Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

Computer Science - A-level > GSCE :Section 1: Components of a Computer System > Flashcards

GSCE :Section 1: Components of a Computer System Flashcards

GCSE

You may prefer our related Brainscape-certified flashcards:
Biology 101 flashcards
1
Q

What is a computer?

A

A computer is a machine that processes data

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What is the purpose of a computer?

A
  • To take data
  • Process it
  • Then output it
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What does a computer system include?

A
  • Hardware
  • Software
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What is Hardware?

A

The physical stuff that makes up the computer e.g. CPU, motherboard

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What is Software?

A

The programs or applications that computer system runs e.g. an operating system

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What are embedded systems?

A

They are computers that are inside a larger system e.g. dishwasher

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What is inside a typical desktop computer?

A
  • Motherboard
  • Hard disk drive
  • Graphics Card
  • CPU

These are only a couple of examples

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What is the purpose of the CPU?

A

It processes all the data and instructions to make a system work.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What is the purpose of the GPU?

A

It handles graphics and images + relieves processing load on CPU

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What are some of the factors that affect the CPU?

A
  • Clock speed
  • Cache size
  • Number of cores
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What are the CPU’s main 3 parts?

A
  • The Control Unit (CU)
  • The Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU)
  • The Cache
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What does the Control Unit (CU) do?

A

It executes instructions and controls the flow of data in the CPU

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What does the Arithmetic Logic Unit do (ALU)?

A
  • Does all the calculations
  • Performs logic operations (AND, OR , NOT)
  • Performs binary shifts
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What does the Cache do?

A
  • Stores regularly used data so the CPU can access it quickly
  • It has low capacity + is expensive
  • Has very fast memory
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What does the Von Neumann architecture describe?

A

A system where the CPU runs programs stored in memory

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What are the two types of registers?

A
  • Memory Address Register (MAR)
  • Memory Data Register (MDR)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

What does the Program Counter do?

A

Holds the address of the instruction for each cycle

18
Q

What does the Accumulator do?

A

Stores results of calculation in the ALU

19
Q

What does the MAR do?

A

Hold the memory address ABOUT to be used by the CPU

20
Q

What does the MDR do?

A

Holds the ACTUAL data/ instruction used by the CPU

21
Q

What is the Fetch –> Decode –> Execute cycle?

A

Fetch:
- Memory address is copied from the program counter to the MAR
- Cppy the instruction stored in the MAR address to the MDR
- Increments the program counter to point to the address of the next instruction

Decode:
- Instruction from the MDR is decoded by the CU
- The CU prepares the next step by loading the values into the MAR or MDR

Execute:
- The instruction is performed

22
Q

What is RAM?

A

Random Access Memory

23
Q

What is ROM?

A

Read Only Memory

24
Q

What is virtual memory?

A

It’s secondary storage used by the RAM

25
Q

Factors of RAM:

A
  • High speed volatile memory (temporary
    memory)
    -Slower than the CPU cache
  • Faster than secondary storage

Power off = Data is lost

26
Q

Factors of ROM:

A
  • Non volatile
    -Contains all the instructions needed for the computer to boot up
27
Q

When is Virtual Memory used?

A

When the RAM is full- it uses secondary storage as a temporary RAM

28
Q

Factors that affect the CPU:

A
  • Clock speed
  • Cache Size
  • Number of Cores
29
Q

What is clock-speed?

A

The number of instructions a processor can carry out per second

30
Q

What is number of cores + its effects ?

A

The more number of cores the CPU has it can carry out more instructions at once

More cores - Faster processing

31
Q

What is the affects of the cache size?

A

A larger cache gives the CPU faster access to more data

32
Q

What is secondary storage?

A

It’s where all the data including the programs are stored when they are not being used

33
Q

Give at least 3 advantages about Hard Disk Drive (HDD)

A
  • Longer Life Span than SSD
  • Large storage capacity
  • Lower cost than SSD
34
Q

Give at least 3 disadvantages about Hard Disk Drive (HDD)

A
  • Has moving parts
  • Noisy
  • Not Shock Proof
35
Q

Give at 3 advantages of about Solid State Drive (SDD)

A
  • No moving parts
  • More robust than HDD
  • Faster than HDD
36
Q

Give at 3 disadvantages of about Solid State Drive (SDD)

A
  • More expensive than HDD
  • Lifespan of SDD is less than HDD
37
Q

Give some examples of Flash memory

A
  • USB memory sticks
  • Memory Cards
38
Q

Give 3 advantages about Optical Storage and state some examples

A
  • Cheap
  • Portable
  • Robust

e.g. CDs, DVDs

39
Q

Give 3 disadvantages about Optical Storage and state some examples

A
  • Not scratch- resistant
  • Low capacity
  • Very slow to write to
40
Q

Give at 3 advantages about Magnetic Tape

A
  • Used for back ups
  • Large Capacity
  • Low Cost
41
Q

Give a disadvantage about Magnetic Tape

A
  • Slow

Computer Science - A-level (7 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions