Main Features Of A Computer System Information Technology Essay

Main Features Of A Computer System Information Technology Essay The system unit is the core of the computer system. It is a rectangular box placed on or underneath your desk. The box contains many electronic components that process information, the central processing units (CPU) is one of the main components. The microprocessor or the CPU acts as the brain of the computer; another part is the random access memory (RAM). It stores information that the CPU used when the computer is on. RAM information deletes as soon as the computer switched off. On the back of the system unit there are cables plug into a specific ports. Peripheral device or device (hardware) is not part of the system unit. Mouse is use to show and select items on the computer screen. The first mouse looks a bit like a real mouse nowadays we have different shapes of mice. It is connected to the system unit by a long wire however since there are many technological improvements now we have wireless mice. The mouse usually contains a primary buttons, a wheel and a secondary buttons. The wheel allows the user to scroll through the screens for information. The pointer may change its appearance depending where it is situate on the screen. Primary button selects items on the screen by simply clicking on it. It is the principal way to interact with the computer. Keyboard The main use of the keyboard is to type text into the computer, it contains letters and numerical keys. The keyboard also has some special keys such as the function keys which is use to perform different functions relied on where they are use. Numeric keypad authorises the user to enter numbers in a quicker way. The navigation keys perform almost the same task as the mouse as it allows you to move your position within a document or webpage. Monitor A monitor shows a see able form of the information text and graphics on the computer screen. It is like a television as it displays still and moving pictured. There are two types of monitors, the cathode ray tube (CRT) and the liquid crystal display (LCD). They are both design to make sharp images. The only differences between the two monitors are: the cathode ray tube is enabling you to afford it as it is cheaper and the liquid crystal is thinner and lighter. Speakers Speakers are use to hear the sound effects from the computers and listen to music. It is either built in the system unit or connected to the computer using cables. (http://course.fed.cuhk.edu.hk/s040643/EDD5169H/Computer%20Hardware.gif) Operating system An operating system is the essential interface that is connect to a computer and performs various functions. It is software that acts like the core of computer system. The basic functions of the operating system is the drivers and the security concerns. Drivers are programs to enable the operation of the devices specially the one installed on the system (mouse, keyboard, printer, etc). It translates the commands from operating system and also translates it back from the component to the operating system. The operating system also performs other functions such as debug errors and maintains the system. As computer software is a human creation. It makes the operating system lie down to errors so there are security concerns. Programmers sometime make mistakes that are often implement after testing while other software developers provide more efficient one. It means that some of the operating system is more prone to errors while the other software is more secure. Sometimes bugs in software may prohibit the system to communicate with the hardware devices. The instabilities of the software may result to crashes, which consist of freezing and unresponsive. This result may vary depending on the operating system. It can also lead to a point where the computer in to be reboot. The software bugs also allows unauthorised user to get to the system since its vulnerabilities enable the attackers to exploit and take complete control of the system. They can install Malware and attack other machines. So programmers provide security patches rather than updating the operating system. Types of Operating system Mac occupies the medium range to high end as a result Mac are popularly considered to be more expensive than other pcs. Though Mac suffers from relatively very few hacks, security holes Mac OS x does exist, just like in any other operating system. The Mac has seen significant market share increases in recent years, something that has also increased the amount of Mac-compatible software. MS-DOS, which is short for disk operating system, is an operating system for PCs that uses a command-line user interface. The command-line interface is difficult to learn, and the syntax and commands are not easy for the casual user to remember. There are several other operating systems such as Linux and other windows. (http://ischoolsclsbatungbakal.files.wordpress.com/2009/06/operating-system-interfaces.jpg) 2. Compare and contrast the different formats of computer systems. Large organisations make use of mainframe computers. Mainframes are use for applications such as Bulk Data Processing and Enterprise Resource Planning. Mainframes can be use for several small servers as it has the power to host multiple operating systems. Minicomputers also