Chapter 2 - Computer Abstract/Tech Flashcards
- Input 2. Output 3. Memory 4. Datapath 5. Control
Five classic components of a computer
- design for Moore’s Law 2. Use abstraction to simplify design 3. Make the common case fast 4. Performance via parallelism 5.performance via pipelining 6. performance via prediction 7. Hierarchy of memories
eight great ideas in computer architecture
a binary representation of machine instructions
Machine language
a class of computers with the highest performance and cost, they are configured as servers and typically cost tens to hundreds of millions of dollars
supercomputer
A command that computer hardware understands and obey
Instruction
a computer designed for use by an individual usually incorporating a graphics display, a keyboard, and a mouse
personal computer
a computer inside another device used for running one predetermined application or collection of software
embedded computer
a computer used for running larger programs for multiple users, often simultaneously, and typically accessed only via a network
server
a display technology using a thin layer of liquid polymers that can be used to transmit or block light according to whether a charge is applied
Liquid crystal display
a form of memory that retains data even in the absence of a power source and that is used to store programs between runs
Nonvolatile memory
a form of nonvolatile secondary memory composed of rotating platters coated with a magnetic recording material. Because they are rotating mechanical devices, access times are about 5 to 20 milliseconds
Magnetic disk
a liquid crystal display using a transistor to control the transmission of light at each individual pixel
Active-matrix display
a mechanism that conveys the result of a computation to a user, such as a display, or to another computer
Output device
a mechanism through which the computer is fed information, such as a keyboard
Input device
a microprocessor containing multiple processors (“cores”) in a single integrated circuit
multicore microprocessor
a nonvolatile semiconductor
Flash memory
a portable language such as C, C++, Java or visual basic that is comprised of words and algebraic notation that can be translated by a compiler into assembly language
High-level programming language
a program that translates a symbolic version of instructions into the binary version
Assembler
a program that translates high-level language statements into assembly language
compiler
a small, fast memory that acts as a buffer for a slower, larger memory
Cache memory
a symbolic representation of machine instructions
Assembling language
Also called a called a chip. A device combining dozens to millions of transistors
Integrated circuit
also called a processor. The active part of the computer, which contains the datapath and control and which adds numbers, tests numbers, signals I/O devices to activate, and so on.
Central processor unit (CPU)
also memory built as an integrated circuit but faster and less dense than DRAM
Static random access memory (SRAM)
an abstract interface between the hardware and the lowest-level software that encompasses all the information necessary to write a machine language program that will run correctly, including instructions, registers, memory access, I/O and so on.
Instruction set architecture
delivers software and data as a service over the internet, usually via a thin program such as a browser that runs on local client devices, instead of binary code that must be installed, and runs wholly on that device. Examples include web search and social networking
software as a service
hardware that obeys the architecture abstraction
Implementation
memory used to hold programs while they are running typically consists of DRAM in today’s computers
Main memory
nonvolatile memory used to store programs and data between runs, typically consists of flash memory in PMDs and magnetic disks in servers
Secondary memory
memory built as an integrated circuit, it provides random access to any location. Access times are 50 nanoseconds
Dynamic random access memory (DRAM)
refers to large collection of servers that provide services over the internet, some providers rent dynamically varying numbers of servers as a utility
cloud computing
small wireless devices to connect to the internet, they rely on batteries for power, and software is installed by downloading apps. Conventional examples are smart phones and tablets
personal mobile devices (PMD)
software that provides services that are commonly useful, including operating systems, compilers, loaders, and assemblers
system software
states that integrated circuit resources double every 18-24 months
Moore’s Law
storage, such a DRAM, that retains data only if it is receiving power
Volatile memory
supervising program that manages the resources of a computer for the benefit of the programs that run on that computer
operating system
the component of the processor that commands the datapath, memory, and I/O devices according to the instructions of the program
Control
the component of the processor that performs arithmetic operations
Datapath
the storage area in which programs are kept when they are running and that contains the data needed by the running programs.
Memory
the user portion of the instruction set plus the operating system interfaces used by application programmer. It defines a standard for binary portability across computer.
Application binary interface (ABI)
used to characterize the design at different levels of representation
abstraction
