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Computer Science ATAR Yr12 > Hardware > Flashcards

Hardware Flashcards

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1
Q

What is the motherboard (or system board)?

A
  • Main Circuit Board of Computer
  • Contains processor, memory etc.
  • Components are connected by integrated circuits
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2
Q

What is Random Access Memory (RAM)?

A
  • RAM is the working storage of a computer.
  • Temporarily stores files
  • Volatile Storage
  • Cleared when computer turned off
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3
Q

What is Virtual Memory (VRAM)?

A

The computer uses a section of the hard disk (swap file) to exchange information between memory and storage. Acts as additional, slower RAM.

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4
Q

What is the Central Processing Unit (CPU)?

A

The CPU is the brain of the computer. It interprets and executes instructions in the Fetch-Execute Cycle and impacts the overall computing power of the computer.

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5
Q

What is the Control Unit (CU)?

A
  • Controls the Fetch-Execute Cycle
  • Directs and coordinates operations
  • Gives instructions to ALU, Registers and Buses
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6
Q

What is the Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU)?

A
  • Performs arithmetic (+-×÷)
  • Performs comparisons between data
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7
Q

What are Registers?

A
  • Contain small, high speed data
  • Holds data and instructions
  • Includes Program Counter, Instruction Register and Accumulator
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8
Q

System Clock

A

Small quartz crystal circuit that controls the timing of all computer operations by generating regular electronic pulses. The clock speed is measured in gigahertz (billion cycles per second).

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9
Q

What is the purpose of Buses?

A

Buses are copper tracks built into the motherboard designed to move information from one place to another.

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10
Q

What are purposes of the 3 Buses?

A

Data Bus - Carries data between processor, memory and peripherals.
Address Bus - Carries locations of memory locations between processor and memory.
Control Bus - Coordinates the activities of the computer systems by carrying commands from processor to other components.

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11
Q

What are the stages of the Fetch-Execute Cycle?

A
  1. Fetch - CU obtains program instruction from memory
  2. Decode - CU translates signals into instructions so they can be executed.
  3. Execute - ALU carries out the instructions.
  4. Store - Result is stored in RAM or Registers.
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12
Q

How do 32-bit systems compare to 64-bit systems.

A

The bits refer to the data path and memory address widths. 64-bit systems are compatible with 32-bit systems but not vice-versa.

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13
Q

What is Read Only Memory (ROM)?

A
  • Permanently stores data
  • Non-volatile
  • Stores start-up instructions
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14
Q

What is CMOS?

A

Very small memory that uses battery power to retain information like date and time.

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15
Q

What is the Basic Input Output System (BIOS)?

A

A microprocessor that the computer uses to start its system and perform hardware initialization.

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16
Q

What is cache?

A
  • Small sized volatile computer memory
  • Provides high speed data
  • Stores frequently used programs and data
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17
Q

What is an adapter card?

A

Provides connection to peripheral devices. E.g. Sound card or graphics card.

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18
Q

What is secondary storage?

A

Storage devices and media that are not always accessible.
* Flash memory - Electronically erased and rewritten.
* Hard Disk Drive (HDD) - Circular platters that use magnetic particles to store data.
* Sold State Drive (SSD) - Flash memory with its own processor to manage data.

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19
Q

What is a Standard Operating Environment (SOE)? What are the advantages and disadvantages?

A

A standard setup of computer operating systems and their related software and hardware.
* Pros - Easy to upgrade/maintain, bulk buying, can test on one device.
* Cons - Specialist software unavailable, issues common across all devices, users may need to adjust.

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20
Q

What are the roles of an Operating System?

A

Is large program that controls operation of a computer system by managing software and hardware. It schedules, manages concurrency, memory and devices as well as file systems.

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21
Q

How does an Operating System schedule?

A

The OS decides which tasks take priority and allocates processing requirements accordingly. Items may be placed in buffer while waiting.

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22
Q

How does an Operating System manage concurrency?

A

The OS manages processes which are running simultaneously and potentially interacting with each other. Allows you to switch between foreground and background processes.

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23
Q

How does an Operating System manage memory?

A

The OS manages memory allocation and memory addresses for running processes to optimize memory usage. It will create Virtual RAM if necessary.

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24
Q

How does an Operating System manage devices?

A

The OS manages hardware devices and other peripherals so that they can interact with the system. Installs drivers so the devices can function.

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25
Q

What are File Systems?

A

File Systems provide mechanisms for managing space, naming files, and organizing files to efficiently store and retrieve data on a computer’s storage device.
Features space management, filenames and directories.

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26
Q

What is an Embedded Operating System?

A

An Embedded OS performs a specific task for a device that is not a computer. E.g. A microwave or dishwasher.

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27
Q

What is a Stand Alone Operating System?

A

A complete OS that runs on computers and mobile devices. E.g. Windows or IOS.

28
Q

What is a Server Operating System?

A

A OS that is designed specifically for a task operating system that has special features and abilities. E.g. Windows Server or Mac OS X Server.

29
Q

What is a Program Counter?

A

The program counter stores the address of instruction being executed. Once the instruction is completed, it’s value will be increased by 1.

30
Q

What is Multi-Core Processing?

A

A single processor with two or more separate processor cores.

31
Q

What is Distributed Processing?

A

Computing involving multiple computers remote from each other that each have a role in information processing.

32
Q

What is Sequential Processing?

A

Running a single task on a single processor. Instructions are executed one at a time.

33
Q

What is Parallel Processing?

A

The simultaneous use of more than one CPU or processor core to execute a program.

34
Q

What is a Complex Instruction Set Computer (CISC)?

A

An architecture that supports complex instructions e.g. Intel x86.
*Pros - Code is short, more compatible with high-level languages.
*Cons - Expensive, uses more power.

