Discovering Computers
Technology in a World of Computers,
Mobile Devices, and the Internet
Chapter 6
Inside Computers
and Mobile Devices
Objectives Overview
Identify characteristics of
Describe the various Describe multi-core
various personal computer
computer and mobile processors the components
processors on the market
device cases and the of a processor, and the four
today, and describe the
contents they protect steps in a machine cycle
ways processors are cooled
Explain how program and
Define a bit, and describe
Explain the advantages and application instructions
how a series of bits
services of cloud computing transfer in and out of
represents data
memory
See Page 248 Discovering Computers 2014: Chapter 6 2
for Detailed Objectives
Objectives Overview
Describe the purpose
Differentiate among
of adapter cards, USB Explain the function
the various types of
adapters, and of a bus
memory
ExpressCard modules
Explain the purpose Understand how to
of a power supply care for computers
and batteries and mobile devices
See Page 248 Discovering Computers 2014: Chapter 6 3
for Detailed Objectives
Inside the Case
• The case contains and protects the electronics of the
computer or mobile device from damage
Page 248 Discovering Computers 2014: Chapter 6 4
Figure 6-1
Inside the Case
Page 250 Discovering Computers 2014: Chapter 6 5
Figure 6-2
Inside the Case
• The motherboard is the main circuit board of the
computer
– A computer chip contains integrated circuits
Pages 250 - 251 Discovering Computers 2014: Chapter 6 6
Figure 6-3
Processors
• The processor, also called the central processing
unit (CPU), interprets and carries out the basic
instructions that operate a computer
– Contain a control unit and an arithmetic logic unit
(ALU)
• A multi-core processor is a single chip with two or
more separate processor cores
Pages 252 - 253 Discovering Computers 2014: Chapter 6 7
Processors
Page 253 Discovering Computers 2014: Chapter 6 8
Figure 6-4
Processors
• The control unit is the component of the
processor that directs and coordinates most of
the operations in the computer
• The arithmetic logic unit (ALU) performs
arithmetic, comparison, and other operations
Page 253 Discovering Computers 2014: Chapter 6 9
Processors
• For every instruction, a processor repeats a set of
four basic operations, which comprise a machine
cycle
Page 254 Discovering Computers 2014: Chapter 6 10
Figure 6-5
Processors
The processor contains registers, that
temporarily hold data and instructions
The system clock controls the timing
of all computer operations
• The pace of the system clock is called the clock
speed, and is measured in gigahertz (GHz)
Page 255 Discovering Computers 2014: Chapter 6 11
Processors
• The leading
manufacturers of
personal computer
processor chips are Intel
and AMD
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Discovering Computers 2014: Chapter 6
Processors
• A processor chip generates heat that could cause
the chip to malfunction or fail
• Require additional cooling
– Heat sinks
– Liquid cooling technology
– Cooling mats
Pages 256 - 257 Discovering Computers 2014: Chapter 6 13
Figures 6-6 – 6-7
Cloud Computing
• Home and business users choose cloud computing
for a variety of reasons
Accessibility Cost savings
Space
Scalability
savings
Page 257 Discovering Computers 2014: Chapter 6 14
Data Representation
Analog signals are continuous and vary in
strength and quality
Digital signals are in one of two states: on
or off
• Most computers are digital
• The binary system uses two unique digits (0 and 1)
• Bits and bytes
Page 259 Discovering Computers 2014: Chapter 6 15
Data Representation
The circuitry in a computer or Eight bits grouped together as a
mobile device represents the on or unit are called a byte. A byte
the off states electronically by the
presence or absence of an electronic represents a single character in
charge the computer or mobile device
Pages 259 - 260 16
Discovering Computers 2014: Chapter 6
Figures 6-8 – 6-9
Data Representation
Page 260 Discovering Computers 2014: Chapter 6 17
