Information Sheet Harambee University 2022

Harambee University
Ethiopian TVET-System
Curriculum
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
SUPPORT SERVICE
Level II

Based on
Occupational Standard (OS)
LEARNING MODULE 01
Unit of Competence: - Connect Internal Hardware Component
Module Title: - Connecting Internal Hardware Component
MODULE CODE: - EIS HNS2 M01 0322

LO1:- Identify, categorize and distinguish the different types

of internal hardware components

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1.1. Identifying internal hardware components

The internal components of a computer system consist of the hardware required to
store and process data, and communicate with external, peripheral devices.

The main internal components of a computer system are:

 Processor
 Main memory
 Input/output (I/O) controllers

These components are connected together by high-speed communication buses.

These components are connected by the system bus, which is made up of the
address bus, data bus, and control bus.

Other types of memory are crucial for the operation of a computer system. Secondary
storage (e.g. SSD, HDD) provides permanent storage for programs and
data. Secondary storage is discussed further in the hardware topic.

 Processor
The processor is the part of the computer that processes data
by executing programs. It also manages the rest of the hardware.

The processor sometimes referred to as the CPU (central processing unit), is the part
of the computer that processes data by executing program instructions. At
processor level, these will be low-level instructions in the form of machine code that
the processor has been designed to handle, based on a specific processor instruction
set.

For the processor to be able to execute a program, the program instructions need to be
transferred from secondary storage into main memory from where they can be fetched,
decoded, and executed. The data that needs to be processed is also loaded into main
memory (from secondary storage) or provided by the input and output devices via
the I/O controllers.

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 Main memory
Main memory is memory that can be accessed directly by the processor. The main
memory consists of memory locations that store instructions or data.

There are two types of main memory:

 volatile memory, which loses its contents when the power is removed
 non-volatile memory, which keeps its contents even without power

The term main memory is often used to mean random access memory (RAM),
which is the working memory that is used by the processor.

RAM is a volatile (temporary) memory that has addressable locations. Each location
can be accessed randomly, so any instruction or data can be placed in any location
(overwriting whatever it previously contained).

This is different to the role of read-only memory (ROM), a type of non-

volatile (permanent memory), and also different from secondary storage, which the
processor can't work with directly.

Each memory location, where instructions or data are stored as binary sequences,
has a physical address, which is a number used to locate that memory location and
access its contents.

There are two main types of main memory:

 RAM, which is the working memory that is used by the processor during
the fetch-decode-execute cycle
 ROM, which is used in the boot process for the computer system

Main memory is distinct from secondary storage, which the processor can't work with
directly. Secondary storage must be accessed through I/O controllers. You can read
more about main memory on this concept page which also covers cache, registers,
and virtual memory.

 Input/output (I/O) controllers

All external (peripheral) devices are connected to the processor through I/O
controllers.

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These provide the mechanism for:

 input data to be received for processing from input devices, such as keyboards
 the results of computation to be output from the system to output devices, such
as display screens

Secondary storage devices are also connected to the processor through I/O
controllers. Secondary storage, in contrast to main memory, cannot be accessed
directly by the processor. It is not favorable for peripheral devices to be directly
attached to the processor. Each device operates in a different way, at different speeds,
and using different electronic signals. An I/O controller can be described as
an interface between the core computer system and its peripherals.

I/O controllers provide a set of addressable registers that the processor (CPU) can
access to communicate with the I/O devices. For example, the characters entered
using a keyboard would be stored in an I/O controller that the processor (CPU) can
access and process, such as displaying the characters on a screen.

A physical port (e.g. a USB port used to connect a keyboard to a computer) on the
controller provides a connection for the peripheral. The peripheral device has a cable
or connector to connect it to the port. The I/O controller circuitry facilitates the
exchange of data in the form of electrical signals between the processor and the
peripheral. The controller then translates the signals into the correct form. The
peripheral device almost certainly operates at a much slower speed than the
processor. The interface provides a buffer so that the disparate timing requirements
can be satisfied.

Each peripheral device can have its own I/O controller or can share a hub controller
(as is the case with USB). Large desktop computers usually have slots where
additional specialist controllers can be added.

