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CS > Components of a Computer System > Flashcards

Components of a Computer System Flashcards

1
Q

What is a computer?

A

A machine that processes data

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2
Q

What is a embedded system?

A

Computers built into other devices

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3
Q

What is hardware?

A

Physical stuff that makes your computer system

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4
Q

What is software?

A

The programs or applications that a computer systems runs

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5
Q

What are the 2 types of computers and what do they do?

A
  1. General Purpose - designed to perform many tasks
  2. Dedicated System - designed for one particular function
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6
Q

What does the CPU do?

A

Processes all the data and instructions that make the system work

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7
Q

What effects the processing power of the CPU?

A
  1. Clock speed
  2. Number of cores
  3. Cache size
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8
Q

What does the Control Unit do?

A
  1. Manges fetch decode execution cycle
  2. Controls flow of data inside and out side CPU
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9
Q

What does the Arithmetic Logic Unit do?

A
  1. Does all the calculations
  2. Performs logic operations and binary shifts
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10
Q

What does the Cache do?

A
  1. Very fast memory in the CPU
  2. Stores regular used data so the CPU can access quickly
  3. Very low capacity
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11
Q

What type of cache levels are there?

A

L1 - Quickest, lowest capacity
L2 - Slower than L1 but can hold more
L3 - Slower than L2 but can hold more

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12
Q

What do registers do in the CPU?

A
  1. Temporarily hold tiny bits of data needed by CPU
  2. Super quick to read/write
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13
Q

What does the program counter do in the CU?

A

Holds memory address of the instructions of each cycle

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14
Q

What does the accumulator do in the CU?

A

Stores intermediate results of calculations in the ALU

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15
Q

What is does the MAR do in the CU?

A

Holds any memory address about to be used by the CPU. Address might point to data or a CPU instruction

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16
Q

What is does the MDR do in the CU?

A

Holds actual data or instruction. May have been fetched from memory or waiting to be written to memory

17
Q

What does the fetch instruction do in the “Fetch-Decode-Execute” cycle?

A
  1. Copy memory address from program counter to the MAR
  2. Copy instructions stored in MAR to MDR
18
Q

What does the decode instruction do in the “Fetch-Decode-Execute” cycle?

A
  1. Instructions in MDR is decoded by CU
  2. CU then prepares for next step
19
Q

What does the execute instruction do in the “Fetch-Decode-Execute” cycle?

A
  1. Instruction is performed
20
Q

What is volatile memory?

A

Temporary memory; needs power to retain data

21
Q

What is non-volatile memory?

A

Permanent memory - it keeps content with no power

22
Q

What does RAM store?

A

It stores all the data, files and programs that are currently being used

23
Q

How does virtual memory work?

A
  1. When RAM full, data that is not often used moved here
  2. If data needs to be read, it moves back into RAM
24
Q

What are the cons of virtual memory?

A
  1. Slow to transfer back to RAM
  2. Can make computer slow when switching through applications
25
Q

What does ROM do?

A

Tells the computer how to boot up

26
Q

6 What does the GPU do?

A

Handles graphics and image possessing

27
Q

Where is the GPU located?

A

On the motherboard

28
Q

What does GPU stand for?

A

Graphics Processing Unit

29
Q

What are the 2 main types of storage?

A
  1. Primary
  2. Secondary
30
Q

What does primary storage do?

A

Refers to memory areas that CPU can access very quickly

31
Q

What does secondary storage do?

A

Where all data is stored when not in use

32
Q

What is a hard disk drive?

A

High-capacity, reliable storage

33
Q

What is a solid state drive?

A

Fast and reliable secondary storage

34
Q

What is better; a HDDs or a SSD?

A
  1. HDDs is cheaper
  2. HDDs has higher capacity
  3. SDDs are faster
  4. SSDs dont need defragmenting
35
Q

What are magnetic tapes used for?

A

Archiving

36
Q

What do the operating systems do?

A

Manage hardware and run software

37
Q

What are the main functions of a OS?

A
  1. Provides user interface
  2. Provides platform for different applications to run
  3. Deals with file management and disk management
38
Q

How does the OS let the computer multi-task?

A

By controlling memory recourses and CPU

39
Q

What do device drivers do?

A

Lets the OS and the Hardware communicate

CS (2 decks)

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