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Computing (mine) > Components of a computer system > Flashcards

Components of a computer system Flashcards

1
Q

What is a computer?

A

A machine that processes data, its purpose is to take in data, process it and then output it.

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2
Q

What are computer systems comprised of?

A
  • Hardware

- Software

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3
Q

What is hardware?

A

The physical components of a computer system, like the CPU, motherboard or a printer.

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4
Q

What is software?

A

Is the programs that a computer systems runs, they tend to control a piece of hardware.

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5
Q

What are the two types of software?

A
  • Application,

- System.

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6
Q

What is the difference between application and system software?

A
  • Application software is software that is made for a very specific task, usually surrounding a single program. For example, web browsers, email clients and games.
  • System software is software that supports the computer system and is needed for the device to run. For example, an OS.
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7
Q

What is an embedded system?

A

A combination of hardware and software inside another device. This embedded system cannot be changed by an average person and carries out a very specific function often times. For example, an oven.

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8
Q

What are the advantages of a embedded systems?

A
  • Very small,
  • Cheap to produce,
  • Easier to design and build because it only does a limited number of tasks,
  • More reliable, they tend to last longer with little maintenance,
  • Uses more ROM which is cheaper than RAM,
  • Requires less processing power, it is cheaper and generates less heat.
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9
Q

What hardware is used in embedded systems?

A
  • Quite a lot ROM and has little RAM,
  • Doesn’t tend to have secondary storage
  • ROM and RAM are stored in the same chip so that costs and space is reduced,
  • The processor is much weaker.
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10
Q

What hardware is mainly involved in a computer?

A
  • Power Supply
  • Fan
  • CPU
  • GPU
  • Motherboard
  • HDD
  • RAM
  • ROM
  • Optical drive
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11
Q

What is the function of the power supply?

A

To give power to the motherboard and all the hardware components.

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12
Q

What is the function of the Fan?

A

Control the thermals of the PC.

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13
Q

What is the function of the CPU?

A

Controls the processing of data in the PC, carries out the fetch, decode execute cycle.

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14
Q

What is the function of the GPU?

A

Controls the graphics and rendering of images and videos in the computer.

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15
Q

What is the function of the Motherboard?

A

The main circuit board in the computer, it sends data between hardware as it is connected to everything.

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16
Q

What is the function of HDD?

A

This stores most of the computers data.

17
Q

What is the function of RAM?

A

It is memory for the computer, it stores the applications that are currently being used and the memory is wiped once the PC is shut down (volatile memory)

18
Q

What is the function of ROM?

A

It is Read only memory, this memory cannot be changed and is in little amount in an average PC. It stores start up instructions for the computer (BasicInputOutputSystem, BIOS).

19
Q

What is the function of the Optical drive?

A

Controls CDs that enter the computer, allows the reading and writing of these CDs.

20
Q

What characteristics effect the CPUs performance?

A
  • Clock speed,
  • Number of cores,
  • Cache size and type.
21
Q

What are the 5 main parts of the CPU?

A
  • The control unit,
  • The arithmetic logic unit (ALU),
  • The cache,
  • The clock,
  • Buses.
22
Q

What is the function of the control unit (CU)?

A
  • The main controlling unit of the CPU,
  • Its main function is to execute instructions by following the fetch execute cycle.
  • Also controls the flow of data inside the CPU and outside,
  • It also keeps track of memory addresses for the instructions for the cycle.
23
Q

What is the function of the arithmetic logic unit (ALU)?

A
  • Basically does all the calculations,
  • It performs logic operations (and, or, not) and binary shifts,
  • Registers temporarily hold calculation information for the ALU,
  • It receives data from CU and Registers and performs operations on them and outputs it back to the registers.
24
Q

What is the function of the cache?

A
  • A very fast memory in the CPU, it is faster than the RAM but slower than registers,
  • It stores regularly used data so that the CPU can access often used instructions so the fetch-execute cycle can happen more efficiently,
  • Has a low capacity and is expensive compared to RAM because of its speed.
25
Q

What is the function of buses?

A
  • Collections of wires that are used transmit data between components of the CPU and to other parts of the CPU,
  • A processor may have different buses for carrying: data, instructions and memory addresses.
26
Q

What is the function of a register?

A
  • It temporarily holds data in the CPU, it is a very fast memory and can read and write way faster than any other form of memory.
  • There are different registers for storing different data.
27
Q

What is Von Neumann’s architecture?

A
  • A system were the CPU runs programs stored in memory,

- It has uses one set of memory for both instructions and data.

28
Q

What is the function of memory in the CPU?

A

Holds program instructions and the program data for the fetch execute cycle.

29
Q

What is the Fetch, Decode and Execute cycle?

A

Fetch:

  • The control unit reads the memory address of the next CPU instructions,
  • The instruction is copies over to the register in the CPU,
  • The memory address in the CU then points to the address of the next instruction, ready for the next cycle.

Decode:

  • the instruction that was copied from the memory is decoded by the CU,
  • The control unit prepares for the next step, e.g. by loading other values into the register.

Execute:
-The instruction is performed,
- This could be anything like:
load data from memory, write data into memory, logic operations, change the address in the CU or halt the program.

Computing (mine) (7 decks)

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