What are the basic components of a computer?

The basic component of a computer system are ,


Input


Memory unit


Control unit


ALU


Output





Input :

They convert data into electronic machine readable form (binary form ) or convert letters ,numbers into strings of binary data.


Eg : Keyboard, mouse , touch screen, optical scanner etc.






Memory unit :

Computer store data internally (in chips) and externally (on storage devices).


Internally computer store data in silicon ram chips that are mounted directly on computer main circuitry .


These ram chips contains millions of electronic switches that are sensitive to changes in electric current.


There are two types of RAM chips : static and dynamic


Static ram chip hold data as long as current flows through the circuit, Whereas dynamic ram chips need high or low voltages applied at regular intervals-every two milliseconds or so if they are not to lose their information.


Another type of internal memory consisting of silicon ROM (read only memory) chip on which all the


switches are already set.


The patterns on these ROM chips contains programs, commands, data that the computer needs to function correctly.


RAM chips are like piece of paper that can be written on, erased, and used again.


ROM chips are like a text book with it’s words already set on each paper.


Both RAM and ROM chips are linked by circuitry to the cpu.


Control unit:


Control unit controls and regulates various operations and devices of computers.




ALU (arthimatic and logic unit) :


ALU performs arithmetic operations such as addtions, substractions, multiplications etc and logical operation such as AND operation , OR operation XOR operation.




Output unit:


They convert the data that has been manipulated/processed by the processor or the cpu in human readable form.


or


The result tht is obtained by the cpu is in bibary form / electronic machine readable form and this result must be converted to human readable form , which is done by output devices.


Example: Montor,Printer etc