HARDWARE

HARDWARE OF THE COMPUTER SYSTEM

Prepared By Engineer Mulimbi

Bricious
Email: mulizambia@yahoo.com
Email: mulizambia@gmail.com
 Hardware
Hardware refers to the physical
components of a computer that you
can see and touch, such as the
keyboard, mouse, printer, scanner
and monitor.

Input devices and their uses

• Input devices are used to enter data into a
computer system. Examples of input
devices are keyboard, mouse, touch
screens, microphone, scanner, digital
camera, cellphone, webcam and video
camera. The keyboard and mouse are the
most commonly used input devices.
 Mouse
Pointing devices minimise the amount of typing a user has to
do to enter data or interact with the computer.
A mouse is a pointing device that fits under the palm of your
hand.
You can control the movement of the mouse pointer on the
screen by moving the mouse on a flat surface.
The mouse pointer can take on many shapes, but is
generally in the shape of an arrow.
When the mouse is moved in a particular direction; the
mouse pointer moves in the same direction on the screen.
An optical mouse has no moving mechanical parts and uses
light technology to detect movements.
A wireless (cordless) mouse is a battery-operated mouse
that uses wireless technology, such as infrared light waves,
to transmit data.
Mouse Cont’
The
You can
operation of
perform
a cordless
several
mouse
operations
depends on
using the
battery
mouse.
power.

A left mouse A right-dick

click selects displays a
or deselects shortcut
an item. menu.
 Keyboards
A keyboard is an input device that contains keys (buttons)
that the user presses to enter data and instructions into a
computer.

A typical keyboard has 101 to 105 keys.

Keyboards have a standard QWERTY layout similar to a

typewriter, with a numeric keypad, and function keys for
control purposes.
Most keyboards are physically connected to the computer
and therefore can only be used close to the computer
case.

Look at the first six letters at the top left of the keyboard
and you will see the letters QWERTY.
 Keyboards
Cont’
There are other types of keyboards available, but in our country, this is the
most common.

The QWERTY keyboard was designed to assist touch typing by placing the
most commonly used letters in the English language under the strongest
fingers, such as the index fingers.

Look at the F and the J keys and you will notice that they have small raised
ridges.

This helps you find them without having to look down at the keyboard.

When learning to touch type the following keys form the so-called home row.

The left-hand fingers are on the A, S, D and F keys; the right-hand fingers
are on the J, K, L and; keys; both thumbs are on the space bar.
 Keyboards
Cont’
• Keyboards are inexpensive.
Advantages • Keyboards come standard when buying a computer.
• Specialised keyboards are available.

• User must learn how to type, or may not be accurate

typists.
• Prolonged frequent use can cause injuries to the
Disadvantages hands and wrists, known as repetitive strain injuries
(RSIs).
• They are difficult for people with paralysis or
muscular disorders to use.
 Scanners
An optical scanner scans an image, printed text, handwriting or an object
and converts it into a digital image.

The content is captured as a single digital image and can be manipulated

as an image using a graphics application.

Most scanners today have optical character recognition (OCR) software,

which enables the scanner to read and convert text documents into
electronic files.

These files can be edited using a word processor.

 Scanners
Cont’
Example:
The resolution 600x4800 ppi.
of a scanner is The first
OCR software
This increases measured in number (600)
saves time for
productivity pixels per inch refers to the
the user by not
and efficiency (ppi), number of bits
having to
in the sometimes per pixel and
retype
workplace. referred to as the second
information.
dots per inch (4800) to the
(dpi). number of
pixels per inch.
 Scanners
Cont’

limitations and
Advantages
disadvantages

Scanned images
The quality of
can be included Scanned images
Images lose the final image
in electronic can be Old documents Images can take
some quality in is dependent on
documents or manipulated can be stored in up a lot of
the scanning the quality of
can serve as using a graphics digital form. memory space.
process. the original
attachments for application.
image.
further use.
 Optical character
recognition (OCR)
Optical character recognition (OCR) is a technology that can
read typewritten, computer-printed or handwritten characters
from hardcopy documents and convert them into images, which a
computer can process.