35
Q

What is a Reduced Instruction Set Computer (RISC)?

A

An architecture that supports fewer instructions, only ones that can be executed in a single clock cycle.
*Pros - Cheaper, pipelining is possible
*Cons - Supports fewer instructions

36
Q

What is an Advanced RISC Machine (ARM)?

A

An architecture based of RISC architecture that can perform more operations at once using less power by optimizing pathways and stripping unnecessary instructions.

37
Q

What is Benchmarking?

A

Benchmarking is the assessing of relative performance of a system, software or hardware. Done by performing a set of standard tests and trials to measure performance. Used in design phase.

38
Q

What is the difference between Synthetic and Real World Benchmarks?

A

*Synthetic Benchmarks use workloads that aren’t real to test features.
*Real World Benchmarks use usual workloads e.g. game performance/file compression.

39
Q

What is Software Benchmarking?

A

Assesses the performance of applications at the same task e.g. encoding a video.

40
Q

What is Hardware Benchmarking?

A

Would assess the relative performance of hardware components such as CPUs, GPUs or Disk Drives.

41
Q

What is Operating System Benchmarking?

A

Compares different OSs for similar tasks e.g. Windows vs Linux.

42
Q

What is Disaster Recovery?

A

Practices designed to minimise data loss and business disruption resulting from catastrophic events, from equipment failures to cyber attacks.

43
Q

What is a Disaster Recovery Plan?

A

A formal document that outlines how to respond to unplanned incidents such as natural disasters, so the organization can continue to run or quickly resume.

44
Q

What is Online Storage in Disaster Recovery?

A

Online or cloud storage means your files are stored on someone else’s servers. They will organise hardware, premises, maintenance and redundancy.

45
Q

What is an Incremental Backup?

A

A backup that copies data that has been changed since the last backup of any kind.
*Pros - Saves space and time.
*Cons - Takes more time to restore and search for data.

46
Q

What is a Full Backup?

A

When you create a copy of all data.
*Pros - Reliable and fast restore.
*Cons - Time consuming and high storage requirements.

47
Q

What is a Redundant Array of Independent Disks (RAID)?

A

RAID connects multiple smaller disks into a single large unit that acts as a single large disk.

48
Q

What is RAID 0?

A

Stripe
Splits data evenly across two or more disks.
*Pros - Increases performance and storage space.
*Cons - Vulnerable to faults.

49
Q

What RAID 1?

A

Mirror
Writes data on two disks at the same time to duplicate data.
*Pros - Increases storage reliability and fault tolerance.
*Cons - Halves storage space available.

50
Q

What is RAID 10?

A

Combination of Stripe + Mirror
*Pros - High performance and fault tolerance.
*Cons - Costly and complicated.

51
Q

What is an Uninterrupted Power Supply (UPS)?

A

An UPS is designed to provide emergency power in the event of a power cut, or to smooth out electric surges.

52
Q

What is Platform Virtualisation?

A

Tightly isolated software container that can run its own OS and apps as if it was its own computer.
*Pros - Cost and energy savings, faster, business continuity.

53
Q

What is Server Virtualisation?

A

Multiple servers are hosted on one physical computer, each with its own OS.
*Pros - Cheaper, easier to manage
*Cons - More hardware demanding, require expertise to set up

54
Q

What is Personal Virtualisation?

A

Running multiple virtual PCs on one physical computer, each with its own OS and applications.
*Pros - Can easily switch, less hardware.
*Cons - Requires more processing.

55
Q

What is Desktop Virtualisation?

A

Centralisation of applications at a data centre, delivering an individual PC environment to each connect computer.
*Pros - Easier to manage, cheaper.
*Cons - Not suitable for heavy applications, relies on central device.

56
Q

What is Storage Virtualisation?

A

Many physical storage devices appear to the end user as a single logical storage device.

57
Q

What is Cloud Computing and what are its 3 types.

A

On-demand computing services delivered over the internet e.g. OneDrive, Outlook, iCloud.
Infrastructure/Platform/Software as a Service.

58
Q

What the advantages and disadvantages of Cloud Computing.

A

Pros: Scalability, professional security, excellent disaster recovery, only pay for what you use.
Cons: Lower performance, costs can build up, lack of transparency, longer recovery over internet.

59
Q

What is Convergence?

A

A convergence is when two or more distinct devices (with distinct functions) come together onto one single device. E.g. Smartphones can act as a camera, music player, telephone.

60
Q

What are some environmental issues related to the Disposal of Computer Components?

A
  • Heavy metals can pollute the environment
  • Plastics take a long time to decompose
  • Burning and landfill release harmful toxins
61
Q

What are some methods for secure disposal of data?

A
  • Physical Destruction of Media - Reducing the hardware to dust through brute force.
  • Overwriting - Replacing data with unreadable characters, time-consuming.
  • Degaussing - Demagnetizing a hard drive to completely destroy all data, does not work on SSDs.
62
Q

What is the purpose of Intellectual Property (IP)?

A

IP is a category of property that includes intangible creations of the human intellect. Types include copyright (ownership), patents (design) and trademarks (brand).

63
Q

What is a Code of Conduct Policy?

A

A code of conduct is a set of rules outlining the norms, rules, and responsibilities or proper practices for employees within a business or organisation.

64
Q

What is Information Piracy and how can it be prevented?

A

Includes the unauthorized online use and/or distribution of electronic copies of copyrighted material. Can be prevented through encryption, online authentication, physical media and region locking.

65
Q

What are Drivers?

A

Drivers are pieces of software that talk directly to hardware. They are the lowest level of software. They are usually written by the hardware manufacturers.

Computer Science ATAR Yr12 (6 decks)

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