A Computer System has several important components that help the computer to work together and provide multiple functionalities to the user.
Table of Contents
Functional Components of a Computer System
- INPUT DEVICES
- OUTPUT DEVICES
- CPU(central processing unit)
- CU(Control unit)
- ALU(Arithmetic & Logic Unit)
- Registers
- MOTHERBOARD
- POWER SUPPLY
- COOLING FAN
- FIRMWARE
1. INPUT DEVICES
An input device is a hardware component used to provide data and instructions to a computer system. It provides user to input the data into the computer for processing. e.g when you use keyboard to type something on it that means you are giving instructions to the computer to process the data you have entered.
Some input devices are: Mouse, Keyboard, Scanner, Joystick etc.
2. OUTPUT DEVICES
Output devices are hardware components that allow a computer to transmit information to users. When a user sends instructions to a computer using an input device, the computer processes this data and sends it to an output device, which displays or creates results for the user. Example: Monitor is the best example that shows all the output to the users. There are some other output devices like: Printer, Speakers, Projector etc.
3. CPU(Central processing unit)
The central processing unit(CPU) is the main processor of the computer that carries out the instructions of a computer program. It performs the basic arithmetical logical, and input/output operations of a computer system. It is also known as the Brain of the Computer because It controls the operation of all the parts of the computer.
The first CPU was invented by an Italian physicist “Federico Faggin” who invented the first commercial CPU. It was the Intel 4004 released by Intel in 1971.
Some of the popular components of the CPU are ALU(Arithmetic and Logic unit), CU(Control Unit), Registers, Cache Memory, Bus Interface Unit, Clock etc.
In CPUs, There are main three components:
- CU(Control Unit): A control unit is the component of the CPU(central processing unit). The control unit determines the sequence in which computer programs and instructions are executed. It integrates the operations of the computer and retrieves instructions from the main memory. It also acts like a switchboard operator where several users access the computer simultaneously.
And, it coordinates the activities of computer peripherals equipment as they perform as input and output. The components of the control unit are registers, control signals within the CPU, control signals from the bus, control bus, input flags, and clock signals. - ALU(Arithmetic and logic unit): The arithmetic and logic unit is part of the CPU(central processing unit), It performs arithmetic and logical operations on data. An ALU is designed by engineers to perform a variety of operations like addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, shifting, etc. The operation is performed on represented numbers, both integer and floating-point numbers.
- Registers: Registers are the small storage placed inside the CPU that temporarily holds data and instructions during the processing. It is an important & crucial component of the central processing unit that provides fast and quick data access during the execution of programs.
MOTHERBOARD
This is the mainboard of the computer system where it plays a crucial role in connecting the CPU(Central Processing Unit), RAM(Random Access Memory), and Storage Devices so they can interact with each other. In the motherboard, there are various slots for connecting additional components like graphic cards, Sound Cards, and other expansion cards.
The motherboard is a hub where the important components are connected with this board allowing them to communicate with each other so that the computer can work properly. It is the central backbone of the computer system.
POWER SUPPLY
The power supply provides electrical power to the computer so that the computer can operate. The motherboard has many components connected but they require power to function where power supply helps in distributing power to different connectors across multiple components.
Cooling Fan
Cooling fan is the important component of computer which is designed to cool down the system when it generate heat. Sometime due to the high intensive work like gaming, video editing and other task creates heat in the computer that time system need to cool down otherwise the system will get damaged. Cooling fan helps to control this issue.
Firmware
Firmware is basically a software which is embedded into the hardware components. Although it is software, it plays an important role in controlling and managing hardware functions. Firmware software helps hardware components function and interact with other parts of the system.