Architecture of a Computer

 Architecture of a Computer 

  

The architecture or structure of a computer is as shown below: 

  

computer-architecture 

  

The essential hardware components of a computer are: 

1) CPU (Central Processing Unit) 

2) Memory 

3) I/O (Input/Output) Devices 

  

Central Processing Unit (CPU): The CPU is the core hardware component of a computer. It is responsible for executing instructions such as arithmetic calculations, comparisons among data and movement of data inside the system. 

The Central Processing Unit mainly consists of two components: 1) Arithmetic Logical Unit (ALU) and 2) Control Unit (CU). 

Arithmetic Logical Unit: The ALU performs arithmetic and logical operations on the data based on the instructions stored in the memory. 

Control Unit: The Control Unit (CU) coordinates the system components, like transfer of data between the components, timing etc.  

  

Memory: Memory is the place where the programs and data are stored temporarily during processing. There are two types of memory in the computer system. They are: 1) Main memory or Primary memory and 2) Auxiliary memory or Secondary memory. 

Main memory: This is the place where the programs and data are stored temporarily during processing. The data in the main memory are erased when we turn off the computer or when we log off. 

Auxiliary memory: This memory is the place where the programs and data are stored permanently. When we turn off the computer, our programs and data remain in the secondary storage, ready for the next time we need them. 

  

I/O Devices: The input devices allow the user to give data as input to the computer and the output devices allow the computer to show information to the user. Examples of input devices are: keyboard, mouse, and scanner. Examples of output devices are monitor, speakers and printer. 


https://youtu.be/jB2rnTPq-CM

  

  

  

Hardware Components Inside a Computer 

Motherboard 

  

Motherboard is the most important hardware component of the computer. Motherboard is the hardware component that holds the other hardware components together as a single unit. The motherboard, or mainboard, of a PC is a large circuit board that is home to many of the most essential parts of the computer like: microprocessor, chipset, cache, memory sockets, bus, parallel and serial ports, mouse and keyboard connectors, hard disk and floppy disk sockets etc. 

  

motherboard
 

Microprocessor 

  

Microprocessor or Processor or Central Processing Unit is the heart of every computer. It is designed to perform all of the arithmetic, logic and other basic computing steps that make up the actions of your computer. Whenever a user executes a word processor, a computer game, a browser or any other software program, the CPU performs hundreds or even thousands of instructions. The microprocessor is a piece of electronic circuitry that uses digital logic to perform the instructions of the software. 

  

microprocessor 

  

A microprocessor is an integrated circuit – a thin slice of silicon crystal packed with microscopic circuit elements like: wires, transistors, capacitors, resistors. 

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