Computer Hardware Flashcards
What do hardware components include?
Input, output, storage and processing devices
What architecture is the basis for all digital computers?
Von Nuemann
What does the CPU do?
It carries out all processing
What are the 2 parts of the CPU?
ALU and CU (arithmetic logical unit and the control unit)
What does the arithmetic logical unit do?
Carries out all of the arithmetic and logical operations
What does the control unit do?
It uses electrical signals control the flow of data
What is the cycle the CPU carries out?
Fetch - decode - execute
What is the boot sequence?
A sequence of processes required to load up the computer the boot loader starts this sequence and is stored in ROM
What happens after the boot sequence?
The operating system takes over
What does the operating system provide?
The programmes for the CPU to process
What does the speed of the CPU depend on?
- clock speed
- cache memory
- number of cores
What is clock speed
The amount of fetch-execute cycles in a second measured in hertz
What is cache memory?
On top of / next to the CPU it is memory which is faster to access as it is closer to the CPU however it is expensive
What are multi processor cores?
Multiple processors
What is the advantage of multi cores?
More fetch-execute cycles can be carried out simultaneously
What is ram?
Volatile memory which can be accessed / changed by the computer
What is stored in RAM?
- operating system
* programmes in use
What is ROM?
Read only data which is involiatlie and can’t be changed
What is stored in ROM?
The boot programme
What is virtual memory a part of?
The Harddrive
What is volatile used as?
An extension to RAM
Data is passed inbetween virtual memory and…
RAM
What is flash memory?
A type of ROM which can be rewritten it is portable memory such as a USB
What is secondary storage used for?
Storing data which needs to be kept when the power is turned off
What do magnetic hardisks store?
The operating system, user data and installed programmes
What are the properties of magnetic hard disks?
- reliable
- high capacity
- low cost
What are optical disks used for?
Transferring files / distributing software
What are the properties of optical disks?
- good capacity
- low cost
- lightweight
- portable
What are the properties of flash memory?
- good capacity
- consumes little power
- expensive
What are some input devices?
Keyboard, mouse, touchscreen
What are some output devices?
Monitors, printers, speakers
What do all computers work in?
Binary
What do computers use to make calculations?
Simple logic gates
What are the 3 logic gates?
- NOT
- AND
- OR
What is hardware?
The physical components in a computer