OCR devices range from large machines that read thousands of

documents per minute to hand-held devices that scan one
document at a time.

OCR devices contain a small optical scanner and OCR software

to analyse what is read OCR devices read printed characters in
an OCR font.

The most widely used OCR font is OCR-A.

 Optical character
recognition (OCR) Cont’
During the scan, an OCR device determines the shapes of characters
by detecting patterns of light and dark, then compares each shape with
predefined shapes stored in memory. It then converts the shapes into
characters that the computer can process.

Companies use OCR characters on turnaround documents.

A turnaround document is one you return to the company that created

and sent it.

An example of a turnaround document is a utility bill where the client is

required to tear off a portion of the bill and send it back to the company
with their payment.

The portion they return usually has their payment amount, account
number and other information printed in OCR characters.
 Magnetic ink character
recognition (MICR)
A magnetic ink character recognition (MICR) reader
reads the magnetic ink characters that are printed at the
bottom of each cheque in a bank cheque book.

The magnetic ink characters of each cheque are pre-

coded with information such as the bank number,
customer account number and cheque number.

When a bank receives a cheque for payment, it uses an

MICR inscriber to print the amount of the cheque in
MICR character in the lower right corner after the other
pre-coded information.

The cheque is then sorted or routed to the customer's

bank along with thousands of other cheques.
 Magnetic ink character
recognition (MICR) Cont’
Each cheque is
inserted into an
MICR reader, which
reads and converts
the magnetic ink
characters into a
form that can be
processed by a
computer.

The banking
This makes it industry has
possible for established an
people to write internal standard
cheques in for bank numbers
and the font of
other countries. MICR characters.
 Optical mark recognition
(OMR)
An optical mark recognition (OMR) reader captures
human-marked data from printed forms, such as surveys,
test forms or questionnaires.

The person places hand-drawn marks such as circles or

rectangles on the forms.

An OMR reader is used in situations where large volumes

of hand-marked forms have to be captured quickly and
accurately.

In a test, the OMR reader fust scans the answers on the

answer sheet based on patterns of light.

It then scans the test form and matches its pattern of light
against the scanned answer sheet.
The elements of the
input phase

Data is
acquired or
gathered and
entered into
the computer
system.
Data is a
collection of
unprocessed
facts,
numbers, Input refers to
images, video any data or
or audio. instruction that
you enter into a
computer's
primary memory,
also known as
RAM.
 The elements of the
input phase Cont’
A command is an instruction that causes the computer to
perform a particular action.

Commands can be typing, pressing keys on a Filling in an

answer sheet keyboard, clicking a mouse button, clicking
on an icon, selecting an item from a menu, speaking into a
microphone or pressing an area of a touch screen.

A user response is an instruction given by the user to a

particular question displayed by the program.
The response to the question instructs the program to
perform certain actions.

Elements of the processing phase

• In the data processing cycle, processing refers to the operations
performed on data to produce information.
 Memory
The memory of a computer stores
data and programs during processing.

Memory is measured in the same way

that storage is measured.

Memory is divided into two types:

random access memory (RAM) and
read-only memory (ROM).
 Random access memory
(RAM)
Random access memory (RAM) is also referred to as main
memory, primary memory or temporary memory.

RAM consists of one or more chips that are slotted into

predefined slots.

It is volatile memory, meaning that its contents are lost when the
computer is switched off.

The processor and other devices can read from and write to
RAM.

Larger RAM speeds up the computer because more data,

instructions and programs can be stored and the processor
does not have to read from slower secondary storage media.

RAM holds operating system instructions that control the basic

functions of a computer system.
 Random access memory
(RAM) Cont’

These instructions are

RAM is also a temporary In addition, it holds the
loaded into RAM every time
holding place for program results of processing until
you start your computer
instructions, as well as data they can be stored more
system and stay in RAM
waiting to be processed, permanently using a
until you shut the system
displayed or printed. storage system.
down.
 Read-only memory
(ROM)
A read-only memory The ROM BIOS
(ROM) chip stores includes the start-up
data and instructions (boot) instructions
permanently, and and data used when
has a small set of a computer is first
instructions called turned on, and
the ROM BIOS usually executes
(basic Input/Output without user
system). intervention.

