TASK 2 P2

 

There are different types of Operating systems such as Windows and Mac. There are also different versions like Windows 8 and 10. Operating system (OS) is a program that runs on a computer to do basic tasks, like receiving inputs from a keyboard and then process it to your display screen. It also can control hardware and software like a printer.

Several programs and commands were sent to the central processing unit and needed memory space, then input/output bandwidth for the software and hardware purposes. But with the operating system, it helps manages and given necessary resources to the programs, hardware, software of the system.

The operating system has two types of user interfaces; text user interface (TUI) and graphical user interface (GUI). A text user interface can be called CLI (command-line interface). A text user interface displays on your screen as texts and commands (the example is on the left-hand side). But with a graphical user interface, it'll look like you usually on the screen (the example is on the right side).

                

Diagram 26. CLI and GUI

CLI needed specific commands to perform a task but with GUI, it helps users to interact with the OS easily by the only point and click. It easy because there are icons and pictures to show what it could be. It also because of a much simpler look than looking at a bunch of texts and commands.

Execute and provide services for application software are other features of the Operating system. It helps software developers to make an application that will run on another computer, even if the amount of storage space is different on the two devices. With this feature, the operating system can support different types of keyboard, mouse, and other peripherals that exist today.

REFERENCES

1. Student's digital skills. (2004). Operating system and user interface. [online] Available at: https://blogs.helsinki.fi/students-digital-skills/1-introduction-to-the-use-of-computers/1-1-computer-functionality/operating-system-and-user-interface/ [Accessed 20 May 2020].

 

2. Includehelp.com. (2020). Types, functions of User Interfaces of Operating Systems . [online] Available at: https://www.includehelp.com/operating-systems/types-functions-of-user-interfaces-of-operating-systems.aspx [Accessed 20 May 2020].

 

3. Garden, H., HowStuffWorks, Tech, Computer, Software and Systems (2000). How Operating Systems Work. [online] HowStuffWorks. Available at: https://computer.howstuffworks.com/operating-system2.htm [Accessed 22 May 2020].

Task 1 P1

• There are 3 things that I would like to discuss here in this blog. First is Internal system unit components, second is Peripherals, and lastly Backing storage.

1. Internal System Unit Components.

Internal System Unit Components have various components that work as a system inside a

•   Processor

The processor is a hardware component which processes and responds to a set of command in a computer. The processor carries out millions of calculations per second, these calculations are often input and output actions. Processor clock speed shows how many cycles it executes per second. Processor performance nowadays is measured with Gigahertz (GHz). Other word for processor is CPU. It can be found on a motherboard.

Diagram 1. Processor

                                                                                           

• Motherboard

The motherboard is the main circuit board that’s located inside a computer. This component is the one that connects all the different components together. Examples of “different components” are RAM, CPU, network cards, Bios chips, SATA port, and more other components. Motherboard components connected by the motherboard bus, this bus is a set of wires that helps the connection of one part of the motherboard to another.

                                                           

Diagram 2 Motherboard

•      BIOS

BIOS (Basic Input/output system) is a program that has a set of instructions that controls the input and output actions within a computer. BIOS’s purpose is that it manages the data input/output between the components. BIOS works on a ROM (Read Only Memory) chip and CMOS (complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor) runs on the RAM (Random Access Memory), these two components work together to function the computer. It can be found on the motherboard

                                                             

Diagram 3 BIOS Chip 

 

•      Heat Sink

Heat Sink functions as a heat absorber and disposes of heats safely. Heat sink located near CPU (Central Processing Units/ Processor) and Graphic Processors because these components generate the most heat than the other. Heat Sink can positively affect computer performance.  

Diagram 4 Heat Sink on a motherboard

·         Fan

A Fan places withing in the computer, it works similarly compare to the heat sink. Although heat sink only cools down CPU and Graphic Processor while a Fan cools down all components within a computer.

  

Diagram 5 Computer Fan

·         IDE

IDE (Integrated Drive Electronics) is a standard electronic interface used between a computer motherboard’s data and storage devices like hard drives. Usually an IDE had a 16-bit interface that connected two devices with a single ribbon cable. IDE is useful due to its good transfer rate speed and less storage device and controller issues. This can be found on motherboard

 

Diagram 6 IDE Port

 

Diagram 7  IDE Ribbon Cable

 

·         SATA

SATA (Serial Advanced Technology Attachment) is quite similar to IDE. Although the differences are that SATA has better storage capabilities, cheaper, and supports hot-plugging. It can be find on a motherboard

Diagram 8 SATA Port

Diagram 9 SATA Cable

·         Ports

Ports work as an interface, receiving and giving data between a computer and other devices. There are two types of ports; Parallel and Serial. Parallel ports are used for connecting peripherals while having parallel communications. Serial port giving and receiving information once at a time.

Diagram 10 Parallel Port

 

 

Diagram 11 Serial Port

 

·         Internal Memory ROM

The ROM (read-only memory) can be found on a motherboard. It contains data that can be read-only. The data cannot be removed nor altered and will permanently store data onto the desktop computer. ROM will still store data even though the system is turn off because the data would be used next time when the user wants the system to turn on.

