloo 15

 Week 1: Chapter 1: Introduction
The Second Generation (1956-1963): Transistors

 Transistors replaced vacuum tubes and ushered

in the second generation of computers.
 Second-generation computers moved from
cryptic binary machine language to symbolic.

 High-level programming languages were also being developed at this time,

such as early versions of COBOL and FORTRAN.
 These were also the first computers that stored their instructions in their
memory.

9/5/2024 EEC 2102 Computer Systems Lecture Notes by Dr. L. A. Aloo 16

 Week 1: Chapter 1: Introduction
Third generation computers (1964-1971):Integrated Circuit

 The development of the integrated circuit was the hallmark

of the third generation of computers.
 Transistors were miniaturized and placed on silicon chips,
called semiconductors.
 Instead of punched cards and printouts, users interacted
with third generation computers through keyboards
and monitors and interfaced with an operating system.
 Allowed the device to run many different applications at one
time.

9/5/2024 EEC 2102 Computer Systems Lecture Notes by Dr. L. A. Aloo 17

 Week 1: Chapter 1: Introduction
Fourth generation computers (1972-1977): Large Scale Integration (LSI)

 The microprocessor brought the fourth generation of

computers, as thousands of integrated circuits were built onto
a single silicon chip.
 The Intel 4004 chip, developed in 1971, located all the
components of the computer.
 From the central processing unit and memory to input/output
controls—on a single chip.
 Fourth generation computers also saw the development
of GUIs, the mouse and handheld devices.

9/5/2024 EEC 2102 Computer Systems Lecture Notes by Dr. L. A. Aloo 18

 Week 1: Chapter 1: Introduction
Fifth generation computers (1978-1991): Very Large Scale Integration (VLSI)

 Fifth generation computing devices, based on artificial

intelligence.
 Are still in development, though there are some applications,
such as voice recognition.
 The use of parallel processing and superconductors is helping
to make artificial intelligence a reality.
 The goal of fifth-generation computing is to develop devices
that respond to natural language input and are capable of
learning and self-organization.

9/5/2024 EEC 2102 Computer Systems Lecture Notes by Dr. L. A. Aloo 19

 Week 1: Chapter 1: Introduction
1.5.2. Computer Generations: Summary
 Table 1.2 shows the 6 generations of computers.
 Each new generation is characterized by greater processing performance, larger memory capacity, and
smaller size than the previous one.
Table 1.2 The 6 generations of computers

 Gordon Moore, through the famous Moore's law in 1965, observed that the no. of transistors that could be
put on a single chip was doubling every year and correctly predicted that this pace would continue into the
near future.
9/5/2024 EEC 2102 Computer Systems Lecture Notes by Dr. L. A. Aloo 20
 Week 1: Chapter 1: Introduction
Growth in CPU Transistor Count - Moore's Law  Cost of a chip has
remained almost
unchanged.
 Higher packing
density means
shorter electrical
paths, giving
higher
Performance.
 Smaller size gives
increased
flexibility
 Reduced power
and cooling
requirements
 Fewer
interconnections
increases
reliability
Figure 1.4. Moore’s law for (Intel) CPU chips.
9/5/2024 IST 2010 Lecture Notes by Dr. L.A. Aloo 21
 Week 1: Chapter 1: Introduction
The Evolution of the Intel x86 Architecture

 8080: The world’s first. Was an 8-bit machine.

 8086: More powerful, 16-bit machine. First x86 architecture.
 80286: enabled addressing a 16-MByte memory instead of 1 MByte.
 80386: Intel‘s first 32-bit machine
 80486: offered a built-in math coprocessor.
 Pentium: allowed execution of multiple parallel instructions.
 Pentium Pro: data flow analysis, and speculative execution.
 Pentium II: Efficient processing video, audio, and graphics data.
 Pentium III: support 3D graphics software.
 Pentium 4: enhancements for multimedia.
 Core: The first with a dual core, 2 processors on a single chip.
 Core 2: extends architecture to 64 bits. The Core 2 Quad provides four processors on a single chip, etc.

9/5/2024 IST 2010 Lecture Notes by Dr. L.A. Aloo 22

 Week 1: Chapter 1: Introduction
Key Fabrication and Performance features of Recent Processors

9/5/2024 IST 2010 Lecture Notes by Dr. L.A. Aloo 23

 Week 1: Chapter 1: Introduction
Practice Exercise 1.1 1. Fig. 1.3 shows the block diagram of a typical computer system.
(a) Outline the key features and functions of the parts shown.
(b) What is the difference between a computer and a computer system

Figure 1.3 Block diagram of a typical computer system

9/5/2024 EEC 2102 Computer Systems Lecture Notes by Dr. L. A. Aloo 24