The boot process is

The computer cannot
complete once the
function without
operating system is
ROM and the BIOS.
loaded into RAM.
 Cache
memory
Cache memory is high-speed memory that is either stored as a block of
RAM or appears as memory on its own.

The cache stores frequently used instructions and data.

When the processor requires an instruction or data, it first searches cache

memory.

If the instruction or data is not found in cache memory, it searches the RAM;
if not found in RAM, it searches the slower storage media such as hard
disks, CD or DVD.

Cache memory speeds up processing time. The amount of cache memory,

as well as its location, affect performance.

A Level 1 (11) cache is built into the processor chip, whereas a Level 2 (12)
cache is located on a separate chip, so it takes a processor more time to
fetch data from a 12 cache.

Cache capacity is usually measured in megabytes (MB).

 Central processing unit
(CPU)

The processor, also Multi-core

called the central Looking inside a A processor that
It is the most processors such as
processing unit (CPU) computer, you can can house more
important and dual-core and
is the brain of the usually identify the than one
usually the single quad-core
computer and is CPU because it is processing unit on
responsible for most expensive processors are
the largest chip on a single chip is
processing data into single component faster than
the computer’s called a multi-core
information in a of a computer. processors with a
motherboard. processor.
systematic manner. single core.
 Central processing unit
(CPU) Cont’
To gain maximum speed, however, your computer's
operating system and software should be optimised for
multi-core processing.

Most operating systems support multi-core processing.

The CPU is not only responsible for processing but is

also responsible for overall control of all the components
in the computer.

The CPU contains a control unit (CU) and an arithmetic

logic unit (ALU):
 Control unit
It fetches the data and
The CU directs and instructions stored in
coordinates the memory so that Arithmetic logic unit
operations in a computer. processing can take
place.

The ALU performs

arithmetic operations
such as addition and
subtraction.

It also performs logical

operations such as
comparing two
numbers to determine
whether they are
equal.

The ALU uses

registers to hold data
that is being
processed.
 System clock
speed
A system clock controls the timing of all computer
operations in the CPU.

The clock speed is measured in the number of

clock pulses per second.

Current computer speeds are measured in

gigahertz (GHz), for example 2.8 GHz.

A gigahertz equals one billion clock pulses.

The faster the clock speed, the more instructions

the processor can execute per second.
 Arithmetic logic unit
(ALU)
Performs arithmetic operations such as addition
and subtraction.

System clock
• controls the timing of all computer operations in the CPU.

Types of registers
• The CPU has small high-speed locations called registers that
temporarily store data and instructions.
• These registers are used when an instruction is fetched from
memory, decoded and then executed.
 The CPU has the
following registers:

Memory address register Memory data register

(MAR) - holds the Program counter (PC) - (MDR) or memory buffer
memory address of keeps track of the Accumulator register register (MBR) - found in
Instruction registers (IR) -
either the data or memory address of the (AR) - used for storing the CU and used to
holds the current
instruction to be fetched next instruction in the results produced by store:
instruction to be
from memory to the memory to be executed the CPU during • the data or instruction
executed.
CPU, or the address to after the current processing. fetched from memory or
which data will be sent instruction. • the data to be stored to
and stored in memory.
memory.
 The fetch-execute
cycle
The terms
machine cycle, Step
instruction cycle 1:
Four basic
or fetch-execute
operations are Fetch
cycle refer to the
performed on a
process in which
single instruction:
a computer
executes a single Step
Step
instruction. 2:
4:
Decod
Store
e
The fetch
operation is the
Step 1: Fetch first operation in Step
the fetch-execute 3:
cycle.
Execut
e
 Step 2:
Decode
After Step 1, the CU can interpret
the instruction stored in the IR, Step 1:
gather the specified data or instruct Fetch
the ALU to begin processing.

