Exam Prep Flashcards
Describe the usage characteristics and os of handheld devices.
Commonly known as smartphones and tablets. Single user, multitask, portable. Android and ios
Describe the usage, characteristics and os of minicomputers.
typically used as highpowered servers by large companies.
designed as 24/7 servers for databases, web and file storage applications.
Physically rack or tower mounted configurations the size of file cabinets.
kept in air conditioned rooms
operating systems - linux, Unix, windows server OS
List the seven main components of CPU.
- ALU - arithmetic and Logic unit
- FLU - floating point unit
- Registers
- BIU Bus interface unit
- Control unit
- Fetch Decode Unit
- L1 split cache, L2 and L3 unified cache
Describe the ALU in detail
The ALU performs two types of operations
1. Arithmetic operations such as multiplication, subtraction and division on integer numbers
2. Logical operations such as and, or, not and xor
receives operations from CU, takes data from the registers and performs the operations.
Describe the FPU in detail
Also called the maths coprocesser.
Performs maths on real numbers
Faster than the ALU for processing real numbers.
Define analog and digital signals.
analogue signal: Varies continuously and smoothly and represents data in its natural form.
Digital signal is a set of numbers that represent the strength of a natural signal at regular intevals.
Varies instantaneously and is not smooth.
What are the advantages of digital signal transmission over analog transmission
Less errors since uses distinct values ie 0 & 1 More efficient transmission Higher maximum transmission More secure (easier to encrypt Easier to integrate audio/Video/Data.
Discuss DRAM
DRAM - 1 transistor and 1 capacitor. Slower speed than SRAM Relatively cheap. Used in DIMMs and SIMMS. REquires peroidic dataq refresh every 2 ms
Discuss SRAM
4-6 transistors. Fastest memory type. Most expensive. Used in CPU registers and cache.
No periodic data refresh required.
Describe rendering
The rendering process is the process of converting a 3D image and representing the 3D image on screen to allow the viewer to perceive it as such.
What are the 7 steps to the rendering process
- Wire frame construction - objects outlined as a wireframe.
- Z-sorting. Objects drawn are placed in order from front to back. Alternative is z-buffering where only the pixels that will be visible are drawn.
- Lines in the wireframe that will not be visible are deleted.
- Shading the surfaces are shaded.
- Perspective correction:The image is adjusted to provide the illusion of perspective.
- Alpha bending: shading is adjusted for various light conditions.
- Fogging or depth cueing - used to enhance the illusion of distance.
Describe AM
In AM , the amplitude (size or voltage level) of the wave changes, depending on whether a 1 or a 0 is to be transmitted. The frequency and phase remain constant.
Describe FM
In FM, the frequency of the signal (that is the pitch or tone of the sound) is modulated. The result is that the frequency changes slightly (or “wobbles”) depending on the bit value being represented. The amplitude and phase of the signal do not change.
Describe PM
Instantaneously alters phase position of signal
Amplitude and frequency remain constant
Digital only technique
1 to 1 and 0 to 0 no change, 0 to 1 and 1 to 0 phase change
Describe Frequency
Frequency is the number of waves in an analogue signal that occur per second
Measured in hertz
Think of frequency as being like counting waves at the beach.
Describe Band
A band is a range of frequencies (i.e. the FM radio band covers the range of frequencies from 80MHz to 108 MHz).
Describe Bandwidth
Bandwidth is the width of the band
The difference between the highest and lowest frequencies in a band.
In networks, bandwidth is used to refer to the amount of data that can be sent per second.
Describe Baud Rate
Baud rate is the number of times that a signal changes in one second
