Chapter 6 : Inside Computer and Mobile Devices

The Insider

A motherboard is the main circuit board of the computer. A computer chip contains integrated circuits. A processor, also called the central processing unit (CPU), interprets and carries out the basic instructions that operate a computer. Its 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. The leading manufacturers of personal computer processor chips are Intel and AMD. 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. For every instruction, a processor repeats a set of four basic operations, which consist of a machine cycle. Below are four step in a machine cycle;

1. The control unit fetches the calculation’s instruction and data from memory

2. The control unit decodes the calculation’s instruction and send the instruction and data to the ALU

3. The ALU performs calculation on the data

4. The results of the calculation are stored in memory

A processor chip generates heat that could cause the chip to malfunction or fail. To prevent this to be happen, its require additional cooling. For example, heat sinks, liquid cooling technology and cooling mats.

Data Representation

Data representation consist of two type which is analog and digital. 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). The circuitry in a computer or mobile device represents the on or the off states electronically by the presence or absence of an electronic charge.

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. Memory stores three basic categories of items, operating system and other program, applications and data that being processed and the resulting information. The system unit contains two type of memory which are volatile memory and nonvolatile memory. Example of volatile memory is RAM while nonvolatile memory comprises ROM, flash memory and CMOS. ROM (read-only memory) refers to memory chips storing permanent data and instructions. Flash memory can be erased electronically and rewritten.

Adapters

An adapter card enhances functions of a component of a desktop or server system unit and/or provides connections to peripherals. Example of adapter cards are Bluetooth, MIDI, Modem, Network, Sound, TV tuner, USB, Video, and Video capture.

An expansion slot is a socket on a desktop or server motherboard that can hold an adapter card. With Plug and Play, the computer automatically can recognize peripheral devices as you install them.

Power Supply and Battery

The power supply or laptop AC adapter converts the wall outlet AC power into DC power. Mobile computers and devices can run using either a power supply or batteries. Batteries typically are rechargeable lithium-ion batteries.