This week’s topics
Computer components: CPU, memory, buses, input/output devices and specialised processors
- Computer components: CPU (ALU, FPU), memory, buses, I/O devices, peripherals and specialised processors (GPUs, FPGAs)
- Clock cycles and the fetch-decode-execute cycle
What you will be able to do
- 1.1 Describe the key hardware components of a computer system and their functions.
- 1.2 Explain how data is processed and transferred within a computer.
Activity
Start with this week’s 4 videos, then: Seminar, guided reading and a short written task: describe the key hardware components of a computer system and their functions.
Study materials
Videos
- Computer architecture · Oak National Academy, Key Stage 3 (lower secondary level) · for registered students
- Computer specifications · Oak National Academy, Key Stage 4 (GCSE level) · for registered students
- Introduction To Computer System | Beginners Complete Introduction To Computer System · YouTube · Learn Computer Science · 10 min · for registered students
- 9. OCR A Level (H046-H446) SRL3 - 1.1 Input, output and storage devices · YouTube · Craig'n'Dave · 6 min · for registered students
Further resources
- Introduction to Computer Science, 5.1: Computer Systems Organization · PDF · OpenStax Introduction to Computer Science (2024), 5.1: programs and data in memory and the hardware organisation of a system, pp. 194–197 · for registered students
- Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective, ch. 1: A Tour of Computer Systems · PDF · Bryant & O'Hallaron, CS:APP 2e manuscript sample, 1.4: hardware organisation and how the processor fetches and executes instructions, pp. 6–10 · for registered students
- Workplace Software and Skills, 1.1: Image, video and audio capture devices · PDF · OpenStax Workplace Software and Skills (2023), 1.1 on cameras, scanners, microphones and other input devices, pp. 18–19 · for registered students
- An educational setting to improve students' understanding of computer architecture concep… · Open-access article · Kyriakou et al. (2023), Informatics in Education. Teaching core architecture ideas such as CPU, memory and instruction execution. · for registered students
Materials marked “for registered students” open in the student portal, which is set up as soon as you receive final acceptance.
