CE0002L

(Computer Fundamentals and Programming)

SUMMATIVE

1
COMPONENTS OF COMPUTER SYSTEM

Diaz, Charlotte I. Prof. Abraham Magpantay

September 14, 2020 Date Submitted
I. OBJECTIVES

At the end of the experiment students must be able to:

a) Understand the key features of C programming language

b) Write, compile and run a simple C program.
c) Understand computer hardware.
d) Understand basic computer components.
e) Learn the function of storage.
f) Learn about history of computers.

II. BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Computer hardware is the physical parts or components of a computer, such as

the monitor, keyboard, computer data storage, hard disk drive (HDD), graphic
cards, sound cards, memory (RAM), motherboard, and so on, all of which are
tangible physical objects.

III.EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE

Task 1: Computer Components

As previously mentioned, the computers that are used nowadays are based upon the stored-
program computer concept proposed by John Von Neumann. Also, in Module 1, we pointed out
that a computer is a device capable of storing, retrieving, and processing information or data.
These suggest that a computer must consist of four basic components. These components are
 Central processing unit (CPU)
 Memory unit
 Input unit
 Output unit

Figure 1: Computer Advertisement

Activity 1.1: Complete the following table by listing the actual components from the ad in Figure
1 to match the categories listed.
 Basic Component Component from Figure 1
Central Processing Unit Processor, Operating system
Memory, hard drive , video card, sound card, floppy and media,
Memory Unit
optical drive, hard drive
Input Unit Keyboard, mouse, reader,

Output Unit Monitor, printer, speaker, modem

Processor
Activity 1.2: A central processing unit or processor consists of Arithmetic Logic unit (ALU) and
Control unit (CU) unit. What is the function of ALU?
Arithmetic Logic Unit performs logic operations and arithmetic computation such as addition,
subtraction, multiplication and division.

Activity 1.3: What is the function of control unit?

The Control Unit manages the connection of hardware attached to the computer and monitors
the input and output of data making sure that the data goes at the correct destination.

Activity 1.4: What does “Core 2 Duo Processor” in the description of processor in Figure 1
mean?
The Core 2 Duo Processor means that there are two processor cores that work in parallel inside
a Core 2 Duo.

Processor Speed
What does “1.86 GHz” in the description of processor in Figure 1 mean?
GHz stands for giga-Hertz, which means billion cycles/ticks per second. This is a unit used to
measure CPU/processor or clock speed. Clock speed is the speed at which the processor executes
instructions. The CPU requires a fixed number of clock cycles/ticks to execute each instruction.
The faster the clock, the more instructions the CPU can execute per second.
So, 1.86 GHz refers to the processor that can process instructions at the speed of 1.86 billion
cycles per second.
Clock speed can be used as a rough comparison of the speed of two processors as long as they
are the same type and the same brand/maker. Comparing different processors is much more
difficult. The clock still makes each processor do something each cycle, but what that something
is can be very different. For example, on old computers, it would take several cycles for the
processor to complete one operation. On a Pentium4, however, it usually completes two
operations per cycle.
 Figure 2: Description of Two Intel Precessors
Activity 1.5: In the above Figure 2, what does “2.4 GHz” in the description of processor Intel
core 2 Duo Processor E6600 mean?
2.4 GHz or 2.4 giga-Hertz means that the Intel core 2 Duo Processor E6600 is able to process
2.40 billion of cycles per second.

Activity 1.6: In the above Figure 2, which processor is faster, E6320 or E6600? Why?
E6600 processor is much faster since it can process 600 million cycles per second more than
E6320 processor.

Task 2: Memory
What is computer memory or memory? From:
1. The American Heritage® Dictionary: Memory is
a. A unit of a computer that preserves data for retrieval.
b. Capacity for storing information: two gigabytes of memory.
2. The Encyclopedia Britannica: Computer Memory is device that is used to store data or
programs (sequences of instructions) on a temporary or permanent basis for use in an
electronic digital computer.
From the Webopedia Computer Dictionary, “Every computer comes with a certain amount of
physical memory, usually referred to as main memory or RAM. You can think of main memory
as an array of boxes, each of which can hold a single byte of information. A computer that has 1
megabyte of memory, therefore, can hold about 1 million bytes (or characters) of information.”
Activity 2.1: What does RAM stand for?
RAM means Random Access Memory.

Activity 2.2: There are two basic types of RAM: Dynamic RAM (DRAM) and Static RAM
(SRAM). What is a Dynamic RAM?
Dynamic Ram (DRAM) is a type of RAM that stores data in a memory cell that consist of a
transistor and a tiny capacitor.

Activity 2.3: What is a Static RAM?

Static Ram (SRAM) is a type of RAM that stores data in its memory as long as it is supplied by
power.

Activity 2.4: Which is more expensive Dynamic RAM or Static RAM?

