Computer Education

Gayatri Computer Classes

2nd Floor, Shree Ram Complex, Devibhuvan Road, Near Anand Medical Store,Opp. Patanjali Store, Dwarka (Gujarat-India)

Google Reviews Link = https://maps.app.goo.gl/jJHox1agY9qBf46f6

What is Computer?

The computer is a super-intelligent electronic device that can perform tasks, process information, and store data. It takes the data as an input and processes that data to perform tasks under the control of a program and produces the output. A computer is like a personal assistant that follows instructions to get things done quickly and accurately. It has memory to store information temporarily so that the computer can quickly access it when needed.

History of Computers

Before computers were developed people used sticks, stones, and bones as counting tools. As technology advanced and the human mind improved with time more computing devices were developed like Abacus, Napier’s Bones, etc. These devices were used as computers for performing mathematical computations but not very complex ones. 

Some of the popular computing devices are described below, starting from the oldest to the latest or most advanced technology developed:

Abacus

Around 4000 years ago, the Chinese invented the Abacus, and it is believed to be the first computer. The history of computers begins with the birth of the abacus.

Structure: Abacus is basically a wooden rack that has metal rods with beads mounted on them.

Working of abacus: In the abacus, the beads were moved by the abacus operator according to some rules to perform arithmetic calculations. In some countries like China, Russia, and Japan, the abacus is still used by their people.

Napier’s Bones

Napier’s Bones was a manually operated calculating device and as the name indicates, it was invented by John Napier. In this device, he used 9 different ivory strips (bones) marked with numbers to multiply and divide for calculation. It was also the first machine to use the decimal point system for calculation.

Pascaline

It is also called an Arithmetic Machine or Adding Machine. A French mathematician-philosopher Blaise Pascal invented this between 1642 and 1644. It was the first mechanical and automatic calculator. It is invented by Pascal to help his father, a tax accountant in his work or calculation. It could perform addition and subtraction in quick time. It was basically a wooden box with a series of gears and wheels. It is worked by rotating wheel like when a wheel is rotated one revolution, it rotates the neighbouring wheel and a series of windows is given on the top of the wheels to read the totals.

Stepped Reckoner or Leibniz wheel

A German mathematician-philosopher Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz in 1673 developed this device by improving Pascal’s invention to develop this machine. It was basically a digital mechanical calculator, and it was called the stepped reckoner as it was made of fluted drums instead of gears (used in the previous model of Pascaline).

Difference Engine

Charles Babbage who is also known as the “Father of Modern Computer” designed the Difference Engine in the early 1820s. Difference Engine was a mechanical computer which is capable of performing simple calculations. It works with help of steam as it was a steam-driven calculating machine, and it was designed to solve tables of numbers like logarithm tables.

Analytical Engine

Again in 1830 Charles Babbage developed another calculating machine which was Analytical Engine. Analytical Engine was a mechanical computer that used punch cards as input. It was capable of performing or solving any mathematical problem and storing information as a permanent memory (storage).

Tabulating Machine

Herman Hollerith, an American statistician invented this machine in the year 1890. Tabulating Machine was a mechanical tabulator that was based on punch cards. It was capable of tabulating statistics and record or sort data or information. This machine was used by U.S. Census in the year 1890. Hollerith’s Tabulating Machine Company was started by Hollerith and this company later became International Business Machine (IBM) in the year 1924.

Differential Analyzer

Differential Analyzer was the first electronic computer introduced in the year 1930 in the United States. It was basically an analog device that was invented by Vannevar Bush. This machine consists of vacuum tubes to switch electrical signals to perform calculations. It was capable of doing 25 calculations in a few minutes.

Mark I

In the year 1937, major changes began in the history of computers when Howard Aiken planned to develop a machine that could perform large calculations or calculations involving large numbers. In the year 1944, Mark I computer was built as a partnership between IBM and Harvard. It was also the first programmable digital computer marking a new era in the computer world.

Generations of Computers

First Generation Computers

In the period of the year 1940-1956, it was referred to as the period of the first generation of computers. These machines are slow, huge, and expensive. In this generation of computers, vacuum tubes were used as the basic components of CPU and memory. Also, they were mainly dependent on the batch operating systems and punch cards. Magnetic tape and paper tape were used as output and input devices. For example ENIAC, UNIVAC-1, EDVAC, etc.

Second Generation Computers

In the period of the year, 1957-1963 was referred to as the period of the second generation of computers. It was the time of the transistor computers. In the second generation of computers, transistors (which were cheap in cost) are used. Transistors are also compact and consume less power. Transistor computers are faster than first-generation computers. For primary memory, magnetic cores were used, and for secondary memory magnetic disc and tapes for storage purposes. In second-generation computers, COBOL and FORTRAN are used as Assembly language and programming languages, and Batch processing and multiprogramming operating systems were used in these computers.

