UNIVERSITY OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY, TAXILA

FACULTY OF TELECOMMUNICATION AND INFORMATION ENGINEERING

COMPUTER ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT

LAB # 01 INTRODUCTION TO HARDWARE COMPONENTS

Computing Fundamentals

UNIVERSITY OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY, TAXILA

FACULTY OF TELECOMMUNICATION AND INFORMATION ENGINEERING
COMPUTER ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT

Objectives: To gain knowledge (basic functionality and usability) of hardware components we use
daily to interact with computer system.

Input Devices:
In computing, an input device is any peripheral (piece of computer hardware equipment) used to provide data and control signals to an information processing system such as a computer or other information appliance. An input device is any hardware device that sends data to the computer, without any input devices, a computer would only be a display device and not allow users to interact with it, much like a TV.

Output devices:
An output device is any piece of computer hardware equipment used to communicate the results of data processing carried out by an information processing system (such as a computer) to the outside world.

Processing Device:
The CPU is the brains of the computer. Sometimes referred to simply as the central processor, but more commonly called processor, the CPU is where most calculations take place. In terms of computing power, the CPU is the most important element of a computer system. The CPU itself is an internal component of the computer. Modern CPUs are small and square and contain multiple metallic connectors or pins on the underside. The CPU is inserted directly into a CPU socket, pin side down, on the motherboard. Two typical components of a CPU are the following:

The arithmetic logic unit (ALU), which performs arithmetic and logical operations. The control unit (CU), which extracts instructions from memory and decodes and executes them, calling on the ALU when necessary.

Memory devices:
In a computer memory is one or more sets of chips that store data and/or program instructions either temporarily or permanently. Memory is a critical processing component in our computer. Personal computers use several different types of memory, but the two most important are called random access memory (RAM) and read-only memory (ROM). These two types of memory work in very different ways and perform distinct functions.

Storage Device:

Computing Fundamentals

UNIVERSITY OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY, TAXILA

FACULTY OF TELECOMMUNICATION AND INFORMATION ENGINEERING
COMPUTER ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT

The Hardware components that write data to and read form storage media. Computer Data Storage: often called storage or memory refer to computer components, devices and recording media that retain digital data used for computing for some intervals of time. Memory: Usually refers to a form of semiconductor storage known as random access memory (RAM). Purpose of Storage: There are various forms of storage, over time many different ways of computer storage have been invented. All of the forms have some drawbacks and some are even obsolete like the floppy disk. New ideas are brought out and the computer systems contain different kinds of storage with individual purposes.

Figure: Block Diagram of Computer System

Lab Task:
List at least five input devices, output devices and storage devices.

Computing Fundamentals