Chapter 6 Flashcards
Motherboard
main circuit board of the computer
Processor (Central Processing Unit-CPU)
interprets and carries out the basic instructions that operate a computer
Microprocessor
personal computer processor chip
Mulit-Core processor
single chip with two or more separate processor cores
Control Unit
component of the processor that directs and coordinates most of the operations in the computer
Arithmetic Logic Unit
performs arithmetic, comparison, and other operations
Machine Cycle
fetching, decoding, executing, storing
Fetching
process of obtaining a program or an application instruction or data item from memory
Decoding
process of translating the instruction into signals the computer can exectute
Executing
process of carrying out the commands
Storing
writing the result to memory
System Clock
controls the timing of all computer operations
Clock Cycle
One click
Superscalar
system clock can execute more than one instruction per clock cycle
Clock Speed
measured by the number of ticks per second
Gigahertz (GHz)
one billion ticks of the system clock per second
Heat Sink
small ceramic or metal component with fins on its surface that absorbs and disperses heat produced by electrical components
Liquid Cooling Technology
uses a continuous flow of liquid(s) in a process that transfers the heateed fluid away from the processor to a radiator-type grill
Cooling Pad
protects the laptop from overheating
The Internet of Things (IoT)
describes a computing environment where everyday objects, or things, are connected to the Internet
Analog
uses continuous signals that vary in strength and quality
Digital
recognize only two discrete states: on and off
Binary System
number system that has just two unique number digits
Bit
smallest unit of data the computer can process
Byte
8 bits grouped together; basic storage unit in memory
Random Access Memory (RAM)
consists of memory chips that can be read from and written to by the processor and other devices
Dynamic RAM
must be re-energized constantly or they lose their contents
Static RAM
faster and more reliable than any variation of DRAM chips
Memory Cache
helps speed the processes of the computer; stores frequently used instructions and memory
Read-Only Memory (ROM)
memory chips storing permanent data and instructions
Flash Memory
type of nonvolatile memory that can be erased electronically and rewritten
Access Time
amount of time it takes the processor to read data, instructions, and information from the memory
Adapter Card
circuit board that enhances the functions of a component of a desktop or server system unit and/or provides connections to peripheral devices
Expansion Slot
socket on a desktop or server motherboard that can hold an adapter card
Sound Card
enhances the sound-generating capabilities of a personal computer by allowing sound to be input through a microphone and output through external speakers or headphones
Video Card
converts computer output into a video signal that travels through a cable to the monitor, which displays an image on the screen
USB Adapter
dongle that plugs into a USB port, enhances functions of a mobile computer, and/or provides connections to peripheral devices
Hot Plugging
insert and remove a device while the computer is running
Bus
allows the various devices both inside and attached to the system unit to communicate with one another
Word Size
number of bits the processor can interpret and execute at a given time
Power Supply
converts the wall outlet AC power into DC power
System Bus
part of the motherboard and connects the processor to main memory
Backside Bus
connects the processor to cache
Expansion Bus
allows the processor to communicate with peripheral devices
