Components of a computer system Flashcards
What is the CPU?
The brain of the computer that processes all the data and instructions that make the system work
What 3 characteristics affect the processing power of the CPU?
Clock speed, no. of cores, cache size
What are the 3 main parts of the CPU?
Control unit, Arithmetic logic unit, Cache
What is the function of the control unit?
Executes program instructions by following the fetch-decode-execute cycle.
Controls the flow of data within the CPU
What is the function of the Arithmetic logic unit?
Carries out all the calculations
Contains the accumulator register
What is the function of cache?
A type of fast memory in the CPU
It stores regularly used data so the CPU can access it quickly
What is Von Neumann Design?
It is a system where the CPU runs programs stored in memory including registers, control unit and Arithmetic unit
What are registers?
Stores memory of instructions and their locations so they can be fetched and executed
What is RAM?
High speed, non volatile memory that stores temporary data to allow multi tasking
What is virtual memory?
When RAM is full files that haven’t been recently used are moved to the virtual memory until it is needed and sent back to the RAM where the CPU can access it.
What is ROM?
Non-Volatile memory containing the boot up instructions which is never changed or deleted
What is primary storage?
Storage areas that the cpu can access quickly - usually volatile and faster than secondary storage
What is secondary storage?
Non-volatile storage where files that are not in use exist
Hard disk drives vs Solid state drives
HDD’s have more storage per pound
SSD’s are faster
SSD’s don’t need defragmenting
HDD’s have a longer life span
List 3 functions of operating softwares
Communicates with hardware via device drivers.
Provides a user interface
Allows multi tasking by controlling the flow of data in the CPU
