How many of us know exactly of what is composed a computer, how it works and, especially, which are the basic features of a computing system. The world has widely recognized that any modern activity and efficiency is based on computer technology. This statement has actually become an axiom, as I read on many Websites that deal with this subject. In developed countries, people are working in all areas, from trade and industry to office work and education, including medicine, transportation and even arts, but they are supported by modern machinery and equipments, including computers, which occupy a prominent place.
In terms of computers, it has emerged in the last decade a new trend: the shift from large and mini systems to personal computers (microcomputers). They have demonstrated they are the most efficient: they can be used in various areas, they have a good working speed, present adaptability to the requirements of the various users and so on.
What is a computer? The computer is an electronic device that enables the automatic data processing or carries out tasks such as mathematical calculations or electronic communications, based on sets of instructions, called programs. Programs are sets of commands or instructions that are executed in a certain order, which is collected and then processed by computer electronic components and the results are stored or transmitted to peripheral components such as a monitor or a printer.
It should be noted that increasingly more and more important elements of a computer architecture acquired individuality, and of course they provide the system integration into the entire industry in which it works. A good thing related to computer components is that you can upgrade the computer without replacing the entire computer, just a small part or a little component.
A chipset is the component of command and the control board. Southbridge – the chip that controls all functions of input / output of a computer (USB, audio, serial port, BIOS, ISA, IDE channels). Northbridge – chip or chips that control the basic functions of the board, it connects the processor to memory, the north bridge communicating directly with the CPU.
BIOS (Basic Input Output System) is a hard component of memory; the program ensures a clean connection to external storage media. This program searches the system support for external memory. BIOS reports the content of the external memory and CMOS.
CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) is a hard component of memory maintained by a battery. In this memory you store personal data about the nature of computer: the password you use, basic configuration and others. The semiconductors using CMOS circuits have: NMOS (negative polarity) and PMOS (positive polarity). The microprocessor (CPU – central processing unit) is the hardware that can decode, interpret, and if it recognizes, executes the instructions contained in the flow of data. It is the only component that can recognize and execute instructions from programs.
ALU (Arithmetic Logic Unit) is the computer hardware (included in newer processors) that performs all arithmetic and logical operations. Register is a special storage area of the processor, where all data is represented in the records before being processed. FSB (front side bus) is the bus connecting the processor to memory. Clock rate is the rate at which the processor executes instructions; the speeds are expressed in megahertz (MHz) or higher: gigahertz (GHz)
The microprocessors have certain characteristics that give them performance: speed work which is in fact the clock speed; memory capacity which can be allocated at a certain time; the set of instructions; the registry which emphasizes the work capacity; the type of construction.
The concept of a programming language (this is the most important software component of a personal computer): a language is defined as a system for communication. Written languages use symbols (which are the characters) to build words. The entire set of words form the vocabulary of a language. How the words can be combined in order to be understood is defined by the language syntax and grammar. The meaning of the words or combinations of words is defined by language semantics. More about programming languages in our next articles and tutorials.
