Ariane Joyce A.

Bustamante
Comsec-1A

1. What is Computer System?

- Is the combination of hardware and software. A typical computer system has
memory and set of state that define the relationship between the systems
input and outputs.

2. 4 Components of Computer System

The four main components of a computer system are input devices, output devices,
processing devices and the storage devices used to store data within the computer
system. These are the hardware components of a computer system; software is a set of
digital instructions for the computer stored in the memory.

3. Classification of Software
System software: This class of software manages and controls the internal operations
of a computer system. It is a group of programs, which is responsible for using computer
resources efficiently and effectively. For example, an operating system is a system
software, which controls the hardware, manages memory and multitasking functions,
and acts as an interface between application programs and the computer.
Real-time software: This class of software observes, analyzes, and controls real
world events as they occur. Generally, a real-time system guarantees a response to an
external event within a specified period of time. An example of real-time software is the
software used for weather forecasting that collects and processes parameters like
temperature and humidity from the external environment to forecast the weather. Most
of the defence organizations all over the world use real-time software to control their
military hardware.
Business software: This class of software is widely used in areas where management
and control of financial activities is of utmost importance. The fundamental component
of a business system comprises payroll, inventory, and accounting software that permit
the user to access relevant data from the database. These activities are usually
performed with the help of specialized business software that facilitates efficient
framework in business operations and in management decisions.

 Engineering and scientific software: This class of software has emerged as a

powerful tool in the research and development of next generation technology.
Applications such as the study of celestial bodies, under-surface activities, and
programming of an orbital path for space shuttles are heavily dependent on engineering
and scientific software. This software is designed to perform precise calculations on
complex numerical data that are obtained during real time environment.
Artificial intelligence (AI) software: This class of software is used where the
problem-solving technique is non-algorithmic in nature. The solutions of such problems
are generally non-agreeable to computation or straightforward analysis. Instead, these
problems require specific problem-solving strategies that include expert system, pattern
recognition, and game-playing techniques. In addition, they involve different kinds of
search techniques which include the use of heuristics. The role of artificial intelligence
software is to add certain degrees of intelligence to the mechanical hardware in order to
get the desired work done in an agile manner.
Web-based software: This class of software acts as an interface between the user
and the Internet. Data on the Internet is in the form of text, audio, or video format, linked
with hyperlinks. Web browser is a software that retrieves web pages from the Internet.
The software incorporates executable instructions written in special scripting languages
such as CGI or ASP. Apart from providing navigation on the Web, this software also
supports additional features that are useful while surfing the Internet.
Personal computer (PC) software: This class of software is used for both official
and personal use. The personal computer software market has grown over in the last two
decades from normal text editor to word processor and from simple paintbrush to
advanced image-editing software. This software is used predominantly in almost every
field, whether it is database management system, financial accounting package, or
multimedia-based software. It has emerged as a versatile tool for routine applications.

4. Elements of C.P.U
Control Unit
The control unit, as its name suggests, is the circuitry that issues commands to other
hardware components to execute programs. The control unit doesn't actually execute
any code itself; rather, it just manages the execution of program instructions by fetching
instructions from memory, parsing those instructions as necessary and then scheduling
the appropriate hardware components to act on those instructions. In this way the
control unit manages the operation of the entire computer.
Arithmetic Logic Unit

The ALU is the CPU component that performs the processor's actual computations. Its
circuitry calculates the addition, subtraction, multiplication and division equations in the
instructions the control unit passes to it. The ALU also performs performs logical
operations: the process of determining if one value is equal to the other, if one value is
less than the other or if one value is greater than the other. These logical operations are
essential to the control structures that regulate software flow.
Registers
Registers are the tiny amounts of memory that are actually part of a CPU's hardware that
provide data to the CPU far faster than it would take for the processor to retrieve the
data from external memory sources but are only for the bits of information a processor
needs on hand at any given time. This can include the results of ALU component
operations until the control unit stores them somewhere else, or it can include memory
addresses in the RAM or hard drive that contain data-like program instructions or
variable values.

Different type RAM & ROM

There is one major difference between a ROM and a RAM chip. A ROM chip is non-volatile
storage and does not require a constant source of power to retain information stored on
it. When power is lost or turned off, a ROM chip will keep the information stored on it. In
contrast, a RAM chip is volatile and requires a constant source of power to retain
information. When power is lost or turned off, a RAM chip will lose the information stored
on it.
Other differences between a ROM and a RAM chip include:
A ROM chip is used primarily in the start up process of a computer, whereas a RAM chip
is used in the normal operations of a computer after starting up and loading the
operating system.
Writing data to a ROM chip is a slow process, whereas writing data to a RAM chip is a
faster process.
A RAM chip can store multiple gigabytes (GB) of data, up to 16 GB or more per chip. A
ROM chip typically stores only several megabytes (MB) of data, up to 4 MB or more per
chip.
*Read-only memory, or ROM, is a form of data storage in computers and other electronic
devices that can not be easily altered or reprogrammed. RAM is referred to as volatile
memory and is lost when the power is turned off whereas ROM in non-volatile and the
contents are retained even after the power is switched off.
Random-access memory, or RAM, is a form of data storage that can be accessed
randomly at any time, in any order and from any physical location in contrast to other
storage devices, such as hard drives, where the physical location of the data determines

the time taken to retrieve it. RAM is measured in megabytes and the speed is measured
in nanoseconds and RAM chips can read data faster than ROM.