Computer Systems Flashcards
Components of the CPU
-Cache memory
-Control Unit
-ALU (Arithmetic & Logical Unit)
-Registers
-Buses (Address bus,Data bus & Control
bus)
Address Bus
Carries information on where data is in the RAM
The storage address of data always travels along this
Data Bus
Carries control signals internally and to the peripherals
The path along which data travels
Control Bus
Carries data between memory and CPU
The control bus is used by the controller to send control signals to different parts of the computer.
Hardware Ports
Acts as an interface/ connection between the computer and other computer or devices EXAMPLES: -USB port -HDMI -Ethernet -Audio and Video
Input Device
A device which transfers data into the computer
Output Device
A device which displays data/information out of the computer
Storage Device
A device which stores data in the computer
EXAMPLES:
-USB
-Cloud storage
Fetch-Decode-Execute
Fetch phase: An instructions is copied from memory into control Unit
Decode phase:determine the action that needs to be carried out.
Execute: The program is run
Cache size
The more cache memory the faster the computer will run and the better the computer’s performance
Clock speed
-The speed at which a processor operates
-The faster the clock speed, the faster the computer is able to run the fetch-decode-execute cycle and therefore process more instructions.
The speed is measured in Hertz
Number of Cores
-Number of processors within the CPU
-The more cores the more instruction ran
at once
CISC
complex instruction set computing
-used by phones and tablets
CISC processors can process a large number of complex instructions
Compared to RISCs…
- has more instructions
- larger
- faster
- Use more energy
- More expensive
RISC
reduced instruction set computing
-used by laptops and desktops
RISC processors can process a limited number of relatively simple instructions
Compared to CISCs…
- has fewer instructions
- smaller
- slower
- Uses less energy
- Cheaper
RAM
Random Access Memory -Its volatile -stores programs while they are being executed and data whilst it is being processed -Once the program is close , it is deleted from the RAM