Chapter 2-IT Flashcards
The system unit,Processing,and memory
Digital data representation
The process of representing data in digital form so it can be understood by a computer
Pixel
Picture elements
Bit rate
The number of bits transferred per second when the file is played
Data rate
How long it takes to transfer data
Machine Language
Binary based language for representing computer programs the computer can execute directly
System unit
Main case of a computer or mobile device
Houses the processing hardware for a computer
contains components such as storage devices, the power supply, cooling hardware, one/more processors, several types of memory and interfaces to peripheral devices
Inside a Tablet
Processor-contains a CPU and GPU
Chips-Provide memory,storage,Wi-Fi and bluetooth connectivityand GPS capability
Ports-Connect HDMI and USB devices
Motherboard
Is a circuit board consisting of computer chips, also integrated circuits(ICS)-they contain transistors to perform particular functions
How do wireless connect
Either a transceiver(dongle) or wireless networking technology
Drive bays
Rectangular metal racks inside the system unit that houses storage devices
Hard drive, CD/DVD drive ,flash memory card reader
What processes do portable devices use
Intel or Advanced Micro Devices(processors) or Advanced RISC Machine
Multi-core CPU
Contain the processing components (cores) of multiple independent processors in a single CPU
Allows computers to work on more than one task at a time
Use slower ones to reduce heat problems
GPU
Takes care of the processing needed to display images
Can be located on motherboard
Processing speed
Measured by clocks speed
Higher CPU clock speed more instructions processed per second
Computer word
The amount of data that a CPU can manipulate at one time
Cache memory
A special group of very fast circuitary usually built into the CPU(internal cache memory)
More cache memory=faster processing
A bus
Is an electronic path over which data can travel
Bus width
Number of wires in the bus over which data can travel
Wider bus allows more data to be transferred at one time
Bus bandwidth
The amount of data that can be transferred via the bus in a given time period
bus speed and width determine it
Throughput
The amount of data actually transferred under real life conditions
Memory
Chip based storage or locations that a computer uses to store data on a temporary basis
RAM
Main memory or system memory
Stores essential parts of OS, programs, and data the computer is currently using
Consists of electronic circuits etched onto chips
Servers and personal computers use circuit boards called memory modules plugged into the motherboard
Non-volatile RAM
Magnetic Ram-uses magnetic polarization
Memristor-based RAM uses memristors(short for memory resistors) that change resistance in response to current
Resistive RAM-uses 3 layers with the middle layers have a different resistance to the others
NRAM uses carbon nanotubes
Phase change RAM-changes state when heat is applied
Registers
High-speed memory location built into the CPU
Used to store data and intermediary results during processing
Fastest type of memory
ROM
Consists of non-volatile chips located on the motherboard into which data/programs have been permanently stored
Retrieved by the computer when needed
Being replaced with flash memory
Flash memory
Consists of nonvolatile memory chips that can be used for storage
Replacing ROM for BIOs
Expansion vs memory vs front side bus
Expansion-Connects the motherboard to peripheral(typically input and output) devices
Memory bus connects the CPU directly to RAM
FSB connects the CPU to the chipset(a set of chips that connect the CPU to the rest of the bus architecture)
Ports and connectors
A port is a connector on the exterior of a computers system unit to which a device may be attached
VGA and DVI
Hot-swappable
Those devices that can be removed and installed while the server is running without affecting the rest of the server’s capabilities
Transistor
The key element of the microprocessor Made of semi-conductor material that controls the flow of electrons inside a chip
Moore’s Law
Predicts the number of transistors per square inch on chips had doubled every 2 years and that trend would continue
Alu vs floating point unit(fpu)
A:Performs arithmetic involving integers and logical operations
F:Performs decimal arithmetic
Control vs prefetch vs decode
CU-Coordinates and controls activities within a CPU core
PRE-Attempts to retrieve data and instructions before they are needed for processing in order to avoid delays
DEC-Translates instructions from the prefetch unit so that they are understood by the CU,ALU,FPU
Registers and internal cache memory
Store data and instructions needed by the CPU
Bus interface unit
Allows the core to communicate with other CPU components
System clock
A timing mechanism within the computer system that synchronizes the computer’s operations
Machine cycle
Occurs whenever the CPU processes a single piece of microcode
fetch, decode, execute and store
Computer repair best practices
Antistatic mat and grounding wrist strap
Do not remove or install components while computer is still on
Work on bare floor
Do not touch chips/expansion boards with a magnetized screwdriver
Keep installation/maintenance CDs and disks away from magnetic fields, heat and cold
Multiprocessing
Each processor or core typically works on a different job yo process these jobs faster than with a single processor
Parallel processing
Multiple processors /cores work together to process a single job as fast as possible
Multithreading
The ability of a CPU(or software) to execute multiple streams of instructions(called threads) within a single program same time
Nanotechnology
Is the science of creating tiny computers and components less than no nanometers in size
High-performance(terascale/exascale computing )
The ability of a computer to process one trillion floating point operations per second (teraflops)
Exascale computing that can process data at exaflop speeds
Quantum Computing
Utilizes atoms /nuclei working together as quantum bits(qubits)
Function simultaneously as the computer’s processor and memory and can represent more than 2 states
Optical comps
Can be smaller and faster than eletronic computers
Opto-electronic computers use both optical and electronic components
Silicon photonics
Expected to be used to transfer very large quantities of data at very high speeds between chips in servers, mainframes and supercomputers