Step 2:
Step 4:
Decod
Store
e
Step 3: Execute
• The instruction is executed - the ALU
Step 3:
performs logical and arithmetic calculations Execut
on the data and the results are stored in the e
AR.
• Results to be stored in memory are moved
from the AR to the MBR.
 Step 4: Store (if
necessary)
The content of the MBR is copied to memory if necessary.

In some computers, the processor fetches, decodes, executes and

stores one instruction at a time.

The next instruction is processed only once the current instruction's

fetch-execute cycle is completed.

Today's personal computers support pipelining.

In pipelining, the processor begins fetching a second instruction

before it completes the fetch-execute cycle for the first instruction.

Processors that use pipelining are faster because they do not have
to wait for one instruction to be completed in the fetch-execute cycle
before fetching the next instruction.
 Types of output
devices

In many
documents
Various types of
there is a
output can be
Output can be combination of
Output devices generated by a
viewed, printed different forms
are used to computer
or heard, and of output - for
communicate depending on
can be in the example, a web
output the hardware or
form of text, page contains
(information) to program being
video, audio text and
the user. used and the
and graphics. graphics and
user's
can contain
requirements.
audio and
animations.
 Types of output devices
Cont’
An output device is any device that communicates the
results of data processing to the outside world.

The most commonly used output devices are monitors,

printers, speakers, headsets, fax machines, fax modems,
multifunction devices and data projectors.
Hardcopy output refers to a physically printed copy of
information from your computer. Softcopy output refers to
electronic information that is displayed on screen.

Softcopy output is displayed temporarily, whereas hardcopy

output is more permanent.

Hardcopy is also referred to as a printout.

 Printers

An impact
printer
produces a A non-impact Non-impact Hardcopy Softcopy
A printer • electronic
copy using a printer printers like Output device • a physically
produces a
mechanism produces a laser printers • any device that printed copy information
hardcopy -
that hits copy without are faster and communicates the of that is
physical copy results of data
against an physically quieter than information displayed on
- of text and processing to the
inked ribbon, striking the impact outside world. from a screen.
graphics.
which in turn paper. printers, computer.
strikes the
paper.
 Laser printers
A laser printer is a non-impact printer that operates by shining a
laser beam to produce an image on a drum.

The drum is then rolled in toner-powdered ink and the

electrically charged portions of the drum pick up the ink.

Finally, using a combination of heat and pressure, the ink is

transferred to the paper.

A laser printer is a high-speed, high-quality printer.

It is relatively expensive to purchase, but cheaper than an inkjet

printer per printed page.

Colour laser printers combine toner colours to produce an

image, but are expensive to run.
 Inkjet printers
Also known as OfficeJet, BubbleJet or DeskJet, an inkjet printer
is a non-impact printer in which tiny drops of ink are sprayed
onto a page to create an image.

These are popular colour printers for use in homes or small

businesses because of their lower cost and good-quality print.

However, it is generally more expensive to print a page with an

inkjet printer than with a laser printer.

Inkjet printers are ideal for high-quality graphics and

photograph printouts.
 Multifunction
printers

The advantage of a
A multifunction multifunction printer
printer is a single is that it is The disadvantage
A multifunction convenient and
A multifunction device that offers is that all its
printer is an It is ideal for offers many
device is also a combination of functionality is
example of a home office or functions, is a
called an all-in- functions such as space-saving lost when the
multifunction small office use.
one device. copying, printing, machine, and is less printer
device.
faxing and expensive to buy malfunctions.
scanning. than buying each
device separately.
 Purchasing a
Printer
technolog
printer
When buying
y does a printer, you The
not must know following
what specific
change as tasks the points will
rapidly as printer will be help with
computer used for and the choice
what it could
technolog be used for in
of a
y. the future. printer:

A printer It is wise Purpose

purchased to choose • You must know exactly what the
printer will be used for.
today can a printer • For example, if the printer is
last you that best going to be used mostly for
printing photographs, then a
up to five suits your photo printer is required.
years. needs. • If the printer is going to be used
for high-volume, fast printing,
then a laser printer is ideal.
 Inkjet or laser
printer
It is important to
consider the type of
technology that a printer
uses to print. You can choose either an
Cost inkjet, monochrome laser
(black and white) or colour
• Laser printers are laser. Inkjet printers are
slightly more expensive relatively cheap and are ideal
than inkjet printers but for home users and home
save you money in the businesses.
long run.

