LIBS 100 Mr. Ed Rossman

1
LIBS 100Mr. Ed Rossman

• Essential Computing Concepts

2
Objectives

• Describe components of a computer system
• Define microprocessor, memory, and auxiliary
  storage

3
Any Computer System
4
The IBM PC

• A combined effort between IBM (credibility and
  marketing), Microsoft (operating system), and
  Intel (microprocessor) introduced in 1981
• The PC was created as an open machine enabling
  independent contractors to develop hardware
  and/or software to improve it
• PC clones quickly followed and the market soon
  exploded IBM has a fraction of the market it
  created

5
The PC Today
6
Inside the PC

• All computers are based on the binary number
  system
• A bit or binary digit has one of two values, zero
  or one
• A byte is the smallest addressable unit of memory
  (8 bits)
• ASCII provides for 256(or 28) characters
• 01000001 A
• 01000010 B
• etc.

On
Off
7
The Microprocessor

• The central processing unit (cpu) or brain of
  the PC
• Original chips were numbered
• 8086, 80286, 80386, 80486
• Pentium is an Intel trademark
• Clock speed (MHz or GHz) differentiates chips
• higher number faster processing speed

8
Megs, Gigs, etc.

• Clock speed determines how many instructions per
  second the microprocessor can execute.
• A MHz megahertz one million cycles/second
• GHz gigahertz one billion cycles/second

9
Random Access Memory (RAM)

• Transient (erased when power turned off)
• Measured in bytes
• 1 Kilobyte 210 characters (1,000 bytes)
• 1 Megabyte 220 characters (1,000,000 bytes)
• 1 Gigabyte 230 characters (1,000,000,000
  bytes)
• Need 256Mb or 512Mb of RAM
• Keep multiple programs data files in memory
• Graphic-intensive programs demand a lot of memory

10
Auxiliary Storage

• Floppy Disk
• No longer standard
• Hard (fixed) disk
• 30 Gb and higher
• Removable storage
• CD-R/CD-RW
• DVD/DVD-R/DVD-RW
• Zip disks
• Thumb/jump drives
• Tape

11
Input Devices
12
The Monitor

• Resolution is expressed in picture elements or
  pixels (800 x 600 or 1024 x 768)
• The higher the resolution, the more you can see
  at one time.
• Larger monitors enable you to you run at higher
  resolutions e.g., 19 to run 1024 x 768
  comfortably
• A graphics card speeds processing

13
Lower Resolution (800 x 600)
Displays 20 rows and 8 columns
14
Higher Resolution (1024 x 768)
Displays 28 rows and 12 columns
15
The Printer

• Ink Jet
• Todays entry level
• Laser
• Top-of-the line
• Four-in-one functionality
• Printer, scanner, fax, copier
• Network printer

16
Summary

• Understand components of a computer system for
  usage
• Begin familiarity with common acronyms and terms
• Think about computer as tool for information
  gathering

17
References
Grauer, Robert and Maryann Barber. Essential
Computing Concepts. New Jersey Person Prentice
Hall, 2004. Internet Pioneers. http//www.ibiblio.
org/pioneers/index.html Webopedia.
http//www.webopedia.com/TERM/H/HTTP.html