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COMPUTING GCSE > computer systems > Flashcards

computer systems Flashcards

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1
Q

what is a computer?

A

a machine that processes data

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2
Q

what does a computer system consist of?

A

hardware and software

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3
Q

hardware?

A

physical stuff : motherboard, monitor

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4
Q

software?

A

the programs that a computer system runs : video game, operating system

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5
Q

what is an embedded system?

A

computers built into other devices with a single, dedicated task

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6
Q

embedded system examples?

A

washing machine, dishwasher, windscreen wipers

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7
Q

expand on embedded system dishwasher example?

A

the embedded system could control the water pumps and water release mechanisms, manage the various dishwasher cycles and control the thermostat to keep water at an appropriate temperature

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8
Q

why are embedded systems better than a computer?

A

theyre dedicated to a single task so they are:

cheaper
more efficient
easier to design

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9
Q

CPU stands for?

A

central processing unit

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10
Q

what does the CPU do?

A

it processes all the data and instructions that make the system work

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11
Q

what are the 3 main parts of the CPU?

A

control unit (CU)
arithmetic logic unit (ALU)
the cache

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12
Q

what is the control unit?

A

overall control of the CPU
fetch decode execute cycle
controls the flow of data

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13
Q

what is the arithmetic logic unit?

A

performs all the calculations

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14
Q

what is the cache?

A

stores regularly used data for the CPU to access quickly

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15
Q

characteristics of cache?

A

very fast memory
low capacity
expencive

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16
Q

what else does the CPU contain?

A

registers

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17
Q

what do registers do?

A

temporarily hold tiny bits of data needed by the CPU

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18
Q

characteristic of registers?

A

super quick to read/write to

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19
Q

example of registers?

A

MAR - memory address register
MDR - memory data register
ACC - accumulator
PC - program counter

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20
Q

what is the program counter? (PC)

A

holds the memory address of the instruction for each cycle

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21
Q

what is the accumulator? (ACC)

A

stores results of calculations from the ALU

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22
Q

what is the memory address register? (MAR)

A

holds any memory address about to be used by the CPU

the address might point to data or a CPU instruction

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23
Q

what is the memory data register? (MDR)

A

holds the actual data or instruction that has been fetched from memory or waiting to be written to memory

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24
Q

who is von neumann?

A

came up with a CPU design where it runs programs stored in memory

describes how most computers work today

made in 1945

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25
Q

what cycle does the CPU follow?

A

fetch - decode - execute

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26
Q

what is fetch?

A

copy memory address from the PC to the MAR

copy the instruction stored in the MAR address to the MDR

increment the PC to point to the address of the next instruction for the next cycle

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27
Q

what is decode?

A

instruction in the MDR is decoded by the CU

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28
Q

what is execute?

A

the instruction is performed/outputted

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29
Q

why is the FDE cycle important?

A

to run instructions efficiently

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30
Q

what is memory?

A

storage of all the instructions that the CPU follows

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31
Q

what does RAM stand for?

A

random access memory

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32
Q

what is RAM?

A

the main memory in a computer where all files, data and programs are stored while being used

can be read and written to

volatile

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33
Q

volatile meaning?

A

temporary memory which required power to keep its data

forgets

34
Q

non volatile meaning?

A

permanent memory which keeps its contents even when there is no power

doesnt forget

35
Q

how does RAM work?

A

when a computer boots up the operating system is copied from secondary storage to RAM

when software applications are opened they are copied from secondary storage to RAM until closed

36
Q

speed of RAM compared to cache and secondary storage

A

slower than cache, faster than secondary storage

37
Q

what is virtual memory?

A

a secondary storage used as extra RAM

38
Q

why is virtual memory used?

A

computers have a limited amount of RAM

when RAM is full it moves data that hasnt been used recently to virtual memory

39
Q

what happens is the CPU needs to read data from virtual memory?

A

it moves data back to RAM

this is a slow process as data transfer rates are slow on secondary storage

40
Q

what does ROM stand for?