SRAM is more expensive than DRAM since SRAM is more expensive to manufacture.

Activity 2.5: When someone says a computer has “one gigabyte of RAM”, do they mean the
computer has one gigabyte of Dynamic RAM or Static RAM?
When someone says a computer has “one gigabyte of RAM”, they mean that the computer has
one gigabyte of Dynamic RAM.

Figure 3: Description of Memory

Activity 2.6: Is the memory listed in My Components in Figure 3 of type Dynamic RAM or
Static RAM?
The memory listed in Figure 3 : Description of Memory, is a type of Dynamic RAM.

Activity 2.7: What is “SDRAM” in the description of Memory in Figure 3?

SDRAM stands for Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory.

Activity 2.8: What does “DDR2” in the description of Memory in Figure 3 stand for?
DDR2 means Double Data Rate 2.

Activity 2.9: What is “cache” in the description of Processor in Figure 3?

Cache is a type of memory that the processor of a computer uses to immediately access
programs and data, rather than collecting data through random access memory or host memory.

Activity 2.10: Is cache a memory of type Dynamic RAM or Static RAM?

Most of the cache memory for the processor is a Static RAM type.
Activity 2.11: How many types are of cache? What are they?
Cache have four different types this are browser cache, disk cache, processor cache and
memory cache that aid the computer to run more efficiently.

Task 3: Input and Output and Secondary Storage

Input and Output
Input and output are the basic computer components that communicate with CPU. An input
device sends data/information to CPU. An output device takes the processed data/information
from CPU and makes it available for the user.
Activity 3.1: List all input devices that you know?
Biometric device, QR code reader, bar code reader, Optical character reader, Webcam,
Microphone, Touchpad, Touchscreen, Gamepad, Joystick, Mouse, Keyboard, Scanner,
Trackball and Light pen.

Activity 3.2: List all output devices that you know?

Sound card, Video card, GPS, Computer Speakers, Monitor, Headphones, Printer, Projector,
Braille Reader, Speech-Generating Device.

Activity 3.4: What is a USB/flash drive?

USB/flash drive is used for storing data and most USB flash drives are rewritable and
removable.

Activity 3.5: Is USB/flash drive an input or output device?

A USB flash drive can either be an input or output device depending upon the purpose. When
copying a file from it then it is consider as input device and when copying files into it then it is
consider as an output device.

Activity 3.6: What does USB stand for?

USB means Universal Serial Bus.

Activity 3.7: What is secondary storage?

Secondary storage is a non-volatile device that stores data until it is overwritten or deleted.

Activity 3.8: Is USB/flash drive a secondary storage?

Yes. Since secondary storage is also called as removable storage media.

Activity 3.9 List all secondary storages that you know?

Tape Drive, CD, DVD, SD card, Hard drive, Solid-state drive, USB thumb drive and floppy
diskette.

Activity 3.10 What do CD and DVD stand for?

CD stands for Compact Disks while DVD stands for Digital Versatile Disk.

Activity 3.11 Are CD and DVD secondary storage?

Yes. Since CD and DVD is a removable storage media.

Activity 3.12 What is a capacity of a CD?

The storage capacity of one CD is 700 MB.

Activity 3.15 What is a capacity of a DVD?

The storage capacity of one DVD is 4.7 GB.

Activity 3.16 What is a CD-R?

CD-R is a blank compact disc that can be recorded once. The “R” means recordable.

Activity 3.17 What is a CD-RW?

CD-RW ( Compact Disc - ReWritable ) is a blank compact disk that can be recorded,
rerecorded and erased may times.

Task 4: History of Computers

The first computing device is Abacus which can be traced back to
5,000 years ago in Asia and still is being used today. Abacus is
considered to be a mechanical computing device. Hence we can
categorize computing devices/computers into two types:
mechanical and electronic computing devices/computers.
Use the Internet to perform these activities.
Activity 4.1 The real beginnings of computers as we know them today lay with an English
mathematics professor, Charles Babbage. In 1822, what machine did he invent to be able to
compute tables of numbers, such as logarithm tables? What did it use to make the machine run?
In 1822, Charles Babbage invented the Difference Engine which is operated by one attendant and
run by the help of steam.

Activity 4.2 An important step in the history of computers was the design of a mechanical
general-purpose computer by Charles Babbage in 1837. What machine did he invent?
Charles Babbage invented the Analytical Engine in the year 1837 and it is said that it is the
successor of the difference engine.

Activity 4.3 Who created a program for the mechanical general-purpose built by Charles
Babbage in 1837.
The program for the mechanical general purpose built by Charles Babbage in 1837 is created by
Lady Ada Agusta Lovelace whom is known to write the first algorithm for early computing
machine.

Activity 4.4 What is the Turing Machine? Who developed it and in what year?
Turing Machine is invented by Alan Turing in the year 1936. This hypothetical machine can
stimulate any complicated computer algorithm.

