Computer Structure Final 1 Flashcards by jasmine carter

A special very high speed memory called __________ is used to increase the speed of processing by making current programs and data available to the CPU at a rapid rate.

Cache

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Most of the main memory is made up of what two chips

RAM integrated Chips

ROM chips

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What does RAM stand for

Random Access Memory

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RAM is available in two possible operating modes What are they?

Static and Dynamic

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ROM stands for what

Read only memory

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ROM is used for……….?

storing programs that are permently resident in the computer and for tables of constants that do not change in value once the production of the computer is completed

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What is Bootstrap Loader

It is a portion of ROM needed for storing an initial program, which is to start the computer software operating when the power is turned off

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A Cluster is the….

smallest unit of disk space that MS-DOS could allocate to a file.

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What does a cluster consist of

One or more Sectors

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How is cluster sized determined

By the OS when the disk is formatted

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(cluster) Generally, the larger the disk drive;…..

the more sectors per cluster

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Each sector holds

512 bytes (FAT 32)

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Cluster are too small……

to hold larger files

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FAT sectors are gathered in clusters:…?

2,4,8,16,32,64 sectors

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NFTS stands for what?

New Technology file System

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What system does Windows 7, and 8 hold and with how many bytes per sector

NFTS

4096 bytes per sector

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Partitioning makes hard disk compatible with the…….

Operating system

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Partitioning prepares what….

the hard disk for high-level format

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Partitioning divides the…..

hard disk into two or more partitions or makes it all one large partition

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What command is partitioning performed with

FDISK or DISKPART

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What does RAID stand for

redundant array of inexpensive disks

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RAID does what?

combines multiple small, inexpensive disk drives into a group to yield performance exceeding that of one large, more expensive drive

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What does RAID appear to the computer as?

As a single virtual drive

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What does RAID support?

It supports fault-tolerance by redundantly storing information in various ways

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what are the five types of array architectures and what the difference?

RAID 1-5 Different disk fault-tolerance Different trade-offs in features and performance

A non-redundant array of disk drives is often referred to as

RAID 0

Which RAIDs are commonly used

Only RAID 0,1,3 and 5

Which raids do not offer any significant advantages over these other types

RAID 2,4

What is a parity check

An extra bit added to a byte to detect errors in storage or transmission

A single parity can only detect....

single bit errors since if an even number of bits are wrong then the parity bit will not change

1)What does RAID provide?

Fault tolerance, it does not prevent disk drive failures but enables real-time data recovery High I/O performance Mass data capacity

2) What does RAID provide?

Configuration flexibility Lower protected storage costs Easy Maintenance

what does USB stand for

Universal Serial Bus

It is a.... developed in.....

An industry wide cable bus standard developed in 1995

USB brings....

brings plug and play to peripheral devices

A single USB channel can handle up to ____ peripheral devices

127 peripheral devices

Does a USB require a separate adapter card?

USB allows for fast _______ communication between a _____and ______ peripherals

allows for fast bi-directional communication between a host computer and hot-pluggable peripherals

IEEE-1394 can accommodate a maximum of how many devices

63 devices per port

USB versus Firewire-name three things common to both

Both are cable expansion buses Both use small cable with peripherals that are hot -pluggable both use daisy-chaining to connect peripherals

What is USB's and Firewire's top speed?

USB's top speed is 480 Megabits/second | Firewire runs at 100, 200, and 400 Megabits/second with much higher speeds in the works

How any conductors do USB's and Firewire's cable have?

Firewire cable has 6 conductors (4 data/clocks and 2 power) | USB has 4 conductors ( 2 power and 2 data)

USB is aimed primarily at the... | Fire wire is used for....

USB is aimed primarily at the PC peripheral market while Firewire is used for computer interfaces to consumer electronic products like digital camcorders , VCR's, digital televisions, and other audio visual products.

Data flows through the computer between the CPU and....

between the CPU and the RAM between the CPU and video between the CPU and other devices

the North bridge .....

is the bridge closest to the CPU that connects the CPU to video and/or memory

the South bridge.....

is the farther bridge that handles all of the inputs and outputs to the many devices in the PC

What does BIOS stand for

Basic Input Output System

BIOS is firmware that Identifies connected system devices ( name six)

CPU, RAM, Keyboard, Mouse, CD-ROM, Display

BIOS is firmware that does two other main operation what are they?

tests system devices (power-on self-test) | Initializes the system devices

What is BIOS Firmware?

Software that comes embedded in its own memory chip

What two types of memory are used for BIOS firmware?

EEPROM-Electronically Erasable Programmable Read-Only memory EPROM- Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory Older PC's used EPROM Could be erased by exposure to ultraviolet light also know as Flashing BIOS

the motherboard is set up to initialize its operations using...

BIOS

What does CMOS stand for

Complementary metal-oxide-semiconductors

What is important to know about the life of CMOS

it is volatile its kept alive by the battery

CMOS only stores....

Changeable data not programs and acts as clock to keep data current

CMOS is what via SETUP program

Customizable

Where is CMOS often times

on the Southbridge

Name five features of the BIOS

``` programs Non-Volatile Can be changed by flashing typically 64 K of programs Often separate chip ```

Name five features of the CMOS

``` data volatile changed via CMOS setup typically 128 K of day (though chip size is typically 64 K) Often on the Southbridge ```

What is a device driver

Is a file that contains the BIOS commands necessary to communicate with the devices they support

All devices come with....

their own device drivers

Device drivers don't start until...

the OS starts them

What does POST stand for

Power on self test

Where is the post stored on when is it initiated Checks out....

ROM Chip when the computer is turned on or is reset the system every time the computer boots

The POST communicates....

Errors | beep codes and text errors