1) Hardware Flashcards
Components of the CPU
Controller
ALU (arthimitic and logic unit)
Registers
Internal memory
Function of the controller?
The controller sends and recieves signals from all parts of the computer. Ensuring that all processes take place at the right time in the correct order
Function of the ALU?
Part of the CPU that processes and manipulates data. It preforms simple calculations on the data that is temporarily stored in the register.
What is a register?
A register is a storage location found on the CPU where data is temporarily sored.
Registers are usually much faster to access than internal memory.
What is internal memory
Fast access memory on the CPU
Types of busses
Address bus - the storage address is travelled along this
Data bus- The path along which data travels
Control bus - Used by the controller to send control signals to different parts of the computer.
The Fetch, decode, execute cycle
1) The fetch cycle takes the address, stores it in instruction register, and then moves the program counter on one so it points at the next instruction
2) The control unit checks the instruction in the instruction register. This instruction is then decoded
3) The actual actions happen during the execution cycle depend on the instruction itself.
What is Cache memory
Cache memory is fast access type of memory and is expensive.
Improves performance of the CPU as it is able to provide instructions and data to the CPU at a faster rate
What is Clock Speed
The speed at which a processor operates.
Faster the clock speed, the faster the computer can run the fetch decode execute cycle.
Faster than RAM but more expensive than RAM
Number of cores
Single core - each instruction is processed one after the other.
Dual-core CPU, two instructions can be processed at once.
NOT ALWAYS FASTER - INSTRUCTION 2 MAY NEED INSTRUCTION 1 TO BE DONE!
Input devices
Mouse, Microphone, keyboard, webcam
Output devices
Projector, monitor, speakers, printer
Primary storage
RAM (Random access memory)
Ram is used for temporary storage of currently running programs and data.
What is ROM
Read only memory
Permeant storage of data, data cannot be changed.
What is Flash memory
Flash memory is used for the permanent storage of data.
Can be changed.