called workstations lie between mainframes and microcomputers. They used transistor and core memory technologies. The 12-bit PDP-8 minicomputer was the first successful one. Desktop can be use in a single location it is mainly used in workplaces and households. The power consumption is less critical to that of laptops. Laptops can be miniaturised, optimised and it is portable. Laptops are run using battery or an external battery. They have an inbuilt keyboard, touch pad (mouse) and LCD. 3.Describe the development of the processor in the last fifty years in relation to the development of Personal computers. A computer processor is the most defining thing that man invented .It is one of the most advanced technologies available. Since the development of the computer processors is growing every year. The processors speeds are really high and still increasing. Processors are found almost everywhere cars, cameras etc. Games consoles, digital audio players and GPS device are one of the most high technologies nowadays. The development of these technologies is getting more and more complicated. In 1972 the first processor was made by Intel, it was a 4-bit processor (Intel 4004) with a 740 kHz. After which the second processor was built 16-bit processor that had a 5 MHz speed. IBM produced a later version of the 8086 processor it was the first personal computer invented. Several technologies were being made during this time where a later version was launch the Intel 486, which has a 32-bits, and with a speed of 16MHz. The concept of multitasking was the developed where the processor was enable to run both real mode and protected mode. The System Management Mode (SMM) were attribute for power saving and computers went from Command line interface (CLI) to Windows, icons, menu and pointing device (WIMP) interaction. In 1993 the Pentium processor (Intel) came out with a speed of 60 MHz which next after was the Pentium II which has a speed of 233MHz, Pentium III has a speed of 450 MHz followed by Pentium 4 with a speed of 1.3 GHz. Intel inaugurated the Pentium M with a lower speed of 900 MHz. It has a power saver since the battery of the laptop last longer. In 2006 Core processor was introduced which has a speed of 1.6 GHz, Core Duo has a virtualisation capability which allow the computer system to perform multitask on the same computer. AMD even being one off the processor manufacturer it was not known until 1991 where they launched the AM386 processor with a speed of 40 MHz (same capability as the Intel 386). In 1999 Athlon Processor the crucial competitor to Pentium III was introduced by the AMD with a speed of 500 MHz. It was the first processor that reached 1 GHz at that time. The Computer processor continues their development to get the fastest processor. From 1975 the number of transistors used on a chip has double every year. Software programmers will create more cores that will allow multi-thread applications to be utilised. Computers will develop fast processors with multimedia applications such as graphics software, video players so on. (Ref: http://www.buzzle.com/articles/history-of-computer-processors.html) for dates and information. Intel Processor Generations Summary Generation Intel CPU Approx. Year 1st Generation 8086 (1) 1980   . 80186 1981   . 80286 1982 2nd Generation 80286 (2) 1982 3rd Generation 80386 (3) 1987 4th Generation 80486 (4) 1990   5th Generation Pentium (5) 1993   6th Generation Pentium Pro (6) 1995   . Pentium II 1996   . Pent. MMX 1997 . Celeron 1998   . Pentium 3 1999   7th Generation Pentium 4 (7) 2000   . Celeron II 2000   . Duron 2000 8th Generation Intel Core (8) 2006 (http://www.vaughns-1-pagers.com/computer/cpu-evolution.htm) (Macs)   (PCs) External Bits Internal Bits Intel CPU Approx. Year AMD CPU 8-bit 8080 1975 1976 8 16 8088 1977 8086 (1) 1980 16-bit 80186 1981 80286 1982 16 32 80286 (2) 1982 1985 32-bit 80386 (3) 1987 29000 80486 (4) 1990 1991 Pentium (5) 1993 32 64 1994   586 64-bit Pentium Pro (6) 1995 Pentium II 1996 K5 Pent. MMX 1997 K6 Celeron 1998 Pentium 3 1999 Athlon 64 128 Pentium 4 (7) 2000 K7 Celeron II Duron 128-bit 2001 2002 128 256 2003   256-bit 2004 2005 Intel Core (8) 2006 4. What are the SRAM, DRAM, ROM and Cache? And how are their functions different in the Computer system. SRAM that is static random access memory is more common than the DRAM. Compared to a DRAM SRAM does not have to be refresh and the access time is lower as well. SRAM does not have to be paused like the DRAM and it is often used as a memory cache. Unfortunately it is really expensive. However DRAM (Dynamic RAM) is most commonly used for personal computers and workstation. The personal computer processor can access any part of the memory directly rather than having to proceed from the beginning. DRAM has to be refreshed since it runs on the principle of moving current from a switch with two directions. The DRAM capacitors loose their charge really rapid. ROM (Read only memory) authorise you to write data only once and you allows you to read it as many time you want. It is also refers memory chips. Example of ROM is CD. A cache is use to store data temporary that you tend to use again. It is a block RAM that the CPU and Hard drive have a tendency to use regularly. Cache memory let the user to read the data faster that a RAM does, even if it is small. 