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Computer Science > Architecture > Flashcards

Architecture Flashcards

1
Q

System

A

combination of connected parts working together to achieve a common goal

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2
Q

Computer system

A

system involving interaction between hardware, software, data and the user

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3
Q

What is Computer architecture

A

specification of how a computer’s parts are physically and logically connected

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4
Q

Von Neumann architecture

A

-CPU -Memory -Bus -Input/Output devices

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5
Q

What is a CPU

A

(processor) central processing unit. Carries out computations on data by following instructions

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6
Q

Control Unit

A

directs operations of CPU. Controls transfer of data and operations between other units of the computer. Instructs memory, logic unit and input and output devices on how to respond to program’s instructions

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7
Q

ALU and what it is

A

Arithmetic/Logic Unit. Where A and L processing takes place. Receives instructions and data (both from memory) and operates on them

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8
Q

What are Registers

A

temporary storage locations that can be accessed by CPU quickly when carrying out instructions. Very expensive and have a small capacity.

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9
Q

Examples of registers

A
  1. Program Counter: stores memory address of the next instruction to be executed, stores where CPU is in program sequence at any given time and is updated to indicate what must be done next
  2. Memory Address register [MAR]: store memory addresses of data required to carry out instruction.
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10
Q

Memory

A

stores data to be operated on + instructions(programs) that operate on data + the results

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11
Q

RAM

A

Random Access Memory. Temporarily holds data and instructions currently being executed by CPU. Volatile and typically fast.

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12
Q

Volatile memory

A

when computer loses power the data is lost

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13
Q

ROM

A

Read Only Memory. Non-volatile and an example would be BIOS

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14
Q

What is BIOS

A

Basic Input/Output System. Small amount of ROM for computer startup routine. Performs necessary checks and then hands control to OS

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15
Q

OS

A

Operating System

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16
Q

Primary Storage

A

(Main Memory). Memory with information for immediate use by the CPU. E.g. RAM and ROM

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17
Q

Fetch-execute cycle

A

Happens millions of times per second on modern computers. 1. FETCH. CPU fetch next instruction from memory. 2. Instruction found at memory address in binary code. 3. DECODE Decodes binary and reveals instruction EXECUTE which is executed. 4. Cycle starts again

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18
Q

What is The Clock

A

generates a continuous stream of electric pulses at a very steady frequency. Fed to all circuits in computer to ensure they operate on instructions together and are perfectly synchronised.

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19
Q

Clock and cpu speed

A

main factor determining CPU speed. Each pulse means CPU executes one instruction. 5GHz = 5 billion instructions per second

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20
Q

Cores

A

Part of CPU allowing it to execute instructions simultaneously. 8 cores = 8 instructions during one clock cycle

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21
Q

Bus

A

allows data and instructions to move from memory to the CPU and vice versa

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22
Q

Input/Output devices examples

A

-Secondary Storage. -USB devices(keyboards). -Display Devices. Pointing devices(mice)

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23
Q

What is Secondary Storage?

A

store data persistently. None volatile and an example would be hard drives

24
Q

Differences between primary and secondary storage

A

-Primary is for immediate use by CPU whereas Secondary is used anytime.
-Primary is temporary.
-Generally primary is more expensive and smaller

25
Q

What are Hard drives

A

widely used for secondary storage. Two main types:
1. Magnetic Hard Drive.
2. SSD

26
Q

Magnetic Hard Drives

A

consist of a magnetic “platter” that rotates at very high speeds. “Head” moves across the platter and reads info

27
Q

SSD

A

Solid State Drive. Faster and more durable because they have no moving parts. Based on flash memory which is also what USBs are typically based on.

28
Q

Motherboard

A

circuit board where devices are physically mounted on to. Include CPU + Main Memory + Hard Drives + others. Also contain ports that allow you to connect input/output devices

29
Q

Circuit Board

A

durable sandwich of non conducting fibre material with several layers of interconnecting paths that act as “wires” which connect components

30
Q

Daughter Boards

A

small circuit board attached to mother board where some components are plugged in to

31
Q

how does Binary Code work inside a computer

A

inside a computer binary is represented by the presence or lack of an electrical signal

32
Q

Electric current

A

flow of electrons from one place to another

33
Q

Voltage

A

(potential difference) causes electrons to move when there is a difference in charge between its current location and some other location

34
Q

Voltage and binary

A

3.3 or 5 volts represents “on”/“high” whereas 0 or close to 0 represents “off”/“low”

35
Q

Resistance

A

how much a material resists the flow of electric current. Different materials have different resistances

36
Q

How computers manipulate the flow of electricity

A

use electronic devices like transistors + resistors + capacitors

37
Q

Transistor

A

tiny electronic switch allows a small current change to switch on or off a larger current

38
Q

Resistor

A

reduces current flow by passing electricity through a material whose resistance allows electricity to flow but not very well. When current flows some electricity is converted to heat.

39
Q

Capacitors

A

store electrical energy in electric charge. Don’t store for long and are often used in volatile memory

40
Q

Capacitance

A

measure of charge and capacitor can store

41
Q

Device responsible for manipulating signals in the CPU

A

transistor

42
Q

How Logic Gates work in the CPU

A

different arrangement of transistors into circuits so that can carry out Boolean operations. Each gate has a particular circuit so there are millions of transistors in a CPU

43
Q

Types of logic gates

A

-and -or -not -nand -nor

44
Q

Examples of RAM data

A

-system software such as operating system.
-Application software
-Program data. E.g. editing photo on computer
-any temporary data

45
Q

Examples of ROM data

A
  1. BIOS. - essential for startup
  2. Firmware (software embedded into hardware devices)
  3. Bootstrap programs
46
Q

What Input Device does

A

sends data into computer

47
Q

what is Output Device

A

sends data out or displays it

48
Q

Factors affecting CPU speed

A
  1. clock speed
  2. cores
  3. amount of main memory (holds programs currently being run. More means it doesn’t have to go through slower process of fetching from secondary storage)
  4. cache size (more = less time waiting for instructions)
49
Q

ACC and what it is

A

Accumulator. Register that stores data to be operated on

50
Q

Virtual Memory

A

area of secondary storage allocated to store data from RAM temporarily usually when RAM is full. Takes longer to be processed as it is no longer in RAM

51
Q

Integrated circuit(chip)

A

electronic component that contains multiple discreet components combined together into logic circuits on a single silicon board

52
Q

Benefits of more RAM

A
  1. Better Performance.
  2. Quicker response times for user.
  3. More applications can be loaded in RAM at the same time meaning CPU spends less time loading RAM from secondary storage
53
Q

Why is data stored in binary

A

-circuits in a computer’s processor are made of transistors that are activated or deactivated by 5V or 0V signals. The 1 and 0 used in binary reflect the on and off states of a transistor.
-Binary is also more reliable than any other number system since there are only 2 states.

54
Q

HDD acronym

A

Hard Disk Drive

55
Q

cache

A

fast, relatively small set of locations built directly within processor. Stores instructions and data processor is most likely to need and reuse

Computer Science (12 decks)

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