The Components Of A Computer

The three main components of a computer are as followed: Central Processing Unit (CPU),Primary Storage (Main Memory) ,and Secondary Storage (Secondary Memory). The first component of the computer is the Central Processing Unit or known as the CPU. The CPU manipulates the data and controls the tasks performed by the other components. The CPU sequentially access programs instructions, decode them, and controls the flow of date to and from the ALU; the ALU is the Arithmetic-logic unit (this performs mathematics calculations and make logical comparisons). The CPU also access programs such the registers, the caches, primary, secondary storage, and various output devices. The register is a high-speed storage area that store very small amounts of data and instructions for short periods of time. The cache memory is another type or high-speed memory which enables the computer to temporarily store frequently used blocks of data. The CPU works like this.

The first step is that it inputs data and brief instructions about what to do. The CPU instructions come from the RAM or Random Access Memory. Some of the data can be entered by the user with a keyboard and mouse; these instructions are then stored in registers until they are sent to the next step. The second step the CPU does is it sends data with the use of a chip via the electrical pathways called buses. A bus is “a set of physical connections (cables, printed, circuits, etc) which can be shared by multiple hardware components in order to communicate with one another” (http://ccm.net/contents/375-computer-bus-what-is-it). A bus is used to reduce the time of with data is sent from a chip through. The third step of a CPU is to control the flow of data and instructions within the chip....

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...ving locally installed software. A thin client if it needs information would access it through the network server rather than accessing through a disk drive. The thin client is less-expensive and easier to operate and support than PCs. Some of the benefits of a thin-client is that they are fast at application deploying; they are more centralized management involved; lower the cost of ownership; and they tend to easier to install, manage, maintain, and support. However there are some disadvantages that they must be aware of, and this tend to be the main issue is if the network fails due to outside sources and/or crashes, or problems that come about, no one on the network using a thin-client would be able to access anything on their computer. While those who use fat clients would still be able to use their computer; due to having the software stored on their computers.