1 CHAPTER 2 COMPUTER HARDWARE

2 The Significance of Hardware  Pace of hardware development is extremely fast. Keeping up requires a basic understanding of hardware issues.  New hardware (or falling prices) often leads to new business opportunities.

3 Computer Hardware  The physical equipment used for input, processing, output, and storage Central processing unit (CPU) Memory (primary and secondary storage) Input technologies Output technologies Communication technologies

4 Computer System Components

5 How the Processor/CPU works

6 A More detailed view… Source:

7 Processing Characteristics  Machine Cycle Time Time it takes to execute the instruction and execution phases Measured in Million Instruction Per Second (MIPS) or FLoating point Operations Per Second (FLOPS)  Clock Speed A series of electronic pulses produced at a predetermined rate, that affect machine cycle time Measured in MHz or GHz (fastest desktop CPUs today are 2.4 GHz  Word Length How many bits are processed at a time by the CPU 4, 8, 16, 32, 64 AMD and Intel are now shipping 64 bit processors  All are crude measures of performance E.g. AMD Athlon XP (2.1 GHz) is faster than Intel P4 2.6 GHz

8 Advances in Microprocessor Design  Increasing miniaturization of transistors  Making the physical layout of the chip’s components as compact and efficient as possible  New materials for the chip that improve the conductivity (flow) of electricity Superconductivity  Optical processors  Major problem today: Heat! Uncooled, a CPU would melt itself in seconds!

9 Moore’s Law The number of transistors in a chip will double every 18 months. - Gordon Moore, 1965

10 Moore’s Law Illustrated

11 Memory Characteristics and Functions  Primary Storage Stores what the CPU will use directly  Storage Capacity  Types of Memory Random Access Memory (RAM) Read-Only Memory (ROM)

12 Storage Measurements  Some devices are measure in ’metric’ bytes 1 KB = 1000 Bytes Gives a larger number 100 MB = 105 million Bytes

13 Basic Types of Memory Chips Content disappears when power is off Content stays when power is off

14 Secondary Storage  stores very large amounts of data for extended periods of time  typically non-volatile  much slower than primary storage  can be much more cost effective than primary storage  uses a variety of media, each with its own technology

15 Types of Secondary Storage  Magnetic Tapes  Magnetic Disks  RAID  Storage area network (SAN)  Optical Disks  Magneto-optical Disk  Digital Video Disk (DVD)  Memory Cards  Expandable Storage

16 Secondary Storage Devices  Fixed Media Hard disks ( GB) Redundant Array of Inexpensive Disks (RAID)  Removable Media Diskette (1.44 MB) Laser-servo diskette (120 MB)  Combines magnetic and optical storage Cartridge disks – e.g. Jaz (1-2 GB) Tape (GB) CD-ROM ( MB)  CD-R, CD-RW, DVD-ROM (4.7GB), DVD-RAM Flash memory (4-512 MB)

17 Costs for Data Storage

18 Storage Area Network (SAN)  Storing and accessing data is becoming increasingly important  SAN offers Lots of bandwidth Easily upgraded Less hassle More security  SAN is a hot topic

19 Input Devices  Keyboard and mouse  Voice-recognition devices  Digital Computer Cameras  Terminals  Scanning Devices  Point-of-Sale (POS) Devices  Automatic Teller Machine (ATM) Devices  Touch Sensitive Screens  Bar Code Scanners Source Data Automation: Making input digitial at the time data is created

20 Hardware for Output  Softcopy Video Monitors Video Terminals Speakers  Robotic  Hardcopy Printers Plotters Other Hardcopy Media  transparencies  microfilm  CD-ROM  Slides  Multi function devices

21 Computer classification  Cell phone  Handheld (palm)  Laptop  Desktop PC  Server  Workstation  Midrange (small mainframe) e.g. IBM AS/400  Mainframe e.g. IBM S/390  Supercomputer e.g. Cray  Note: There are also computers embedded in appliances, toys, cars, etc. BIG, FAST Small, slow

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23 Supercomputers: The World’s Fastest Computers  Current Champion NEC’s Earth Simulator 36 TerraFlops Cost: $350 million  Upcomer Cray Inc’s X1 Basic unit: 800 GigaFlops, cost: $10 million Theoretical max: 51 TeraFlops  Alternative Approach Clusters of regular networked PCs Example: 1152 computers with 2304 Intel Xeon Processors achieve 11 TFlops (Top 3)  Top 5:  Video Video

24 PC Architecture

25 Source:

26 Source: More detail at:

27 The next times  Thursday Due: Lab 2  Tuesday Rest of Chapter 2: Software