For example IBM 1620, IBM 7094, CDC 1604, CDC 3600, etc.

Third Generation Computers

In the third generation of computers, integrated circuits (ICs) were used instead of transistors(in the second generation). A single IC consists of many transistors which increased the power of a computer and also reduced the cost. The third generation computers are more reliable, efficient, and smaller in size. It used remote processing, time-sharing, and multiprogramming as operating systems. FORTRON-II TO IV, COBOL, and PASCAL PL/1 were used which are high-level programming languages.

For example IBM-360 series, Honeywell-6000 series, IBM-370/168, etc.

Fourth Generation Computers

The period of 1971-1980 was mainly the time of fourth generation computers. It used VLSI(Very Large Scale Integrated) circuits. VLSI is a chip containing millions of transistors and other circuit elements and because of these chips, the computers of this generation are more compact, powerful, fast, and affordable(low in cost). Real-time, time-sharing and distributed operating system are used by these computers. C and C++ are used as the programming languages in this generation of computers.

For example STAR 1000, PDP 11, CRAY-1, CRAY-X-MP, etc.

Fifth Generation Computers

From 1980 – to till date these computers are used. The ULSI (Ultra Large Scale Integration) technology is used in fifth-generation computers instead of the VLSI technology of fourth-generation computers. Microprocessor chips with ten million electronic components are used in these computers. Parallel processing hardware and AI (Artificial Intelligence) software are also used in fifth-generation computers. The programming languages like C, C++, Java, .Net, etc. are used.

For example Desktop, Laptop, NoteBook, UltraBook, etc.

Central Processing Unit (CPU)

CPU [Central Processing Unit]. It is the brain of the computer. It is the part that does most of the work in a computer system. Just like how our brain controls our body and processes information, the CPU carries out instructions from programs and performs calculations. It’s made up of smaller components that work together to execute tasks, making it the heart of any computing device.

All types of data processing operations from simple arithmetic to complex tasks and all the important functions of a computer are performed by the CPU. It helps input and output devices to communicate with each other and perform their respective operations. It also stores data which is input, intermediate results in between processing, and instructions. The CPU’s job is to make sure everything runs smoothly and efficiently. In this article, we are going to discuss CPU in detail.

What is a CPU?

A Central Processing Unit is the most important component of a computer system. A CPU is hardware that performs data input/output, processing, and storage functions for a computer system. A CPU can be installed into a CPU socket. These sockets are generally located on the motherboard. CPU can perform various data processing operations. CPU can store data, instructions, programs, and intermediate results.

History of CPU

Since 1823, when Baron Jons Jakob Berzelius discovered silicon, which is still the primary component used in manufacturing CPUs today, the history of the CPU has experienced numerous significant turning points. The first transistor was created by John Bardeen, Walter Brattain, and William Shockley in December 1947. in 1958, the first working integrated circuit was built by Robert Noyce and Jack Kilby.

The Intel 4004 was the company’s first microprocessor, which it unveiled in 1971. Ted Hoff’s assistance was needed for this. When Intel released its 8008 CPU in 1972, Intel 8086 in 1976, and Intel 8088 in June 1979, it contributed to yet another win. The Motorola 68000, a 16/32-bit processor, was also released in 1979. The Sun also unveiled the SPARC CPU in 1987. AMD unveiled the AM386 CPU series in March 1991.

In January 1999, Intel introduced the Celeron 366 MHZ and 400 MHz processors. AMD back in April 2005 with its first dual-core processor. Intel also introduced the Core 2 Dual processor in 2006. Intel released the first Core i5 desktop processor with four cores in September 2009.

In January 2010, Intel released other processors like the Core 2 Quad processor Q9500, the first Core i3 and i5 mobile processors, and the first Core i3 and i5 desktop processors.

In June 2017, Intel released Core i9 desktop processor, and Intel introduced its first Core i9 mobile processor In April 2018.

Different Parts of CPU

Now, the CPU consists of 3 major units, which are:

• Memory or Storage Unit
• Control Unit
• ALU(Arithmetic Logic Unit)

Memory or Storage Unit

As the name suggests this unit can store instructions, data, and intermediate results. The memory unit is responsible for transferring information to other units of the computer when needed. It is also known as an internal storage unit or the main memory or the primary storage or Random Access Memory (RAM) as all these are storage devices.

Its size affects speed, power, and performance. There are two types of memory in the computer, which are primary memory and secondary memory. Some main functions of memory units are listed below:

• Data and instructions are stored in memory units which are required for processing.
• It also stores the intermediate results of any calculation or task when they are in process.
• The final results of processing are stored in the memory units before these results are released to an output device for giving the output to the user.
• All sorts of inputs and outputs are transmitted through the memory unit.

