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Peripheral devices and system boards
In 1992 after winning the cricket World, Cup Imran Khan said, “Our win is the result of team effort”. Do you know what is meant by team effort? It is the flawless contribution by every member of the team, which is the result of a perfect selection made by the selection committee.
Likewise when you arrange the setup of your computer system you become the selection committee and your responsibility is to choose what is right for your computer system. After the set up is completed the successful working of the computer system is achieved by flawless contribution of all I/O peripheral devices. For example you need to write your command using a keyboard (input device) and a monitor (output device) to give response of your command. So today we are going to discuss how the I/O devices are connected together to lead a healthy and happy working of the computer system.
How peripheral devices connect together
A computer system acts as a unit where all I/O (input/output) peripheral devices work together and cooperate with each other. All these devices are joined with the main circuit, which is known as “System board or mother board”. As revealed by its name a motherboard is that physical foundation where all the devices are connected.
Definition
“System board is a microcomputer circuit board that contains the microprocessor (CPU), electronic circuitry for handling such a task as I/O signals from peripheral devices and memory chips.”
The diagram (above) shows a system board of a computer system. Different peripheral devices such as a mouse, keyboard, printer, scanner, speakers, and microphone are connected to the parts of the system board to perform input and output functions.
What is inside the system board
A system board is the main circuit board consisting of the following devices:
* The most important component of the motherboard is the Microprocessor, the central processing unit. It is important because all the input/output commands from the peripheral devices are sent to the CPU for processing.
* Electronic circuitry, to receive I/O signals from peripheral devices.
* Memory chips such as RAM, ROM, Flash memory
* Bus to communicate with the CPU and the peripheral devices and memory chips.
* PCI and ISA slots to communicate with peripheral devices on the circuit board.
Points to remember
* In every computer system the motherboard is installed first.
* All external peripheral devices are connected with the motherboard via a cable and multipin connector. See the back of your system
* Motherboard consists of sockets also known as “ports”. Peripheral devices are connected to these ports
* Commands are sent to and from the processor by means of serial ports or parallel ports.
Working example
Look at your surroundings. You would observe that the computer has become an essential tool in our daily life. Suppose you are immediately in need of some cash at a time when the banks are closed. What will you do? Yes! You will go and get your cash from an ATM or automatic teller machine. ATM is an arrangement of I/O peripheral devices, which are connected together via a motherboard. It is a computerized cash machine, which is situated outside the busy banks. Not only does it provide the facility to get cash immediately, it also saves your time because you don’t need to wait for your turn to get the cash from the cashier.
How an ATM works
* To use an ATM you need to open an ATM account in a bank.
* The bank grants you an ATM card.
* The ATM card has a magnetic strip.
* The magnetic strip has security information and identification.
* We enter the card into an ATM’s magnetic strip reader.
* The card is read by the bank’s computer system.
* The amount of money we need is entered through a keypad (input).
* The microprocessor processes the command.
* The monitor responds the whole processes and gives output.
* A printer gives you the written details of your account.
* Money is delivered from the exit counter.
I hope from the above example the concept of system board and its relationship with peripheral devices becomes clear to you.
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