Digital Logic & Design

Digital Logic & Design AssignmentComponents of Computer and Windows

Submitted by:Name:Muhammad farhanRoll No:1685Program:BS (IT), 3rd semester

Submitted to:Sir Adeel Riffat MirzaDept:College of Computer Sciences & Information Studies

GCUF

Components of a ComputerDifferent components of computer are as follow System Unit Input Devices Output Devices Storage Devices

System Unit:System unit is a box that contains different electronic components of computer used to process data. The electronic components in the system unit are connected to Motherboard. All computer systems have a system unit. System unit is made of plastic or metal to protect the components inside it. Most storage devices, memory processors, cards, ports and connectors reside inside the system unit. Other devices like keyboard, mouse, speakers, and printers reside outside the system unit.The electronic components of system unit are as follow:

Motherboard:It is also called System board or main board. It is the most important circuit board in the system unit. It is the communication system for the entire system unit. All components are connected to it. The Motherboard contains different chips. A chip is a semiconductor that contains integrated circuits on it. Before generation of Microprocessors i.e. in 1st, 2nd and 3rd generation computers, the computer was usually built in a card-cage case or mainframe with components connected by a backplane consisting of a set of slots themselves connected with wires; in very old designs the wires were discrete connections between card connector pins.But printed circuit boards soon became the standard practice in the late 1970s. The Central Processing Unit, memory and peripherals were housed on individual printed circuit boards which plugged into the backplane. (A backplane is a circuit board that connects several connectors in parallel to each other, so that each pin of each connector is linked to the same relative pin of all the other connectors, forming a computer bus.)During the late 1980s and 1990s, it was found that increasing the number of peripheral functions on the PCB was very economical. Hence, single Integrated Circuits (ICs), capable of supporting low-speed peripherals like serial ports, mouse, keyboards, etc., were included on the motherboards. By the late 1990s, motherboards began to have full range of audio, video, storage and networking functions on them. Higher end systems for 3D gaming and graphic cards were also included later. Central Processing Unit:Central Processing Unit (CPU) is the brain of the computer. It is the most important component of system unit. It is also called processor. A computer cannot work without CPU. All computers must have a CPU. It is located on Motherboard. CPU performs all the operations on data according to the given instructions. It executes instructions and tells other parts of computer what to do. All functions of processor usually are on a single chip in PC. Two main units of CPU are as follow:ALU (Arithmetic & Logic unit):Arithmetic and Logical functions are performed by this unit.Control Unit:It controls and coordinates all activities of computer system.

Memory:Data and instruction are stored in memory to be executed. It consists of one or more chips in the Motherboard.There are three types of memory Volatile Memory Non-volatile Memory

Volatile Memory:Volatile memory loses its contents when computer is turned off. RAM is the most common type of volatile memory. RAM:RAM stands for Random Access Memory. IT is also called direct access memory. Random access means that each individual byte in entire memory can be accessed directly. RAM is used to store data and instructions temporarily. A program must be loaded in RAM before execution. It is also called main memory or primary memory.There are three types of RAM DRAMDRAM stands for Dynamic Random Access Memory. It requires electric current to maintain its electric state. It is recharged again and again to maintain its data. SRAMSRAM stands for Static Random Access Memory. It can store the data without any need of frequent charging. It is faster than DRAM. MRAMMRAM stands for Magneto-resistive Random Access Memory. It stores data using magnetic charging instead of electric charging. It has greater storage. It is faster than other RAM technologies. Non-Volatile Memory:A type of memory that do not lose its contents when computer is powered off. ROM, Flash memory and CMOS are examples of this memory. ROM:ROM stands for Read Only Memory. The instructions in ROM prepare the computer for use. These instructions can only be read but cannot be changed or deleted. It is not possible to write new instructions into ROM. Flash Memory:It can be erased electronically. Computer use it to store startup instructions as it allows computer to update its contents very easily. CMOS:CMOS stands for complementary metal-oxide semiconductor. It store configuration information of computer. It is used during the booting process. Expansion Slots & Expansion Cards:Expansion slot is mounted on motherboard to insert expansion card. Expansion card is also called plug-in board, controller card, adapter card and interface card. Different expansion cards are inserted into motherboard to add devices and enhance capabilities to the computer.

Types of Expansion Cards:Different types of expansion cards are as follow: Video Card: It is also called video adapter or graphics card. It converts computer output into a video signal and send it to monitor to display it. This card connects the motherboard to computer monitor. The card usually contains memory known as Video RAM or VRAM. The amount of memory located on a card must be enough to support the desired number of colors and resolution. Its capacity is about 32 MB today. Some modern cards also have their own processors. The calls to the CPU for graphics processing are redirected to the processor of video card. It speeds up the graphics processing.

Sound Card: Sound Card enhances the sound generating capabilities of a computer. It inputs sound through microphone and converts it into a form that can be processed by computer. It outputs the sound through speakers.

