1.1 System Architecture Flashcards
What is the purpose of the CPU?
It is the brain of the computer and it is responsible for executing a sequence of instructions known as a program
What is the difference between ROM and RAM?
ROM is slower and is non-volatile. RAM is faster and is volatile
What are the three buses?
Data bus, Address bus, Control bus
What are hertz?
The amount of cycles per second
What is the purpose of cache?
Cache is to store frequently used program instructions
What does FDE stand for?
Fetch, Decode, Execute cycle
What component processes mathematical operations in the computer?
Arithmetic Logic Unit
The data and the software that are both being used is stored in the RAM. Who came up with this idea that we use today?
Von Neumann
State the factors affecting the CPU.
The amount of cores, the clock speed, cache performance, size of RAM, graphics card and size of cache
What are the advantages of having wider buses?
The computer can move more data in the same duration of time
What does CPU stand for?
CPU stands for Central Processing Unit
How can a CPU run multiple tasks simultaneously?
Multi-tasking
What was the observation Gordon Moore made in 1965?
Gordon Moore found that every 2 years, the number of transistors on a CPU would double and so the processing power would double
What is over-clocking?
This is running a CPU faster than its designed speed which could lead to it overheating and frying the data
What is an embedded system and give an example of how one is used?
An embedded system is a computer system with a set function within a larger mechanical or electrical system. An example is an ATM which allows the user to check their balance as well as the main function or giving or receiving money
