Computer Hardware Flashcards
What is a computer?
A computer is a machine that takes some kind of input from it’s surroundings, processes the input, and provides some kind of output
What is a Von Neumann model?
Computer System design in which the program is stored in memory with the data
Define Volatile
Content is lost when the computer is switched off
What is Cache memory?
Memory used to make up for the difference in speed between two internal components
What is a register?
Registers are responsible for holding data, such as addresses or commands. Some registers can hold the product of an ALU or a command that needs to be decoded.
Give 3 examples of a register
1) Accumulator
2) Program Counter
3) Current Instruction
What is a clock?
An electronic device that ticks at regular intervals and is used to synchronize the actions of other parts in the CPU
What is bus width?
The number of wires that make up a bus. This determines the range of binary numbers that can be transmitted
What is secondary storage?
Any kind of permanent storage to which the contents of ROM/RAM are copied
What is magnetizing storage?
Magnetizing parts of a storage to represent binary 1’s and 0’s.
What is Optical storage?
Uses differences in light reflection from a material
What is Solid State storage?
Works by storing charge (electrons)
Give an example of magnetic secondary storage?
Hard disks
Give an example of optical secondary storage?
DVD’s
Give an example of electrical secondary storage?
Flash drives
What is an Input device?
To enter data into a computer
What is an output device?
To display or output data that has been processed
What kind of storage can hold the highest, medium and lowest amount of data?
Highest: Magnetic
Medium: Solid State
Lowest: DVD’s
The higher the clock speed the…
faster the CPU will run
What does the clock speed represent?
Represents the number of fetch decode execute cycles or instructions the CPU can process in a given amount of time.
cache contains…
frequently accessed data
What is the purpose of the CPU?
To fetch decode and execute instructions
What is cloud storage?
secondary storage, often belonging to a third party, that is accessed via a network (usually the internet), and so is not in the same physical place as the machine’s RAM/ROM.
In the ‘input-process-output’ model, what is meant by processing?
the computer preforms a series of actions on the input data according to the instructions of the program it is following
What is the function of RAM?
RAM stores frequently used program instructions and data so the processor isn’t kept waiting for them to be transferred from the main memory
List 2 components with which the CPU works to execute program instructions
- Program counter
2. Input/output devices
What is the role of the Control Unit?
- controls all parts of the CPU
- sends out ‘control signals’ to other parts of the CPU
What is the role of the ALU?
- conducts mathematical and logical operations
- preforms comparisons
What is the role of registers in the fetch-decode-execute cycle?
- holds data or instructions that can be accessed quickly
- most are general instruction (how ever some preform special functions)
What is the role of the decoder in the fetch-decode-execute cycle?
works out what the program instructions mean so that the CPU can carry it out
What are the names of the 3 buses involved in the fetch-decode-execute cycle?
- data bus
- control bus
- address bus
What does the data bus do?
contents of a memory location is transferred to the CPU along the data bus
What does the control bus do?
the control unit sends a ‘read’ signal to the RAM along the control bus
What does the address bus do?
the control unit uses the address bus to sends signals specifying the required memory location in the RAM
What are the 4 steps of the fetch-decode-execute process?
- The CPU sends a signal to the RAM requesting the next instruction
- The next instruction is sent from the RAM to the CPU
- The CU interprets the instruction
- the instruction is carried out
What is non-volatile memory used for?
storing program instructions and data that do not need to be changed
Give 2 reasons why a secondary storage device is needed in most computer systems
- secondary storage is non-volatile
2. data can be moved between computers
Why are solids-state storage devices called solid-state?
there are no moving parts nerd
Give 2 reasons why cloud storage is better than devices connected to a local server
- can be accessed anywhere
- a cloud storage provider is responsible for security
What are 2 reasons why devices connected to a local server is better than cloud storage
- doesn’t require internet
- access times are not affected by speed of the internet connection
What is an Accumulator?
Holds the results/products of the ALU