Network Interface Card(NIC) It is also called a network card. It is a communication device that allows a computer to communicate via a network.

TV Tuner Card TV tuner card is used to watch television, capture video and surf internet at the same time. It is also known as television board or personal video recorder card.

Modem Card:Modem Card is an internal modem. It is a communication device that allows a computer to communicate through telephone lines.

Ports: A port is an interface or point of attachment. It is used to connect peripheral devices with computer such as printer, mouse and keyboard.

Different types of ports are as follow:

Serial Ports: It is a type of port that transmits 1 bit at a time. It is used to connect devices that do not require fast data transmission like mouse and keyboard etc. Data travels over a serial port at 115 KB/S.

Parallel Ports: It is a type of port that transmits many bits at a time. It is used to connect devices that require fast transmission. Data travels over a parallel port at 12 Mbps.

Universal Serial Bus: It is also known as USB port. It is the fast and becoming the most common ports in computers today. It can connect up to 127 different peripheral devices. The original USB port 1.1 could transfer data at only 12 Mbps. The version 2 USB was released in 2002 can transfer data at 480 Mbps. USB 3.0 is 10 times faster than USB 2.0.

Power Supply: The power supply of a computer is a simple electrical system. It is used to supply correct voltage to different components of computer. It takes 240 or 110 AC voltages as an input. It converts AC voltage to 3v, 6v, 12v and 24v of DC.

Input Devices: An input device is a hardware component that is used to enter data and instructions into a computer.

Different input devices are as follow:

Keyboard: Keyboard is the most commonly used input device. Data is mostly entered using a keyboard. The buttons on the keyboard are called keys. A keyboard contains over 100 keys. The arrangement of keys on the keyboard is called its layout. The most popular keyboard layouts are QWERTY and Dvorak.

Mouse: Mouse is a popular pointing device. It is used to input instructions with a pointer on the screen. Mouse is moved on a flat surface to control the movements of curser or pointer on the screen. A mouse usually has two or three buttons. These buttons are used to perform different task such as selecting an object or opening a program. It may also have a wheel to scroll through long documents.

It has four types:

Mechanical mouse: It has a ball inside it. The movement of the pointer depends on the movement of ball. Optical Mouse: It uses optical sensor or laser to control the movements of pointer. Wireless Mouse: It uses a wireless technology like radio waves or infrared waves. Air Mouse:It is a motion sensing mouse that can be used to control pointer by moving mouse in specific direction through air. Microphone:It is an input device used to digitally record audio data such as human voice.

Web Cam:A web cam is also called a PC Video Camera. It is a type of digital video camera. It is used for following purposes: Capture video and still images Send emails with video attachments Add live images over the internet Make video telephone calls over internet

Output Devices:The hardware components that are used to receive information from computer are called output devices.

Different output devices are as follow:

Monitor:Monitor is the most common output device. It is also known as display or screen. The output displayed by the monitor is called softcopy. A monitor looks like a television and it displays text and graphics.

Different types of monitor are : Cathode Ray Tube Flat Panel Monitors Liquid Crystal Display(LCD) Gas Plasma Display Touch Screen monitors

CRT Monitor LCD

Speakers & headphones:These devices produce music, speech or other sounds like beep. These are two commonly used output devices.

Speakers Head Phones

Printers:A printer is an output device that prints characters, symbols and graphics on paper. The printed output is called hardcopy.

Storage Devices: Storage Devices are the data storage devices that are used in the computers to store the data. The computer has many types of data storage devices. Some of them can be classified as the removable data Storage Devices and the others as the non removable data Storage Devices. Hard Disk A hard disk drive is the device used to store large amounts of digital information in computers and related equipment like iPods and games consoles such as the Xbox 360 and PS3. Hard disk drives are used to store operating systems, software and working data. These are suitable for any application which requires very fast access to data for both reading and writing to. Almost all computers used a fixed hard disc. Used for on-line and real time processes requiring direct access. Used in file servers for computer networks to store large amount of data.

Optical backing storage media A storage medium from which data is read and to which it is written by lasers. Optical disks can store much more data -- up to 6 gigabytes (6 billion bytes) -- than most portable magnetic media, such as floppies. There are three basic.

Different types of optical disks are as follows: CDs tend to be used for large files (but smaller than 1GB) which are too big for a floppy disc to hold such as music and general animation. DVDs are used to hold very large files (several GB) such as movie films. Both CDs and DVDs are portable i.e. they can be transported from one computer to another. Both can be used to store computer data. CD ROM/DVD ROM Applications which require the prevention of deletion of data, accidental or otherwise. CDs used by software companies for distributing software programs and data; by Music companies for distributing music albums and by book publishers for distributing encyclopedias, reference books etc. DVDs used by film distributors. CD R/DVD R Applications which require a single burning of data, e.g. CDs - recording of music downloads from the Internet, recording of music from MP3 format, recording of data for archiving or backup purposes. DVDs recording of film movies and television programs. CD RW/DVD RW Applications which require the updating of information and ability to record over old data. Not suitable for music recording but is very useful for keeping generations of files. DVDs have between five and ten times the capacity of CDs.