Colour Laser printers are

recommended for businesses
• You can choose an inkjet or networks that require
printer or colour laser printer speed, efficiency and high-
for colour printing. You choose a quality resolution.
monochrome laser
for higher printing
speeds and the
lowest cost per page.
 Inkjet or laser printer
Cont’
Consider the running costs for replacement of ink cartridges (inkjet printers) or toner (laser printers).

Printer ink cartridges for inkjet printers are more expensive.

Inkjet printers produce text from a black ink cartridge or from a combination of colour cartridges.

Choose an inkjet printer that has a separate black ink cartridge black ink cartridges will produce crisper
black text and cost less.

For colour inkjet printing, choose a printer that uses separate ink cartridges for each colour. Each
cartridge can be replaced individually when the colour runs out, thereby reducing wastage.

It is cheaper to print a page on a laser printer than on an inkjet printer.

 Inkjet or laser printer
Cont’
Quality
• The resolution of laser and inkjet printers is measured in dots­per-inch (dpi).
The higher the dpi of a printer, the higher the print quality.
Speed
• The speeds of laser and inkjet printers are measured in pages per minute
(ppm). Laser printers have a higher ppm rate when printing text than inkjet
printers.
Printer RAM (memory)
• Printers have built-in memory to improve printer performance.
• When printing large files or files with many graphics, the printer requires more
memory to print these without problems.
 Inkjet or laser printer
Cont’

Duplex printing
• Duplex printing enables you to print on both sides of a page thus saving on paper costs.
• This feature is found on higher end printers.
• You can choose a printer that has auto duplex or manual duplex.
• Manual duplex printers require you to physically reinsert a page to print on the other side.
Multifunction or standalone
• Depending on your needs, you can choose a multifunction printer or a standalone printer.
• A standalone printer has no functions other than printing.
• A multifunction printer enables you to copy, fax, scan and print all in one device and is
favoured for home office and small business use.
• Multifunction printers reduce the space required on a table, and the number of power points
and cabling required.
 Inkjet or laser printer
Cont’
They are also less expensive than buying each device
separately.

However, if a multifunction printer stops working, then all its

functions are lost.

Standalone functions without a computer

• Multifunction printers have many features that do not require a computer to
function, such as copying and faxing.
• Some multifunction inkjet printers contain memory card slots, USB ports and
a small LCD screen that enable you to print directly from a memory cards or
flash disk without going through a computer.
• Some multifunction printers also enable you to print directly from your digital
camera.
• Choose a multifunction printer that has a high fax speed to save on
transmission costs.
 Inkjet or laser printer
Cont’
Networking features
• Printers with built-in Ethernet networking can be used to connect to
a home or office network.
• These printers cost more but are convenient if sharing of the printer
is required by more than one computer.
• Printers without built-in Ethernet can be shared on networks for use
by many ·users.

Wireless printing
• Today wireless printers are available using wireless technologies such as
infrared, Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. Many printers are either Bluetooth or Wi-Fi
enabled.
• When a printer is Wi-Fi enabled, you can add it to a wireless home network
and position the printer in a central position for everyone.
• Bluetooth wireless printers make it easier to print from Bluetooth mobile
devices such as notebook computers, PDAs, cellphones and digital cameras.
• Bluetooth wireless is short-range wireless technology and usually requires
the printer and computer to be in the same room.
 Monitors
LCDs are
If you don't popular among
A monitor is a have a top-end There are two PC users
device that video card, types of because they
displays text, then you would monitors - are flicker-free,
graphics and be wasting cathode ray take up less
video, and is a your money tube (CRT) and space and are
visual window buying a top- liquid crystal available in
for the user. end monitor. display (LCD). larger sizes.