Figure 6-10
Memory
• Memory consists of electronic components that
store instructions waiting to be executed by the
processor, data needed by those instructions, and
the results of processing the data
• Stores three basic categories of items:
Data being
The operating
processed and the
system and other Applications
resulting
programs
information
Page 261 Discovering Computers 2014: Chapter 6 18
Memory
• Each location in memory has an address
• Memory size commonly is measured in gigabytes
(GB) or terabytes (TB)
Page 261 Discovering Computers 2014: Chapter 6 19
Figure 6-11
Memory
• The system unit contains two types of memory:
Volatile memory Nonvolatile memory
Loses its contents when Does not lose contents
power is turned off when power is removed
Examples include ROM,
Example includes RAM flash memory, and
CMOS
Page 262 Discovering Computers 2014: Chapter 6 20
Memory
Page 262 Discovering Computers 2014: Chapter 6 21
Figure 6-12
Memory
• Two common types of RAM chips exist:
Dynamic RAM
Static RAM (SRAM)
(DRAM)
Page 263 Discovering Computers 2014: Chapter 6 22
Table 6-1
Memory
• RAM chips usually reside on a memory module
and are inserted into memory slots
Page 263 Discovering Computers 2014: Chapter 6 23
Figure 6-13
Memory
• Memory cache speeds the processes of the computer
because it stores frequently used instructions and data
Page 265 Discovering Computers 2014: Chapter 6 24
Figure 6-14
Memory
Read-only memory (ROM)
refers to memory chips
storing permanent data and
instructions
•Firmware
Page 265 Discovering Computers 2014: Chapter 6 25
Memory
• Flash memory can be erased electronically and
rewritten
– CMOS technology provides high speeds and consumes
little power
Pages 266 - 267 Discovering Computers 2014: Chapter 6 26
Memory
• Access time is the amount of time it takes the
processor to read from memory
– Measured in nanoseconds
Page 267 Discovering Computers 2014: Chapter 6 27
Table 6-2 and Figure 6-15
Adapters
• An adapter card enhances
functions of a component of
a desktop or server system
unit and/or provides
connections to peripherals
– Sound card and graphics card
• An expansion slot is a
socket on a desktop or
server motherboard that
can hold an adapter card
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Discovering Computers 2014: Chapter 6
Table 6-3
Adapters
• With Plug and Play, the computer automatically
can recognize peripheral devices as you install
them
Page 269 Discovering Computers 2014: Chapter 6 29
Figure 6-16
Adapters
• Adapters for mobile computers are in the form of
a removable flash memory device
– USB adapter
– ExpressCard module
Page 269 Discovering Computers 2014: Chapter 6 30
Figures 6-17 – 6-18
Buses
• A bus allows the various
devices both inside and
attached to the system
unit to communicate with
each other
– Data bus
– Address bus
• Word size is the number
of bits the processor can
interpret and execute at a
given time
Pages 270 - 271 31
Discovering Computers 2014: Chapter 6
Figure 6-19
Buses
• A computer might have these three types of
buses:
System Backside
bus bus
Expansion
bus
Page 271 Discovering Computers 2014: Chapter 6 32
Power Supply and Battery
• The power supply or
laptop AC adapter
converts the wall outlet
AC power into DC
power
Page 271 33
Discovering Computers 2014: Chapter 6
Figure 6-20
Power Supply and Battery
• Mobile computers and devices can run using
either a power supply or batteries
• Batteries typically are rechargeable lithium-ion
batteries
Page 272 Discovering Computers: Chapter 6 34
Figure 6-21
Summary
Types of processors,
Various components Advantages and
steps in a machine
inside computers services of cloud
cycle, and processor
and mobile devices computing
cooling methods
How memory stores
Adapters, buses, Ways to care for
data and described
power supplies and computers and
various types of
batteries mobile devices
memory
Page 275 Discovering Computers: Chapter 6 35
Discovering Computers
Technology in a World of Computers,
Mobile Devices, and the Internet
Chapter 6
Inside Computers
and Mobile Devices
Chapter 6 Complete