When a new peripheral is added, a device driver is also needed. This is a piece of
software that provides a software interface for the peripheral device, which enables the
operating systems to access the functions of the hardware without having to be
configured specifically for every device that is used. Many devices are now 'plug and
play', which means that the driver is either embedded or automatically downloaded
when the hardware is connected.

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1.2. Explaining purpose and characteristics of internal hardware

component.
Internal Computer Hardware
Introduction
Computer Hardware is the physical part of a computer, as distinguished from
the computer software that executes or runs on the hardware. The hardware of a
computer is infrequently changed, while software and data are modified frequently.
The term soft refers to readily created, modified, or erased. These are unlike the
physical components within the computer which are hard.
When you think of the term computer hardware you probably think of the guts inside
your personal computer at home or the one in your classroom. However, computer
hardware does not specifically refer to personal computers.
Instead, it is all types of computer systems. Computer hardware is in embedded
systems in automobiles, microwave ovens, CD players, DVD players, and many more
devices.
In 2003, only 0.2% of all microprocessors sold were for personal computers. How many
other things in your house or your classroom use computer hardware?

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Inside Computer

Motherboard
The motherboard is the body or mainframe of the computer, through which all other
components interface.
It is the central circuit board making up a complex electronic system.
A motherboard provides the electrical connections by which the other components of the
system communicate.
The mother board includes many components such as: central processing unit (CPU),
random access memory (RAM), firmware, and internal and external buses.

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Motherboard

Central Processing Unit

The Central Processing Unit (CPU; sometimes just called processor) is a machine
that can execute computer programs.

It is sometimes referred to as the brain of the computer.

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CPU Diagram
There are four steps that nearly all CPUs use in their
operation: fetch, decode, execute, and write back. The first step, fetch, involves
retrieving an instruction from program memory.

In the decode step, the instruction is broken up into parts that have significance to
other portions of the CPU.

During the execute step various portions of the CPU, such as the arithmetic logic
unit (ALU) and the floating point unit (FPU) are connected so they can perform the
desired operation.

The final step, write back, simply writes back the results of the execute step to
some form of memory.

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Random Access Memory

Random access memory (RAM) is fast-access memory that is cleared when the
computer is power-down. RAM attaches directly to the motherboard, and is used to
store programs that are currently running.

RAM is a set of integrated circuits that allow the stored data to be accessed in any
order (why it is called random). There are many different types of RAM.

Distinctions between these different types include: writable vs. read-only, static vs.
dynamic, volatile vs. non-volatile, etc.

RAM

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Firmware
Firmware is loaded from the Read only memory (ROM) run from the Basic Input-
Output System (BIOS).

It is a computer program that is embedded in a hardware device, for example a

microcontroller.

As it name suggests, firmware is somewhere between hardware and software.

Like software, it is a computer program which is executed by a microprocessor or a
microcontroller.

But it is also tightly linked to a piece of hardware, and has little meaning outside of
it. Most devices attached to modern systems are special-purpose computers in
their own right, running their own software.

Some of these devices store that software (“firmware”) in a ROM within the device
itself

Power Supply
The power supply as its name might suggest is the device that supplies power to all
the components in the computer.

Its case holds a transformer, voltage control, and (usually) a cooling fan. The power
supply converts about 100-120 volts of AC power to low-voltage DC power for the
internal components to use.

The most common computer power supplies are built to conform with the ATX form
factor. This enables different power supplies to be interchangeable with different
components inside the computer.

ATX power supplies also are designed to turn on and off using a signal from the
motherboard, and provide support for modern functions such as standby mode.

Removable Media Devices

If your putting something in your computer and taking it out is most likely a form of
removable media. There are many different removable media devices.

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The most popular are probably CD and DVD drives which almost every computer
these days has at least one of.

There are some new disc drives such as Blu-ray which can hold a much larger
amount of information than normal CDs or DVDs.
One type of removable media which is becoming less popular is floppy disk.

CD
CDs are the most common type of removable media. They are inexpensive but
also have short life-span. There are a few different kinds of CDs.