Activity 4.5 Who proposed the so called Stored-Program Computer concept or model in his
paper that we are still using till these days? In what year did he propose?
The Stored-Program Computer concept/model is proposed by John Von Neuman in the year
1945 that stores the executing programs in memory.

Activity 4.6 What is the first electronic computer? Who created it and in what year?
In 1930, Vannevar Bush created the Differential Analyzer which is known to be the first
electronic computer.

Activity 4.7 What is the first general-purpose electronic computer? Who created it and in what
year?
The first general-purpose electronic computer is the Electronic Numerical Integrator and
Computer which is built by Physicist John Mauchly and Engr. J. Presper Ecker, Jr around 1943
to 1944. This Computer is known as the first programmable general-purpose electronic digital
computer.
Activity 4.8 The history of computer development is often referred to in reference to the different
generations of computing devices. Each generation of computer is characterized by a major
technological development that fundamentally changed the way computers operate, resulting in
increasingly smaller, cheaper, more powerful and more efficient and reliable devices. For
example, the First Generation covers 1940-1956 and vacuum tubes were the fundamental
change. Complete the following table:
From Year To Year Fundamental Change
Second Generation 1959 1965 Transistor based
Third Generation 1965 1971 Integrated Circuit based
Fourth Generation 1971 1980 VLSI microprocessor based

IV. QUESTION AND ANSWER:

1. What did John Von Neumann propose in 1945 that we are still using till these days?
In 1945, John Von Neumann proposed the stored program concept.

2. What are the basic components of a computer system?

The basic components of a computer system are the monitor, mouse, CPU and keyboard.

3. What are the two units of CPU?

The two units of CPU are Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU) and Control Unit (CU).

4. Which one is more expensive, cache memory or DRAM?

Cache memory is more expensive than DRAM since Cache is a small volume of high
performance SRAM which is very expensive.

5. What cache resides in CPU or processor?

The Cache that resided in CPU or processor are L1 (Level 1) , L2 (Level 2) and L3 (Level
3). L3 being the slowest and largest cache memory.

6. Is USB\flash drive output device?

USB/ flash drive device can be an output device depending on the purpose that it serves. If
copying a file into it then it can be considered an output device.

7. When we say the word memory, we refer to RAM or Hard drive?

When we say the word memory we refer to RAM since RAM is the short term for Memory.
Also, Memory doesn’t mean storage, it means RAM.
8. Which device has more storage capacity, CD or DVD?
DVD has more capacity since its capacity is 4.75 GB while CD’s capacity is only 700 MB.

9. List one input and one output device.

Input Device: Keyboard
Output Device: Printer

10. What is a register?

A register is built into a CPU as a temporary storage area.

11. What does control unit of CPU do?

Control Unit of CPU manages the operation of the processor, it tells how to respond to the
instruction that is sent to the processor.

12. Suppose the clock speed of Processor A is rated as 1.5 GHz and can process 2 instructions
per cycle. How many instructions can Processor A process in a second?
Since 1.5 GHz means 1.5 Billion Cycles per second therefore the processor can process 3
billion instructions per second.

13. If a computer bus is 16 bit wide, how many bits of information can be transferred at one time
through that bus?
A 16-bit bus has 16 wires or connectors that can transmit 16 bits of data in parallel so the
number of information that can be transferred at one time through that bus is 16.

14. Hard disks are what kind of storage medium?

Hard Disks are a type of non-volatile storage that can retain data even if the computer shuts
down.

15. Integrated circuit was developed in which technology generation?

The integrated circuit is develop in the third generation during the year 1965 to 1971.

16. What does SCSI mean?

SCSI stands for Small Computer System interface.

17. What does ALU mean?

ALU stands for Arithmetic Logic Unit.

18. What is the name given to an electronic circuit that carries data from one computer
component to another?
Memory Chips which can store data temporarily or permanently.

V. ASSESSMENT

Department Computer Science Department

Subject Code CE0002L
Description Computer Fundamentals and Programming
Term/Academic Year 1 / 2020-2021

Topic Introduction to Computers

Lab Summative 1
No.
Lab Summative Components of Computer
System
CLO 1

Note: The following rubrics/metrics will be used to grade students’ output in the Lab
Summative 1.
Criteria Descriptions Points
Completeness of answers Each of the items are completely 29
answered
Correctness of the answers Each of the items that are answered
correctly. One point for each correct 71
answer.

Task 1 – Activity 1.1 to 1.6 (9 points)

Task 2 – Activity 2.1 to 2.11 (11
points)
Task 3 – Activity 3.1 to 3.17 (17
points)
Task 4 – Activity 4.1 to 4.7 (7 points),
Activity 4.8 (9 points)
Question and answer (18 points)
Total 100%