The monitor plugs However, if you CRT monitors

into a port on the have already are yesterday's
video card in the spent a lot of technology for
system unit. The money on a ordinary PC
video card high- users, although
contains a performance they are
graphics video card, you popular
processing unit should get a amongst
(GPU) to perform high-quality graphic artists
calculations to monitor to take and typesetters
display images on advantage of because of
the screen. the video their crisp
 LCD monitors
A monitor with a
resolution of
800x600 displays
800 pixels per
horizontal inch
LCD monitors are The quality of the and 600 pixels
flat-panel displays monitor depends per vertical inch
that use liquid on its resolution, to create an
crystal dot pitch and image on the
technology. refresh rate. screen.

The size of an A pixel is the In an LCD, the

LCD screen is smallest unit of a colour of the
measured digital image. pixels is changed
diagonally from to produce
the bottom left images that are
comer to the top flicker-free.
right corner of the
screen, which is
known as the
viewable area.
 LCD monitors
Cont’
The images are flicker-free because no refreshing is required.

The best quality image is achieved when the signal received

matches the native resolution.

If the LCD resolution is set lower than the native resolution,

then distortion in display quality can occur.

LCD monitors have a small footprint; that is, they occupy less
desk space.

Some LCDs can be mounted on a wall.

LCD monitors use less electricity and produce less heat

compared to CRT technology.
 Factors that determine
the quality of a monitor

If your
screen
Having
resolution is
higher
set to 1024
numbers in The size of
by 768, this
the the pixel is
means there Dot pitch The smaller
The number The more Computer resolution as important
are 1024 The size of refers to the the distance
of pixels in a pixels in a monitors means the as the
pixels along the pixel distance between the
Resolution monitor monitor the contain monitor number of
the top of the determines between pixels, the
determines better the millions of displays pixels. Pixel
screen the dot pitch. pixels on the clearer the
its resolution. resolution. pixels. images and size is
(horizontal) screen. picture is.
words with measured in
and 768
much finer millimeters.
pixels down
detail and
the side
clarity.
(vertical) of
the screen.
 Factors that determine
the quality of a monitor
Cont’
• Although many people choose a monitor by its size first, it
is no use choosing a big screen if its resolution is not
correct for its size.
• Refresh quality -the refresh rate, measured in hertz (Hz),

Scree refers to the speed with which a CRT monitor redraws an

image on screen.
• A slower refresh rate causes the picture to fade and flicker

n size when redrawn, which causes health problems such as eye

strain and headaches.
• Response time -pixel response time is a measure of how
long it takes for a pixel to change colour and is measured in
milliseconds (ms).
 Factors that determine
the quality of a monitor
Cont’
For example, a shorter response time of 4 ms is generally
better than 8 ms, as it reduces the likelihood of ghosting
and blurring in moving images.

Ghosting occurs when an image is etched permanently on a

monitor's screen.

Pixel response time

• A measure of how long it takes for a pixel to change colour,
measured in milliseconds (ms).

Ghosting
• An image is etched permanently on a monitor's
screen.
 LCD
projectors
A data projector receives signals from a computer and projects them
as images onto a screen, a wall or any large flat surface.

A data projector can be attached to a desktop computer, laptop, VCR,

laser disc player and more.

Presentations, lectures, interactive learning and demonstrations are more effective and
professional using a data projector, especially when there is a large audience and the
information can be clearly seen.

An LCD projector attaches to a computer directly and uses its own light source to
display the information laptop shown on the computer screen.

LCD projectors produce low-quality images.

 LCD projectors
Cont’
Digital light processing (DLP) projectors
use tiny mirrors to reflect light, which
produces sharper, brighter and more
colourful images.

The display of a DLP projector is well

focused and can be seen clearly in a
well-lit room.
 The End
• Thank You

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