7.1 Internal Hardware Components of a Computer Flashcards
What does a processor do within a computer?
Executes program instructions in order to run applications.
What is Main memory and its role in a computer?
Main memory includes RAM and ROM, to store program instructions and frequently used data. Main memory is usually faster than secondary storage so it helps the processor execute instructions quickly.
What is a bus and its role in a computer?
A bus is a series of parallel wires that connects the internal components of a computer system, allowing signals to be passed between them.
Define what is meant by the width of a bus?
Width is the number of parallel wires and has a direct relationship to the number of bits that can be transferred simultaneously.
What are the 3 buses?
Address bus, Data bus, control bus
What does the address bus do?
Used to transport memory addresses, specifying where data is to be sent or retrieved from.
Explain the effect of increasing an address bus’s width?
Increases the range of addresses that it can specify and therefore increasing the computer’s amount of addressable memory.
What is an addressable memory location?
A portion of memory that can by accessed by its address.
how do you calculate the amount of addressable locations with n number of parallel buses?
2^n addressable memory locations.
What does the data bus do?
Sends data and instructions to and from the different components of the computer system.
Explain the effect of increasing the width of the data bus?
Increases the volume of data that can be transferred over the bus at any time.
what does the control bus do?
Carry out control signals that regulate the operation of the computer system. It also carries the clock signal.
What do I/O controllers do?
Pieces of hardware that control the communication of data between the processor and external hardware devices.
What are the two ways of setting up main memory?
Von Neumann and Harvard architectures
How does Harvard architecture work?
the processor will use 2 separate main memory locations. One for instructions and another for data.
What is the advantage of Harvard architecture?
Due to its use of separate pieces of main memory, it can give each piece of main memory different characteristics.
When is Harvard architecture commonly used?
In embedded systems such as digital signal processing
How does Von Neumann architecture work?
Both instructions and data are stored together in the same memory.
Why do systems based on Von Neumann architecture tend to perform worse?
The same buses have to be shared for fetching both instructions and data.
When is Von Neumann architecture used?
In everyday general-purpose computer systems.
