COMPONENTS OF A

COMPUTER SYSTEM
 The Von Neumann Architecture

The electronic digital computer is based on a design

referred to as the Von Neumann Architecture. Von
Neumann was a scientist who is respected as one of
those that made significant contribution in the design
of the modern computer.
His greatest contribution was the Von Neumann
concept of the STORED PROGRAM computer. This
means the storing of both data and instructions
(program) in the same memory. The program is what
is used to process the data.
The diagram in the next slide is a simplified
description of a computer designed using the Von
Neumann Architecture:
BASIC COMPONENTS OF THE COMPUTER
 The Von Neumann Architecture: Main Components

1. CPU (Central Processing Unit)

All processing of data and control of the

computer operations is done by the CPU. It is
sometimes described as the” brain of the
computer”. CPU is also known as the
processor.

The CPU has various components. The main

ones are the control unit and the ALU
(Arithmetic and Logic Unit).
 The Von Neumann Architecture: Main
Components
Primary Memory:

The Primary Memory is the space where data

and instructions are stored during the
processing of data. The results of the
processing phase are also stored in the
memory.
Primary memory is of two kinds. They are
1. RAM (Random Access Memory)
2. ROM (Read-Only Memory).
The Von Neumann Architecture: Main
Components
 Input Units:

 These are used for entering data into the computer. Data
is the unprocessed raw facts fed into the computer.
Processed data is referred to as information.

 Output Units

 These are the units that display, or present the processed

data to the computer user in various forms.

 The input and output units are collectively referred to as

PERIPHERAL DEVICES.
COMPUTER HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE
BASICS

The computer consist of HARDWARE and

SOFTWARE
Hardware are the physical components of the
computer
Software are the instructions that run the
hardware. The instructions are also known
as computer programs
 COMPUTER HARDWARE

 The computer system hardware can be viewed

generally as the System Unit and the peripheral
devices.
 The peripheral devices consist of the input devices
and the output devices
 Input Devices:
 These are the peripheral devices that are used to enter data or
instructions to the computer.
 Output Devices:
 These are devices that display or present information that has
been processed by the computer to the user.
 COMPUTER SOFTWARE

We have different categories of software that

include:

1. System Software - These include:

A. Operating systems - e.g. Ms-DOS,

Windows 95, WINDOWS10, Linux, Mac OS,
Android (mobile phones), ios, etc
 COMPUTER SOFTWARE

B. Drivers
These are programs that enable the computer
to properly work with a particular hardware
component. There are many drivers
embedded within an operating system.
However, newly acquired hardware may
require installation of specific software for
them to run properly.
 COMPUTER SOFTWARE

C. Utility programs
These are for the maintenance of the computer
system.
These include:
Anti-virus programs – for preventing infection by
computer viruses. This are programs created to
cause malfunctioning of computers.
Other utilities include software for data copying and
backup, defragmentation, disk partitioning, disk
formatting, hardware settings, networking software,
and such.
 OTHER SOFTWARE CATEGORIES

2. Application programs: These are software that

enable a user to accomplish a specific task at the
computer. Some of these include:
a) Word-processors e.g. Ms-Word

b) Spreadsheets e.g. Ms-Excel, Quattro-pro, Lotus

1-2-3
c) Database programs e.g. Ms-Access, MySQL, etc

d) Presentation Graphics e.g. PowerPoint

e) Desktop Publishing (DTP) e.g. Pagemaker, Ms-

Publisher
3. Development Software

This is software to support programming

and/or development of computer software
systems
EG: Compilers, interpreters, Visual C++,
VB.Net, Net beans, etc
CLASSIFYING
COMPUTERS
 CLASSIFYING COMPUTERS ACCORDING TO HOW
THEY PROCESS DATA

 One way of classifying computers is in terms

of how they process data electronically.
They can be placed in three categories as:
digital, analog or hybrid
1.DIGITAL – Digital systems function in terms
of discreet values. In digital systems, data
and instructions are passed to the computer
as numbers. These numbers are expressed
as binary numbers. The binary system of
counting has only two symbols: 0 and 1.
CLASSIFYING COMPUTERS ACCORDING TO HOW THEY
PROCESS DATA

 2. ANALOG – An analog system provides a continuous

measurement of a phenomenon. For instance, if we
need to measure rise in temperature, the measuring
instrument can give a value at any point, as the
temperature rises in a continuous fashion.
Analog is borrowed from analogy. It means using one
phenomenon to measure another phenomenon. Values
from one phenomenon becomes a measure to indicate
values in another phenomenon.
For instance, we can use pressure values to indicate
weight.
3. HYBRID – Hybrid computers combines the
functioning of both digital and analog computers
 CLASSIFYING COMPUTERS ACCORDING TO SIZE:

