Chapter 2 Hardware Flashcards
Main memory/RAM
The Main memory in the CPU that is used to temporarily store programs while they are running and the data used by these programs. The processor fetches instructions from main memory.
CPU
The central processing unit that contains the processor, main memory and cache.
Processor
The component in the computer that fetches, decodes and executes instructions
Cache
High speed memory in the CPU that is used to store a copy of frequently used instructions and data. Faster access speed than main memory. Used to improve CPU performance
Clock speed
Measured in herz or cycles per second the clock speed defines how many instructions per second the processor can execute. The higher the clock speed, the faster the CPU can operate.
Level 1 cache
Cache that is not in the processor chip
Level 2/3 cache
Cache that is not on the processor, not on the motherboard.
System buses
The circuit/internal wiring that connect together the components within the CPU
Fetch-execute cycle
The process by which a program is run: instructions are stored in main memory, fetched by the processor one at a time, decoded and executed
Dual core/quad core
A CPU that contains multiple processing components (cores) that can operate independently to process more than one task at a time.
RAM
Random access memory. A type of memory that is read-write and volatile, used for main memory
ROM
Read-only memory. Memory that is hard-coded at the time of manufacture. Stores the startup programs called the bootstrap loader
Bootstrap loader
The first program that is loaded into the main memory from ROM when a computer switched on. This will load the operating system from secondary storage.
Volatile
Describes memory that does not lose its content when the power is turned off
Non-volatile
Describes memory that does not lose its content when the power is turned off