Control Unit

As the name suggests, a control unit controls the operations of all parts of the computer but it does not carry out any data processing operations. Executing already stored instructions, It instructs the computer by using the electrical signals to instruct the computer system. It takes instructions from the memory unit and then decodes the instructions after that it executes those instructions. So, it controls the functioning of the computer. Its main task is to maintain the flow of information across the processor. Some main functions of the control unit are listed below:

• Controlling of data and transfer of data and instructions is done by the control unit among other parts of the computer.
• The control unit is responsible for managing all the units of the computer.
• The main task of the control unit is to obtain the instructions or data that is input from the memory unit, interpret them, and then direct the operation of the computer according to that.
• The control unit is responsible for communication with Input and output devices for the transfer of data or results from memory.
• The control unit is not responsible for the processing of data or storing data.

ALU (Arithmetic Logic Unit) 

ALU (Arithmetic Logic Unit) is responsible for performing arithmetic and logical functions or operations. It consists of two subsections, which are:

• Arithmetic Section: By arithmetic operations, we mean operations like addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division, and all these operations and functions are performed by ALU. Also, all the complex operations are done by making repetitive use of the mentioned operations by ALU.
• Logic Section: By Logical operations, we mean operations or functions like selecting, comparing, matching, and merging the data, and all these are performed by ALU.

Note: The CPU may contain more than one ALU and it can be used for maintaining timers that help run the computer system.

What Does a CPU Do?

The main function of a computer processor is to execute instructions and produce an output. CPU work Fetch, Decode, and Execute are the fundamental functions of the computer.

• Fetch: the first CPU gets the instruction. That means binary numbers that are passed from RAM to CPU.
• Decode: When the instruction is entered into the CPU, it needs to decode the instructions. with the help of ALU(Arithmetic Logic Unit), the process of decoding begins.
• Execute: After the decode step the instructions are ready to execute.
• Store: After the execute step the instructions are ready to store in the memory.

Types of CPU

We have three different types of CPU:

• Single Core CPU: The oldest type of computer CPU is a single-core CPU. These CPUs were used in the 1970s. these CPUs only have a single core that performs different operations. This means that the single-core CPU can only process one operation at a single time. single-core CPU CPU is not suitable for multitasking.
• Dual-Core CPU: Dual-Core CPUs contain a single Integrated Circuit with two cores. Each core has its cache and controller. These controllers and cache work as a single unit. dual-core CPUs can work faster than single-core processors.
• Quad-Core CPU: Quad-Core CPUs contain two dual-core processors present within a single integrated circuit (IC) or chip. A quad-core processor contains a chip with four independent cores. These cores read and execute various instructions provided by the CPU. Quad Core CPU increases the overall speed of programs. Without even boosting the overall clock speed it results in higher performance.

What is CPU Performance?

CPU performance is how fast a computer’s processor (CPU) can complete the task. It is measured by the number of instructions completed in one second. Its performance depends on the processor’s clock speed and other factors like its design and the size of its cache.

What are Computer Programs and Where are They Stored?

A computer program is a set of instructions written by a programmer that tells a computer what to do. For example, Using a web browser or a word processor is a program, Performing math operations on a computer and clicking and selecting items with a mouse or touchpad is also a program.

Storage of Programs

There are two ways of storing programs on the computer memory:

• Permanent Storage: Programs are stored permanently on storage devices like HDD, or SSD.
• Temporary Storage: When a program is running on a CPU, its data is stored in RAM from HDD or SDD. Temporary because RAM is volatile, it loses all data when the power is turned off.

Advantages

• Versatility: CPU can able to handle a complex task, from basic calculation to managing the operating system.
• Performance: Modern CPU are vary fast and able to perform billions of calculation per second.
• Multi-core: CPU have multiple core and able to handle multiple task simultaneously.
• Compatibility: CPUs are designed to be compatible with a wide range of software, this help to run different applications by using single CPU.

Disadvantages

• Overheating: CPU generate a lot of heat while performing complex task. This requires effective cooling solutions, such as fans or liquid cooling systems.
• Power Consumption: High-performance CPUs can consume a vary high amount of power, which cause to generate higher electricity bills and the need for a robust power supply.
• Cost: Best performance CPU can be expensive. Which can be a barrier for some users or applications that need high computing power.
• Limited Parallel Processing: While multi-core CPUs can handle multiple tasks at once, they are still not as efficient at parallel processing as specialized hardware like GPUs (Graphics Processing Units), which are designed for handling many tasks simultaneously.