CD-ROM which stands for Compact Disc read-only memory are popularly used to
distribute computer software although any type of data can be stored on them.

CD-R is another variation which can only be written to once but can be read many
times. CD-RW (rewritable) can be written to more than once as well as read more
than once.

Some other types of CDs which are not as popular include Super Audio CD
(SACD), Video Compact Discs (VCD), Super Video Compact Discs (SVCD), Photo
CD, Picture CD, CD-i, and Enhanced CD.

CD-ROM Drive

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There are two types of devices in a computer that use CDs: CD-ROM drive and a
CD writer. The CD-ROM drive used for reading a CD.

The CD writer drive can read and write a CD. CD writers are much more popular
are new computers than a CD-ROM drive.

Both kinds of CD drives are called optical disc drives because the use a laser light
or electromagnetic waves to read or write data to or from a CD.

DVD
DVDs (digital versatile discs) are another popular optical disc storage media
format. The main uses for DVDs are video and data storage.

Most DVDs are of the same dimensions as compact discs. Just like CDs there are
many different variations. DVD-ROM has data which can only be read and not
written. DVD-R and DVD+R can be written once and then function as a DVD-ROM.
DVD-RAM, DVD-RW, or DVD+RW hold data that can be erased and re-written
multiple times.

DVD-Video and DVD-Audio discs respectively refer to properly formatted and

structured video and audio content. The devices that use DVDs are very similar to
the devices that use CDs.

There is a DVD-ROM drive as well as a DVD writer that work the same way as a
CD-ROM drive and CD writer. There is also a DVD-RAM drive that reads and
writes to the DVD-RAM variation of DVD.

DVD

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Blu-ray
Blu-ray is a newer optical disc storage media format. Its main uses are high-
definition video and data storage.

The disc has the same dimensions as a CD or DVD. The term “Blu-ray” comes
from the blue laser used to read and write to the disc.

The Blu-ray discs can store much more data than CDs or DVDs.

A dual layer Blu-ray disc can store up to 50GB, almost six times the capacity of a
dual layer DVD (WOW!).

Blu-ray discs have similar devices used to read them and write to them as CDs
have. A BD-ROM drive can only read a Blu-ray disc and a BD writer can read and
write a Blu-ray disc.

Floppy Disk
A floppy disk is a type of data storage that is composed of a disk of thin, flexible
(“floppy”) magnetic storage medium encased in a square or rectangular plastic
shell. Floppy disks are read and written by a floppy disk drive.

Floppy disks are a dying and being replaced by the optical and flash drives.

Many new computers do not come with floppy drives anymore but there are a lot of
older ones with floppy drives lying around.

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While floppy disks are very cheap the amount of storage on them compared to the
amount of storage for the price of flash drives makes floppy disks unreasonable to
use.

Floppy Disk

Internal Storage
Internal storage is hardware that keeps data inside the computer for later use and
remains persistent even when the computer has no power.

There are a few different types of internal storage. Hard disks are the most popular
type of internal storage. Solid-state drives have grown in popularity slowly.

A disk array controller is popular when you need more storage then a single her
disk can hold.

Hard Disk Drive

A hard disk drive (HDD) is a non-volatile storage device which stores digitally
encoded data on rapidly rotating platters with magnetic surfaces.

Just about every new computer comes with a hard disk these days unless it comes
with a new solid-state drive.

Typical desktop hard disk drives store between 120 and 400GB, rotate at 7,200
rpm, and have a madia transfer rate of 1 Gbit/s or higher.

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Hard disk drives are accessed over one of a number of bus types, including parallel
ATA (also called IDE), Serial ATA (SATA), SCSI, Serial Attached SCSI, and Fibre
Channel.

Hard Drive

Solid-State Drive
A solid-state drive (SSD) is a data storage device that uses solid-state memory to
store persistent data.

An SSD emulates a hard disk drive, thus easily replacing it in any application.
SSDs have begun to appear in laptops because they can be smaller than HDDs.

SSDs are currently more expensive per unit of capacity than HDDs which is why
they have not caught on so quickly.

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