Computer Systems fundamentals Flashcards
What kind of memory do flash drives use?
EEPROM
What to do with DRAM to maintain it’s contents?
It constantly needs to be refreshed
What is cache memory in a computer made from?
SRAM
Which forms of memory is volatile?
SRAM and DRAM
What is volatile memory?
It’s memory in computer than needs power to keep data, it loses data when system is switched off. Temporary storage while programs run
Give 1 characteristic of SRAM
it does not need to be refreshed to maintain its content unlike DRAM
Which type of memory requires a battery to preserve its contents
CMOS
What is the main purpose of ROM
To provide the computer instructions at start up
On what amount of data that can be transferred in once cycle depend?
The width of a data bus
What is the word size of a CPU directly proportional to?
The width of the data bus
What is the data bus used for?
transfer data from one location to another
What determines the maximum amount of addressable memory?
The width of the address bus
What determines whether data is to be read or written?
The control bus
What does it imply if your CPU can use a 64-bit operating system?
The data bus has 64 channels
What is true if your address bus has 32 channels?
The maximum amount of addressable memory can be calculated as 2 to the power of 32
What is the control bus used for?
Provide interrupt requests, Provide timing signals
What are polling and interrupts in computing?
Polling is a method where the CPU repeatedly checks the status of a device to see if it needs attention. It’s like continuously asking, “Are you ready yet?” Interrupts are signals sent by devices directly to the CPU, telling it to stop its current tasks and handle the urgent task. It’s like the device saying, “Stop and help me now!” Polling consumes more CPU time because it’s constantly checking, while interrupts are more efficient, allowing the CPU to perform other tasks until interrupted.
What do you call a program that improves the efficiency of your computer system?
Utility
What do you call a piece of software necessary for hardware to be compatible with the operating system?
Device driver
What is the archive attribute used to do?
Mark a file requiring backing up
When is the archive attribute reset?
After Full and Incremental backups
What kind of operating system models are pre-emptive and co-operative?
Multitasking
what is CMOS
CMOS is memory contained in the computer’s motherboard, powered by a battery, it stores BIOS settings such as system time and hardware configuration.
What is EEPROM
(Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory) is a type of non-volatile memory used in computers and other electronic devices to store small amounts of data that must be saved when power is removed.
an example is a flash drive
Give 3 examples of utility programmes
Backup Software - Create copies of data so it can be restored in case of data loss.
Firewall - Monitor and control incoming and outgoing network traffic to help protect against unauthorized access.
Disk Cleaners - Remove unnecessary files to free up space on the hard drive.
What method is used to provide virtual memory?
Paging
Which component stores information about installed applications in Windows?
Registry
Which layer of the operating system is responsible for the temporary storage of data and programs in current use?
Memory manager
Which part of the operating system is always resident in memory?
Kernel
What is a kernel in the context of an operating system?
The kernel is the core component of an operating system that manages the system’s operations and facilitates interactions between hardware and software components. It handles tasks like memory management, device management, and process scheduling.
What is a spooler
A spooler is a program that manages the sending of print jobs to a printer or other output device. It queues these tasks, allowing the computer to continue other operations without waiting for the printing to complete.
