Fundamental of Computers Assignment
BCA-1 Sem
Submission Date: 18 September 2025
No. of Pages: 10-12 Min
Unit 1: Basic of Computer Fundamental
Q1. List at least five hardware components of a computer and describe their
functions in detail.
1. Central Processing Unit (CPU):
- Known as the 'brain' of the computer.
- Performs calculations, logical operations, and controls all other components.
- Divided into ALU (Arithmetic Logic Unit), CU (Control Unit), and Registers.
2. Motherboard:
- The main circuit board that connects all computer parts.
- Holds CPU, memory, storage devices, and expansion cards.
- Provides communication between components.
3. RAM (Random Access Memory):
- Temporary storage used for running programs and processes.
- Volatile memory (data lost when power is off).
- Affects speed and performance.
4. Storage Devices (HDD/SSD):
- Store operating system, software, and user data permanently.
- HDDs are magnetic-based, while SSDs use flash memory.
5. Input/Output Devices (Keyboard, Mouse, Monitor, Printer):
- Input devices allow users to give commands (keyboard, mouse, scanner).
- Output devices display results (monitor, printer, speakers).
Q2. Compare and contrast HDDs and SSDs in terms of speed, durability, and
cost.
HDD (Hard Disk Drive) vs SSD (Solid State Drive):
- Speed: HDDs are slower (50–150 MB/s), while SSDs are much faster (500 MB/s to 5000
MB/s).
- Durability: HDDs have mechanical parts that can be damaged, while SSDs have no moving
parts and are more durable.
- Cost: HDDs are cheaper and provide more storage for lower cost, whereas SSDs are
expensive but faster.
- Noise: HDDs make noise due to spinning, SSDs are silent.
- Best For: HDDs are good for bulk storage, SSDs are best for OS, games, and high-speed
tasks.
Q3. Explain the role of input devices (keyboard, mouse) and output devices
(printer, monitor) in a computer system.
- Keyboard (Input): Used to type data, enter commands, and interact with software.
- Mouse (Input): A pointing device for selecting, dragging, and interacting with GUIs.
- Monitor (Output): Displays text, graphics, and video output from the computer.
- Printer (Output): Produces a hard copy of digital documents and images.
Together, input devices help users give commands, and output devices present the results.
Q4. Discuss the various types of disk storage media (e.g., CDs, DVDs, USB
drives) and their primary uses.
1. CD (Compact Disc):
- Stores around 700 MB of data.
- Used for music, small software, and backups.
2. DVD (Digital Versatile Disc):
- Stores 4.7 GB (single-layer) to 8.5 GB (dual-layer).
- Used for movies, games, and larger software.
3. USB Flash Drives:
- Portable, small, and rewritable.
- Storage ranges from 2 GB to 2 TB.
- Commonly used for transferring and backing up files.
4. External Hard Drives / SSDs:
- High-capacity storage (up to several TBs).
- Used for backups, data storage, and large file transfer.
Q5. Describe how the CPU interacts with memory and storage components
during data processing.
1. Fetching: CPU retrieves instructions/data from RAM.
2. Decoding: Control Unit (CU) interprets instructions.
3. Executing: ALU performs calculations or logic operations.
4. Storing: Results are sent back to RAM or stored permanently in storage devices
(HDD/SSD).
5. Input/Output Handling: CPU communicates with I/O devices via memory to display
results.
Thus, the CPU, memory, and storage work together in the Fetch–Decode–Execute cycle for
smooth data processing.
