Internal functioning of a computer

Internal functioning of a computer

1. Integrate circuits

   • super thin pieces made out of semiconductive materials and microscopic elements.

2. Microprocessor

   • is the most important...
     • ...
   • also known as Central Processing Unit (CPU)
   • interpret and execute basic instruccions that make the computer work.
   • divided in:
     • Control Unit
       • executes every one of the instruccions of the programs and head the flow of data
       • Control resources as memory
     • Arithmetic-Logic Unit
       • makes the arithmetic operatons
   • performance depends on cloock speed, words lenght and cache memory.
     • words lenght refers to the quantity of bits that a microprocessor can manipulate at the same time.
     • cache memory is of high speed and acts as a container that saves the instructions that are most frequently required,
     • cache capacity is variable and it is measure in kylobytes
   • speed is measure in heartz
   • counts with a set of instructions to take over all the proceses that are requested (CISC, RISC)
     • Complex Instruction Set Computer
     • Reduced Instruccion Set Computer
       • less cicles than CISC, but requires more orders.

3. processing techniques

   • 1.- attend orders in a sequential form
   • 2.- attends simultaneously all the orders.
   • 3.- starts the acomplishment of an indication before finishing the other.

4. RAM

   • temporal memory that saves programs and data that are in process.
   • also saves operaive system instructions that control the computer basic functions.
   • when we shut down the computer all the information in RAM losts.

5. ROM

   • Read Only Memory
   • saves permantly the information.
   • it can not be erased only replaced.
   • saves routine strart instructions

6. CMOS

   • lecture memory which reloads every time the computer turns on and saves date and hour.

7. Flash memory

   • lecture memory and can be erased electronically, retains data eventhough the system is off
   • considered the most expensive one
   • mainly used on mobile devices, printers, digital audio players, voice recorders, etc.

8. periferic devices

   • keyboard, mouse, display, etc
   • the most used port for this devices is USB
     • adventage of USB is the PnP (plug and play)
       • if system does not recognize the device a controller should be installed.