A

read only memory

41
Q

what is ROM?

A

it can only be read not written to

non-volatile

42
Q

what does ROM do?

A

contains all the instructions a computer needs to boot up (BIOS)

when the computer is powered on CPU reads instructions from ROM to perform self checks and set itself up

43
Q

what three things effect CPU performance?

A

clock speed
number of cores
cache size

44
Q

what is clock speed?

A

number of instructions a single processor core can carry out per second

measured in Hz

45
Q

higher clock speed = ?

A

greater number of instructions that can be carried out per second

46
Q

what is a core?

A

each core in the CPU processes data independently from the rest

47
Q

higher number of cores = ?

A

the more instructions that can be carried out at once

48
Q

what is the cache?

A

data storage in the CPU

faster than RAM

49
Q

larger CPU cache = ?

A

gives the CPU faster access to more data

50
Q

more RAM = ?

A

more applications it can smoothly run making it faster

51
Q

less RAM = ?

A

runs slowly due to use of virtual memory

52
Q

what does GPU stand for?

A

graphics processing units

53
Q

what is a GPU?

A

specialised circuit for handling graphic anf image processing

54
Q

why are GPU’s good?

A

relieve the processing load on the CPU freeing it to do other things

55
Q

what are the two main tiers of storage?

A

primary storage
secondary storage

56
Q

what is primary storage?

A

memory areas the CPU can access quickly

57
Q

primary storage examples?

A

RAM
ROM
cache

58
Q

what is secondary storage?

A

where all data is stored when not in use

non volatile

read/write is much slower

59
Q

secondary storage examples?

A

magnetic drives
solid state drives
CDs

60
Q

what is a hard drive?

A

the traditional internal storage

  1. made up of a stack of magnetised metal disks that spin extremely fast
  2. data is stored magnetically on the disk’s circular tracks
  3. a moving arm accesses these areas to read or write data
61
Q

advantages of hard disk drives

A

portable
long lasting
reliable
cheap

62
Q

disadvantages of hard disk drives?

A

could be damaged if dropped
slower than SSD

63
Q

what is a solid state drive? (SSD)

A

storage device with no moving parts used for internal storage

uses flash memory

64
Q

advantages of solid state drives? (SSD)

A

has much faster read/write times than hard drives

non volatile

65
Q

what is an optical disc?

A

secondary storage

uses a laser to read the data from pits and lands as the disc spins

66
Q

examples of optical disc?

A

CDs
DVDs

67
Q

disadvantages of optical discs?

A

can only be written to once

declining as streaming becomes popular

easily scratched

68
Q

advantages of optical discs?

A

cheap
portable

69
Q

what does an operating system do?

A
  1. communicate with hardware via device drivers
  2. provides a user interface (allows you to interact with the computer)
  3. allows computer to multitask
  4. deals with file management and disk defragmentation
70
Q

what is an operating system?

A

runs and maintains a computer system

71
Q

what is a device driver?

A

used to communicate with hardware

72
Q

examples of device drivers?

A

mouse
keyboard

73
Q

what is a user interface?

A

allows the user to interact with a computer system

74
Q

what is file management?

A

organisation of data into a usable hierarchical structure

75
Q

examples of file management?

A

naming
saving
moving
editing
detetion
of data

76
Q

what is user management?

A

who can use the computer at one time

77
Q

what is single user?

A

one user using the computer at once

78
Q

what is multi user?

A

multiple users using the computer at once

79
Q

what is utility software?

A

helps maintain the computer
installed within an operating system

80
Q

what is defragmentation?

A

reorganises data to put broken up files back together

moves free space together to prevent further fragmentation

81
Q

why does defragmentation exist?

A

disk management moves, deletes and changes sizes of files causing extra space, so the operating system fills thr gaps by splitting files

this makes it slower to read/write as it has to move back and forth

82
Q

what is compression software?

A

reduces file sizes by either permanently or temporarily removing unwanted data so they are quicker to downloads

COMPUTING GCSE (4 decks)

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