7.1 Internal Hardware Components of A Computer Flashcards
What is the role of the computer’s processor ?
executes program instructions in order to run applications
What is the role of Main Memory ?
To store program instructions and frequently used data
What does the main memory consist of ?
- RAM and ROM
What is a bus ?
A series of parallel wires that connects internal components of a computer system
What is the role of a bus ?
Allows signals to be passed between internal components.
What is the bus width ?
The number of parallel wires
What is the significance of bus width ?
The number of bits can be
transferred simultaneously by the bus.
What are the three main buses ?
address bus, the data bus and the control bus
What is the purpose of the address bus ?
Used to transport memory addresses, specifying where data is to be sent to or retrieved from
What is the affect of increasing bus width of the address bus?
Increases the range of
addresses that it can specify , hence increasing the computer’s amount of addressable
memory
What’s the affect of adding a single wire to the address bus ?
Doubles the number of addressable memory locations.
What is an addressable memory locations ?
A portion of memory that can be
accessed by its address.
What happens if there are not enough addresses available ?
some portions of memory
may go unused.
What is the purpose of the data bus ?
Sends data and instructions to and from the different components of the computer system
What is the effect of increasing the width of the data bus ?
Increases the volume of data
that can be transferred over the bus at any one time.
What is the relationship of Number of parallel
wires in address bus and Number of addressable
memory locations ?
2^n
What is the purpose of the control bus ?
Used to carry control signals that regulate the operation of the computer system
What does the control bus carry ?
The computer’s clock signal.
What are I/O controllers ?
pieces of hardware that control the communication of data between the processor and external hardware devices
What are the two main types of Architecture ?
Von Neumann and Harvard
What is the main characteristics of Harvard architecture ?
Use two separate main memory locations (instruction and data)
Where is Harvard Architecture mainly used ?
Embedded Systems
What is the main advantage of Harvard Architecture ?
Each piece of main memory can have different characteristics
What is the main characteristics of Von Neumann architecture ?
both instructions and data are stored together in the same memory