 SUPERCOMPUTERS - A supercomputer is a computer that performs

at or near the currently highest operational rate for computers, and
is of largest size. Traditionally, supercomputers have been used for
scientific and engineering applications that must handle very large
databases or do a great amount of computation (or both). Current
supercomputers use parallel processing technology.
 MAINFRAMES – These are large size computers. They are used by
organizations that handle large volumes of data and also the
networking organizations.
 MINICOMPUTERS - Used mainly for networking by large companies
and government departments.
 MICROCOMPUTERS – are also known as Personal Computers (PC)
 There are various sizes of microcomputers as given in the next slide:
 CLASSIFYING COMPUTERS ACCORDING TO SIZE:

 1. DESKTOPS - Small enough to work on a desktop. They are

used at home and in the offices. Some desktop computers with
more robust hardware, and meant for specialized applications
are referred to as WORKSTATIONS
 2. LAPTOPS – These are portable computers. Small enough to
work on the lap. The normal size is a 12 by 9inches. In this
class, we have also notebooks and netbooks. Notebooks are
laptops that are just slightly smaller. Netbooks are even
smaller, and are mainly meant for accessing internet resources
while the user is mobile.
 3. PDA’s: Personal Digital Assistant – are the size of a
calculator
 NB: Modern developments have created the Tablets and
smartphones. They can connect to the internet through inbuilt
modem or by Wi-Fi.
 MICROPROCESSOR DEVELOPMENT

The processor power is measured by its

speed. This speed is measured in megahertz
(MHz).
The hertz is a unit of cycles made per second.
10Hz is ten cycles per second. 50Hz is fifty
cycles per second.
 processor speed
 The following is a list of microprocessor generations and
associated clock speeds from the Intel Company in the U.S.A:
 8088 - 4.77MHz (developed in 1981)
 80286 - 12MHz
 80386 - 25MHz
 80486 - 33MHz - This was the processor for Windows
95. It was powerful in networking.
 Pentium - 60 to 200MHz - several speeds were developed
here
 Pentium II - 233 to 533MHz
 Pentium III - between 533 and 1000MHz
 Pentium IV – (introduced at I.5GHz). By September
2018 – the speed has reached 4.3GZ.
 Intel has a new naming scheme like core i3, i5, i7, i9, etc.
Classifying Computers according to how they
are used

1: General Purpose Computer – these are the

ordinary computers. They are capable of
running various types of tasks.
2: Special Purpose Computer – Designed to
perform only one specialized function. The
program cannot be changed
3. Embedded computers – This are computers
that are part of the system that they support.
They get their input from the system they
operate. They are used to control a system
 Introduction to Operating systems
(OS)

An operating system is a computer program

that controls the functioning of a computer
When the computer power is put on, the
operating system has to load first. When the
OS has fully loaded, a computer is said to
have booted. The process of loading the OS
is called booting.
A computer that has not booted is not ready
for use. The computer may require the
repair of either hardware or the OS
 Introduction to Operating systems

BOOTING THE OS
There are two kinds of booting:
 A) Cold booting – This is when the
computer is booted by putting on
power from the wall socket
 B) Warm booting - This is restarting

the booting process while the

computer power is still on
 Introduction to Operating systems

 BASIC FUNCTIONS OF THE OS

 Some functions of the OS include:
1. Booting the computer
2. Performs basic computer tasks e.g managing the various
peripheral devices such as mouse, keyboard, and others
3. Provides a user interface, e.g. command line, menu
driven, graphical user interface (GUI)
4. Manages system resources such as computer's memory
and sharing of the central processing unit (CPU) time by
various applications or peripheral devices
5. Provides file management which refers to the way that
the operating system manipulates, stores, retrieves and
saves data on secondary media.
Introduction to application
software
 a) Application Software: Word
Processors

Word processors are application programs

that create computer files (electronic
documents) that contain a lot of words, and
few graphics (pictures, drawings, diagrams).
Word processors are the best suited for
creating files if your document will be over
60% words, and does not require most of the
text to be in columns.
b) Application Software: Spreadsheets

 Spreadsheets are applications that are suited to work with

a lot of numerical data, and which require to be
manipulated mathematically.
 Such mathematical manipulation include basic arithmetic
like addition, multiplication, etc.
 The spreadsheets assist to do more complex mathematical
operations including squares, square-roots, commerce and
accounting functions, as well as many statistical functions.
 The working space of a spreadsheet is divided into rows
and columns.
 A small rectangular space is formed where a row
intersects a column.
 The small rectangular space is referred to as a CELL
 c) Application Software: Databases

Databases are applications that assist to

maintain records on various interests
Such include records relating to institutions
like Schools and colleges, a hospital, a shop,
etc.
The database software make creating of such
records easy.
It also makes searching for the kept records
quick, among many other advantages.
d) Application Software: Presentation graphics

Presentation graphics are used to create

content for presentation in front of an
audience
Such presentations could be giving a lecture
in a university, or facilitating a seminar
Often, an LCD projector is connected to a
computer to display the presentation
 e) Application Software: Desktop publishing

Desktop publishing enable the fast creation

of a document that combines text and
graphics
The document is often arranged in columns
on a page
Organizing page text into columns is popular
with magazines and newspapers.