System Unit Essay

System Units

A computer could not run without the system unit. It holds all the memory, transfers all the data, and makes using a computer possible. Not all computers have a system unit that is detached from the computer monitor. Desk top computers have the system unit separate and laptops have a small one built in.

The main part of a computer is the system unit; computers could not run without this. There are five main pieces of the system unit: chassis, microprocessor, main memory, bus, and ports. A system unit is sometimes referred to as a “tower”, “box”, or “main unit” (Webopedia). System units are only referred to in desk top computers; laptops have their own built in systems within the monitor. Each of the internal pieces has a big roll

The motherboard is said to be the “backbone” to the computer system. It connects everything together, including the microprocessor.

“Motherboard Image from Google.com\images.

A microprocessor is also known as the central processing unit, and works as the heart of the computer. The first microprocessor was the Intel 4004, introduced in 1971. It is a square chip that runs the digital part of the system unit. In order for the microprocessor to function, it required a system clock, primary storage, and power supply. How much can be represented on a microprocessor chip is determined by the number of bytes that a computer can process at a time. The storage in a microprocessor works a lot like a memory chip; they have different size bytes that hold more information than others.

“Microprocessor” Image from

Bits and bytes refer to the same thing; except bits are individual and bytes are grouped. A byte is a sequence of bits; usually eight bits equal one byte. Bits are grouped into bytes to; generally speaking, increase the efficiency of computer hardware, including network equipment, disks and memory.

A bus is a data pathway between several hardware components inside or outside a computer. It links parts of the microprocessor to important hardware among the computer and system unit. The bus is a lot like the memory devices and microprocessor because they all use a larger capacity to make them run faster in data transfer. A bus is like a social network site, it connects everybody or everything. They are the pathways that make communication possible in a system unit