THE SYSTEM UNIT

THE SYSTEM UNIT

1. System Chassis

   • Container that houses most of the electronic components

2. System Unit

   • Contains systems electronic components and selected secondary storage devices

3. Types System Unit

   • Desktops
   • Laptops
   • Tablets
   • Smartphones
   • Wearable

4. Similarities Between System Unit

   • System boards
     • Called as mother board
       • Controls communication for the entire computer system
       • Contains a variety of electronic components
         • Socket: Connection point for chips
         • Chips: Tiny circuit boards etched onto squares of silicon
         • Slots: Provide a connection point and expansion capabilities for the computer
         • Bus Lines: Connecting lines that provide pathways to support communication
   • Microphocessor
     • CPU / Processor
       • Brains of the computer
       • Contained single chip called a mictoprocessor
     • Basic components CPU
       • Control Unit
         • Tells computer system how to carry out a programs instructions
       • Arithmetic-logic Unit (ALU)
         • Performs arithmetic and logical operations
   • Memory
     • Holding area for data, information and instructions
     • Types of memory chips
       • RAM
         • Random Access Memory (RAM)
           • Chips hold programs and data that the CPU is presently processing
       • ROM
         • Read-Only Memory (ROM)
           • Information stored by the manufacturer
           • Non-volatile and cannot be changed
       • Flash Memory
         • Combines of the features RAM and ROM
         • Contains startup information (BIOS)

5. Expansions slots and cards

   • Graphic cards: For high quality 3D graphics
   • SD Cards: Expansion cards for mobile devices

6. Bus lines / Bus

   • Connects port of the CPU to each other
   • Pathway for bits refer to data and instructions

7. Ports

   • Connect external devices - system unit
   • Connect directly to system board and card inserted on the system board

8. Cables

   • Connect external devices - system unit via ports

9. Power Supply

   • Computers require (DC) direct current power converting (AC) alternating power from wall outlets to batteries

10. Electronic Data and Instructions

    • DES - One of 2 states, on/off

11. Numeric Representation

    • 2 state binary system consists of only 2 digits called bits

12. Character Encoding

    • Unique sequence of binary representation of a particular letter, number or special character