5. What are the key development stages of computer systems since 1946? The key development stages often refer to the fundamental change occurs in the way computers operate that is increasingly smaller, cheaper, more efficient and reliable device. It is break down into four main stage of development know as generations development. First Generation is from 1946 -1958 (Vacuum tubes) Second Generation is from 1959-1964 (The era of the transistors) Third Generation is from 1965- 1979 (Integrated circuit Miniaturising the computer) Fourth Generation is from 1971-present. (The era of microprocessors) First generation (1946-1956) vacuum tubes. The first generation computer is the first one using Electronic numerical integrator and computer (ENIAC). They used vacuum tubes for the circuit and the magnetic drums for memory. It used to depend on machine language. It was really difficult to perform since it was the lowest programming language that was understand by computers. The input of the computer was based on punched cards and paper tape whereas the output was shown on the printouts. Then after in 1951 the first commercial computer was introduce UNIAC (universal automatic computer). IBM also launched the SAGE which was one of the leading computer Second Generation is from 1959-1964 (The era of the transistors) This generation is when most practical work was developing as the discovery of the transistors was made. It is when the real time reservation system begin the second generation of computers. As the transistors help the computer to improve its performance less space will be used, became more reliable, cheaper and finally less energy power was used. Third Generation is from 1965- 1979 (Integrated circuit Miniaturising the computer) 1965 it is when Gordon Moore predicts that the number of chips use will double up in a transistor. It was in the third generation that Intel had developed newly improve memory chip after which the microchip was introduce with a 256-bit RAM. Fourth Generation is from 1971-present. (The era of microprocessors) It is in the fourth generation that Intel develop a CPU through a micro chip. It is when Pascal programming language was written. The development has improved in a really wider way with windows, Mac etc. However the fifth generation is believed it will consist of artificial intelligence is a major way. Where the experts system can help Doctors for example to reach a diagnose. Things like Problem solving Robotics Natural language Expert system will be able to use by computers. 6. Use the internet to find a high performance personal Computer and explain the features within it. Specifically Discuss: Storage IP/OP Processor Speed/Power Multimedia facilities Other highlighted selling points. The best PC (personal computer) I found was the HP with an operating system capability of 64-bit on a speed of 2.66 GHz Intel processor. With an 8 hour battery life and a dimension of 33.1 x 24.3 cm. It has an internal drives of 320GB with a hard disk drives 7200 rpm. It has the latest wireless and Bluetooth facilities. System features Processor type Intel ® Coreà ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚ ¢2 Duo Processor P8800 (2.66 GHz, 3 MB L2 cache, 1066 MHz FSB) Operating system installed Genuine Windows Vista ® Business with downgrade to Windows XP Professional custom installed Chipset Mobileà ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚ ¢ Intel ® GM45 Express Chipset Dimensions and weight Product weight Starting at 2.1 kg Product dimensions (W x D x H) 3.1 (at front) x 33.1 x 24.3 cm Memory Standard memory 3 GB 800 MHz DDR2 SDRAM Memory slots 2 SODIMM slots supporting dual channel memory Storage Internal drives 320 GB 7200 rpm SATA Optical drives Upgrade bay: LightScribe DVD+/-RW SuperMulti with Double Layer Graphics Display 35,8 cm (14.1) WXGA (1280 x 800 resolution) or 35,8 cm (14.1) Illumi-Lite LED WXGA (1280 x 800 resolution) or 35,8 cm (14.1) WXGA+ (1440 x 900 resolution) optional 2 MP Webcam with Business Card Reader Software Graphics Mobileà ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚ ¢ Intel ® Graphics Media Accelerator 4500MHD Expansion features Ports 3 USB 2.0 ports, VGA, stereo microphone in, stereo headphone/line out, Firewire (1394a), power connector, RJ-11, RJ-45 Slots Slots available for additional devices: 1 ExpressCard/54 slot, Secure Digital slot Audio High Definition Audio, stereo speakers, stereo headphone/line out, stereo microphone in, integrated dual-microphone array Integrated camera 2 MP webcam Keyboard Full-sized keyboard Whats in the box Enhanced dual pointing devices (touchpad and pointstick) with scroll zone Communications Network interface Intel Gigabit Network Connection (10/100/1000 NIC) Wireless technologies Intel 802.11a/b/g/draft-n, Bluetooth ® 2.0 Power and operating requirements Battery type 6-cell (55 WHr) Lithium-Ion battery Power features 6-cell (55 WHr) Lithium-Ion battery Battery life Up to 8 hours (more than 17 hours with the HP Extended Life Battery and up to 24 hours with the HP Ultra-Capacity Battery) Operating temperature range 0 ° to 35 ° C Security management Security management McAfee Security Solution, Kensington Lock slot, HP Privacy Filter (http://h10010.www1.hp.com/wwpc/uk/en/sm/WF06b/321957-321957-64295-3955549-3955549-3688868-4017987.html )