Diagram 12 Internal Memory ROM

 

·         Internal Memory RAM

RAM (random access memory) is a component that stores memory temporarily into your PC. It is useful for doing tasks or playing games because it helps improves your game performance due to fast storing memory. Compare to the hard drive and SSD (solid-state drive) Internal Memory RAM is the fastest in storing memory. The downside is that it only stores it temporarily, while hard drive and SSD can stores data permanently. You can find this on a motherboard

Diagram 13 Internal Memory RAM

·         Cache Memory

Cache Memory can be called CPU (Central Processor Unit) memory. It’s a chip-based computer component that store data temporarily for quicker processing. In other words, Cache memory is useful due to reduced time to access the data from the main memory/CPU. This located on a motherboard

 

·         Hard drive

A hard drive is used to stores large amounts of data like physical files and documents on the desktop computer. Data is stored by a magnet that is located inside the hard drive which means that the data would not be lost. Hard Drive can be found within a computer case.

Diagram 14 Hard drive

·         Network Interface Card

Network Interface card allows a computer to connect to a computer network like LAN (Local Area Network).  NIC translate computer data into electric signals then sent over the network. This electric signals allow computer to exchange information over the internet.

Diagram 15 Network Interface Card

·         Graphic Card

A Graphics Card uses CPU to translates the data and makes it into pixels and forming an image. The quality and the performances depend on the graphic card itself. Since it uses CPU, it located near to CPU.

Diagram 16 Graphics Card AMD Radeon

·         Power Supply Unit

Power Supply Unit (PSU) is a component that provides power to the computer. The electricity will then convert into a low voltage regulated power. This low voltage power prevents the computer's components from overheat. The output of the energy depends on the PSU. Usually, the PSU always gave the amount of energy needed for the computer's components.

Diagram 17 Power Supply

 

2.       Peripherals
Peripherals are devices that used to connect to the computer and add new functionality to it. The use of these peripheral devices can be inputting data into the computer or receiving data from a computer like a headset.

·         Input Devices

An input device is a hardware device that gives data into the computer then, the computer processes the data and gives out the output. For example, a voice sent through a microphone then, the output would be the voice sent to the person who listens to it.

·         Output Devices

An output device is a hardware device that gives out data from the computer by inputting data into it. For example, a headset receives data from the music that running in your computer then, the music’s sound will come out from your headset as output.

2.1 Cabling; coaxial, optical, twisted pair

·         A Coaxial Cable is a type of cable that uses copper wire then surrounded with a shield of braided wire and several layers of insulation. This cable minimizes electrical and radio frequency interference. In the computer world, it is useful for computer networks cabling like Ethernet cable.

Diagram 18 Coaxial Cable

·         An optical cable is a type of cable that uses optical fibers to carry light and sounds. The wire is covered with strong insulation called the jacket layer. It’s used for sending high-speed data and bandwidth connection between two devices. 

Diagram 19 Optical Cable

• Twisted pair cable is a cable that has two different wires, twisted around into one another. The twist is for reducing electromagnetic induction and crosstalk. There are two types of twisted pair cable; shielded twisted pair cable and unshielded twisted pair cable. Shielded twisted pair cable uses foil as a shield to prevent electromagnetic induction to help to transport data faster. While the other, Unshielded has wire wrapped on a wire or sometimes braided copper to help shield the cable signal. UTP is capable of supports high transmission rates across longer distances.

Diagram 20 Shielded and Unshielded Twisted Pair Cable

 

 

3.       Backing Up Storage

There are different types of backing storage but we will discuss Hard Disk Drive, USB Flash Drive, Optical Media.

 

·         Hard Disk Drive

An HDD has large data storage and can store your data digitally and permanently within the computer. HDD uses magnetics to store data because it will store data even though your system is turn off.  There are two types of HDD; Portable Hard Drive and HDD that can be found inside your PC.

Diagram 21 HDD within your desktop computer

 

Diagram 22 Portable HDD

 

·         USB Flash Drive

USB Flash Drives are small yet portable storage device that has flash memory and uses Universal Serial Bus as an interface. It is similar to hard disk but the advantage of it is that you can insert the flash drive from one computer to another. The downside is that it has less storage capacities.

Diagram 23 USB Flash Drive

 

·         Optical Media

Optical Media are discs that can be read by a laser. It can be used to store data digitally but it not as durable as HDD. It cannot lose data but discs are easily to break if not careful. Great example of optical media is CD-ROM (example is shown in the diagram below).

Diagram 24 CD-ROM

REFERENCES

1. Unit 2 - Decoding the Jargon. (2020). Hardware Components (ZBO). [online] Available at: https://decodingthejargon-sohaib.weebly.com/-hardware-components-zbo.html [Accessed 16 May 2020].

 

2. Digitaltrends.com. (2020). [online] Available at: https://www.digitaltrends.com/computing/what-is-ram/ [Accessed 19 May 2020].

 

3. SearchStorage. (2020). What is Cache Memory? Cache Memory in Computers, Explained. [online] Available at: https://searchstorage.techtarget.com/definition/cache-memory [Accessed 19 May 2020].

 

4. GeeksforGeeks. (2015). Cache Memory in Computer Organization - GeeksforGeeks. [online] Available at: https://www.geeksforgeeks.org/cache-memory-in-computer-organization/ [Accessed 19 May 2020].

5. Techopedia.com. (2020). What is Integrated Drive Electronics (IDE)? - Definition from Techopedia. [online] Available at: https://www.techopedia.com/definition/24399/integrated-drive-electronics--ide [Accessed 22 May 2020].