1.1 Systems Architecture Flashcards
What is a computer?
A machine that processes data
What is the purpose of a computer?
To take data, process it, then output it
What does a computer system consist of?
Hardware and software
What is hardware?
The physical stuff that makes up your computer system
What are examples of hardware?
The CPU, motherboard, monitor and printer
What is software?
The programs or applications that a computer system runs
What are examples of software?
An operating system (OS), a word processor or video game
What are some of the many computer types?
Supercomputers, general purpose or dedicated systems
What can a supercomputer be used for?
Banks or scientific applications
What can a general purpose computer be used for?
Many common tasks like PCs and tablets
What can dedicated systems be used for?
One particular function like controlling traffic lights or an aeroplane
What are embedded systems?
Computers built into other, larger devices that are dedicated to a single task
What devices use embedded systems?
Dishwashers, microwaves and TVs
What are embedded systems often used for?
Control systems - monitoring and controlling machinery to ensure the desired result is achieved
What are some advantages of embedded systems?
Usually easier to design, cheaper to produce and more efficient at doing their task
What do computers contain and what do they do?
Components that work together to make the computer work
What is the power supply for?
Supplying power to the motherboard, optical and hard drives and other hardware
What is the case cooling fan for?
Extracting hot from the computer case
What are the CPU heat sink and cooling fan for?
Keeping the CPU at a steady temperature
What is the CPU for?
Processing data and instructions that make the system work
What is the graphics card for?
Handling graphics and image processing, reducing the processing load on the CPU
What is the motherboard?
The main circuit board in the computer, where the hardware is connected
What is the Hard Disk Drive?
Internal secondary storage
What are the RAM sticks for?
Storing currently open programs and accessing the CPU
What is the optical drive for?
The read/writing of optical discs
What does CPU stand for?
Central Processing Unit
What is the CPU often nicknamed in relation to humans?
The brain of the computer
What is the purpose of the CPU?
To process all of the data and instructions that make the system work
What characteristics determine the power of the CPU?
Clock speed, number of cores and cache size
What does the CPU architecture describe?
The main components of the CPU, how they interact with each other and with other parts of the computer
What are the 2 main types of architecture?
Von Neumann and Harvard
What are the 3 main parts of the CPU?
The Control Unit (CU), the Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU) and the Cache
What does CU stand for?
Control Unit
What does ALU stand for?
Arithmetic Logic Unit
What is the Control Unit for?
Acting as the overall control of the CPU, executing program instructions by following the fetch-decode-execute cycle. It also controls the flow of data inside the CPU (to registers, ALU, cache) and outside the CPU (to the main memory and input/output devices)
What is the Arithmetic Logic Unit for?
Basically doing all the calculations. Completing simple addition and subtraction and repeating this to do multiplications and divisions, as well as comparing the size of numbers. It also performs logic operations such as AND OR and NOT and binary shifts. It also contains the accumulator register
What is the Cache?
Very fast memory in the CPU, but slower than the registers and faster than RAM. It has very low capacity and is expensive compared to RAM and secondary storage
What is the Cache for?
Storing regularly used data so the CPU can access it quickly the next time it’s needed
What are the different levels of Cache memory?
L1 - Quickest bust lowest capacity
L2 - Slower than L1 but higher capacity
L3 - Slowest but highest capacity
What are the registers?
Program Counter (PC), Memory Address Register (MAR), Memory Data Register (MDR) and the Accumulator (ACC). They are super-quick to read/write to, way quicker than any other form of memory
What are registers for?
Temporarily holding tiny bits of data needed by the CPU
What does the Von Neumann architecture describe?
A system where the CPU runs programs stored in memory
What do programs consist of?
Instructions and data which are stored in memory addresses
What does PC stand for?
HINT: Not Personal Computer
Program Counter
What does ACC stand for?
Accumulator
What does MAR stand for?
Memory Address Register
What does MDR stand for?
Memory Data Register
