Chapter 02: The System Unit: Processing and Memory Flashcards
arithmetic/logic unit (ALU)
The part of a CPU core that performs logical operations and integer arithmetic. (p74)
ASCII (American Standard Code for Information Interchange)
A fixed-length, binary coding system used to represent text-based data for computer processing on many types of computers. (p54)
bandwidth
The amount of data that can be theoretically transferred through a communications medium in a given period of time. (p62)
binary numbering system
The numbering system that represents all numbers using just two symbols (0 and 1). (p52)
bit
The smallest unit of data a digital computer can recognize; represented by a 0 or a 1. (p52)
bus
An electronic path on the motherboard or within the CPU or other computer component along which data is transferred. (p68)
bus interface unit
The part of a CPU core that allows it to communicate with other CPU components. (p75)
byte
A group of 8 bits. (p52)
Cache memory
A group of fast memory circuitry located on or near the CPU to help speed up processing. (p61)
carbon nanotubes (CNTs)
Tiny, hollow tubes made of carbon atoms. (p82)
central processing unit (CPU)
The chip located on the motherboard of a computer that performs most of the processing for a computer. (p58)
control unit
The part of a CPU core that coordinates its operations. (p74)
decimal numbering system
The numbering system that represents all numbers using 10 symbols (0-9). (p52)
decode unit
The part of a CPU core that translates instructions into a form that can be processed by the ALU and FPU. (p75)
dual-core CPUs
A CPU that contains two separate processing cores. (p58)
exabyte (EB)
Approximately 1,000 petabytes. (p52)
expansion buses
A bus on the motherboard used to connect peripheral devices. (p68)
expansion cards
A circuit board that can be inserted into an expansion slot location on a computer’s motherboard to add additional functionality or to connect a peripheral device to that computer. (p66)
Expansion slots
A location on the motherboard into which expansion cards are inserted. (p66)
FireWire
A high-speed bus standard sometimes used to connect digital video cameras and other multimedia hardware to a computer. (p69)
Flash memory
Nonvolatile memory chips that can be used for storage by the computer or user; can be built into a computer or a storage medium. (p65)
floating point unit (FPU)
The part of a CPU core that performs decimal arithmetic. (p74)
frontside bus (FSB)
The bus that connects the CPU to the chipset that connects to the rest of the bus architecture. (p69)
gigabyte (GB)
Approximately 1 billion bytes. (p52)