COMPUTER FUNDAMENTALS & EMERGING TECHNOLOGY
(CS – 03)
Simple Model of Computer
Simple Model of Computer
All types of computers follow the same basic logical structure and perform the following five basic operations for converting raw
input data into information useful to their users.
Sr. Operation Description
No.
The process of entering data and instructions into the
1 Take Input computer system.
Saving data and instructions so that they are available for
2 Store Data processing as and when required.
Performing arithmetic, and logical operations on data in
Processing order to convert them into useful information.
3
Data
The process of producing useful information or results for
Output the user, such as a printed report or visual display.
4
Information
Control the Directs the manner and sequence in which all of the above
5
workflow operations are performed.
Input Unit
A Computer system is only useful if there are data to be processed.
Input devices are peripherals that allow data to be captured and transmitted to the computer system.
The data from outside the system is not usually in a computer readable form and therefore, one of the major tasks of input
devices is to convert these data into electrical pulses suitable for computer processing.
Input devices like keyboard and mouse allow manual capture of data but there are input devices which allow automated
data capture.
Examples of such devices include OMR, OCR, MICR, etc.
An input unit of a computer system performs the following functions:
It accepts (or reads) instructions and data from outside world
It converts these instructions and data in computer acceptable form
It supplies the converted instructions and data to the computer system for further processing
Output Unit
The computer would be of no use if the results after processing are not disseminated.
Output devices convert information from machine readable form to human readable form.
The most common device used in computer systems is the monitor, where information is displayed.
This form of output is known as “Soft Copy” and the form of output which we are getting on the printer is known as “Hard
Copy”.
An output unit of a computer system performs the following functions:
It accepts the results produced by the computer, which are in coded form and hence, cannot be easily
understood by us
It converts these coded results to human acceptable (readable) form
It supplies the converted results to outside world
Central Processing Unit (CPU)
The Unit where all the processing is done is called as Central Processing Unit.
It contains many other units under it.
Main of them are :
Control Unit
ALU (Arithmetic & Logic Unit)
Internal Memory
Control Unit
It controls the movement of data and program instructions into and out of the CPU, and to control the operations of the ALU.
In short, it’s main function is to manage all the activities within the computer system.
All computers work by following a set of programmed instructions.
When a program executes, it is first loaded into the main memory.
The CU then fetches an instruction from the main memory into registers, decodes it and send control signals to other
components of the computer alternatively known as Fetch Execute Cycle.
Central Processing Unit (CPU)
Arithmetic & Logic Unit
It actually processes data.
The operations performed by the ALU are usually mathematical calculations or logic operations.
Basic mathematical operations include ADD, SUBSTRACT, MULTIPLY and DIVIDE.
Basic logic operations include AND, OR and NOT.
ALU only operates on data that is in the internal CPU memory, also known as registers.
Registers are very fast, temporary storage whose functions are to receive and hold data until it processed.
Internal Memory
Internal Memory also called Main Memory or Primary Memory consist of fully electronic devices that stores data and
program instructions.
Main memory is divided into many separate locations and each location is identified by an address.
As each memory location can be referenced randomly and immediately by the used of these address, main memory is
also know by the terms IAS (Immediate Access Storage) and RAM (Random Access Memory)
Instruction Cycle
A program residing in the memory unit of a computer consists of a sequence of
instructions. These instructions are executed by the processor by going through a
cycle for each instruction.
Fetch Execute Cycle
The fetch execute cycle is the basic operation (instruction) cycle of a
computer (also known as the fetch decode execute cycle).
During the fetch execute cycle, the computer retrieves a program instruction
from its memory.
It then establishes and carries out the actions that are required for that
instruction.
The cycle of fetching, decoding, and executing an instruction is
continually repeated by the CPU whilst the computer is turned on.
In a basic computer, each instruction cycle consists of the following phases:
Fetch instruction from memory.
Decode the instruction.
Read the effective address from memory.
Execute the instruction.
Computer Registers
Registers are a type of computer memory used to
Number
quickly accept, store, and transfer data and instructions Register Symbol Function
of bits
that are being used immediately by the CPU.
Data register DR 16 Holds memory operand
The registers used by the CPU are often termed as
Address register AR 12 Holds address for the memory
Processor registers.
A processor register may hold an instruction, a Accumulator AC 16 Processor register
storage address, or any data (such as bit sequence or Instruction
IR 16 Holds instruction code
individual characters). register
The computer needs processor registers for Program counter PC 12 Holds address of the instruction
manipulating data and a register for holding a
Temporary
memory address. TR 16 Holds temporary data
register
The register holding the memory location is used to
Input register INPR 8 Carries input character
calculate the address of the next instruction after the
Output register OUTR 8 Carries output character
execution of the current instruction is completed.
Computer Registers
The Memory unit has a capacity of 4096 words, and each word
contains 16 bits. (16 * 256 = 4096)
The Data Register (DR) contains 16 bits which hold the operand read
from the memory location.
The Memory Address Register (MAR) contains 12 bits which hold the
address for the memory location.
The Program Counter (PC) also contains 12 bits which hold the
address of the next instruction to be read from memory after the
current instruction is executed.
The Accumulator (AC) register is a general purpose processing
register.
The instruction read from memory is placed in the Instruction register
(IR).
The Temporary Register (TR) is used for holding the temporary data
during the processing.
The Input Registers (INPR) holds the input characters given by the
user.
The Output Registers (OUTR) holds the output after processing the
input data.
Storage Unit
Also referred as Secondary Memory consists of devices that allow more permanent storage of data; i.e. they are non-volatile.
It is usually much higher in capacity than main memory.
However, they are much slower then main memory.
Magnetic Disk (Hard Disk), Floppy Disk, Optical Disks are the examples of secondary storage devices.
The storage unit of a computer system holds (or stores) the following :
Data and instructions required for processing (received from input devices)
Intermediate results of processing
Final results of processing, before they are released to an output device
Primary storage
Used to hold running program instructions
Used to hold data, intermediate results, and results of ongoing processing of job(s)
Fast in operation Small Capacity
Expensive Volatile (looses data on power dissipation)
Secondary storage
Used to hold stored program instructions Used to hold data and information of stored jobs
Slower than primary storage Large Capacity
Lot cheaper that primary storage Retains data even without power
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