Memory Sticks \Pin Derives USB flash drives are typically removable and rewritable, much smaller than a floppy disk. Storage capacities typically range from 64 MB to 64 GB. USB flash drives offer potential advantages over other portable storage devices, particularly the floppy disk. They have a more compact shape, operate faster, hold much more data, have a more durable design, and operate more reliably due to their lack of moving parts. Flash drives are widely used to transport files and backup data from computer to computer.

Flash Memory Cards A memory card or flash memory card is a solid-state electronic flash memory data storage device used with digital cameras, handheld and Mobile computers, telephones, music players, video game consoles, and other electronics. Nowadays, most new PCs have built-in slots for a variety of memory cards; Memory Stick, Compact Flash, SD, etc. Some digital gadgets support more than one memory card to ensure compatibility.

WindowsWindows has been a mainstay in the computer market for so long that it's nearly impossible to imagine life without it. As the world's most popular operating system, it enjoys huge success, but that success wasn't easily attained. Bumps along the way are what helped Windows move from an obscure operating system to the dominating power in computers it is today. Check out some of the past versions and features that paved the road to Windows 8.

Windows 1.0: The very first version of Windows, Windows 1.0, was a basic interface that used "gadgets," like the calendar and calculator, but it gained little popularity. Released in 1985, the system had basic functionality and introduced the first version of MS Paint and a primitive word processor.

Windows 2.0: Released in 1987, the next version of Windows wasn't much better than the first. While it did introduce two current staples Excel and Word to users, this version came under fire when Macintosh sued Microsoft for mimicking the look and feel of their current operating system. The lawsuit was eventually dropped.

Windows 3.0: The third time's the charm, they say, and that adage was proven with Windows' third release. The introduction of virtual memory, improved graphics, and the ability to multitask helped propel Windows to sell 10 million copies. In fact, while it was released in 1990, Windows 3.0 wasn't discontinued until 2001.

Windows 3.1: A pseudo-release for Microsoft, Windows 3.1 contained necessary fixes and improved font functionality. Meanwhile, Microsoft continued to develop a new release, Windows NT, hoping it could be released as a continuation of Windows 3.0 and 3.1. Unfortunately, issues with driver support and software meant that it was time for a new version altogether.

Windows 95: Marking the change from 16-bit to 32-bit, Windows 95 was designed for increased compatibility and ultimate user-friendliness. As it became clear that consumer computers would become the future, Windows 95 was offered on newer computers only because it lacked some backwards compatibility at first. Newer releases and patches later made the version easier to use on older machines, but by 1995, Microsoft had achieved a more widespread interest in home computers.

Windows 4.0: The follow-up to Windows 3.0, Windows 4.0 was released in 1996 with minor improvements and is not considered a major Windows release.

Windows 98: As consumer computers became more widespread, Windows 98 included improved hardware and hardware drivers, Internet Explorer, and eventually, Internet connection sharing. Released in 1998, with a new release in 1999, Microsoft 98 was the first release designed specifically for consumers, as opposed to the business or technology set.

Windows 2000: Windows 2000 made everyone's lives easier by increasing the number of plug and play devices compatible with the operating system. Windows ME (Millennial Edition) was also released, offering the system recovery tool to help return a crashed computer to its last known operating settings.

Windows XP: The system designed for ease and stability, Windows XP was released in 2001, offering plenty of ease and functionality for laptop and desktop users. The operating system was designed to offer users help through a comprehensive help center, and it gave users the ability to consume a number of different types of media.

Windows Vista: Widely considered a flop in technology circles, Windows Vista was released in 2006. It had high system requirements and suffered issues with performance and security. The operating system also tended to drain laptop batteries. The version lasted only for three years, during which some users downgraded back to XP to avoid the pitfalls of Vista.

Windows 7: For this current release of Windows, Microsoft learned its mistakes with Vista and created an operating system with speed, stability and minimal system requirements. Microsoft ditched the gadget bar from Vista, replacing it with a cleaner feel. This version was released in 2009.

Windows 8: This latest Windows release is getting a lot of attention. With its redesigned Metro-style user interface and Windows Store, this version is, once again, redefining what Windows is. It also comes with integrated antivirus protection, a virtual hard disk and a new platform based on HTML5 and JavaScript. It promises faster boot time, touch screen compatibility and the ability to create a bootable USB flash drive. It may not be enough to get people to switch from Windows 7, but at least it's a glimpse into the future of the Windows operating system.