Hardware Flashcards
What are the 2 parts the micro processor is divided into
Arithmetic and Logic Unit (ALU)
Control Unit (CU)
Explain what the ALU is
The ALU is responsible for all the arithmetic that the CPU does. It will add and subtract numbers, compare one number to another and do various logical operations such as ANDing and ORing
What is the speed of the processor measured in
It is measured in GHz and typically handle either 32 or 64 bits at a time
What can happen to the processor
The processor can get very hot and cooling it quickly is essential for good performance
What are the 2 types of main memory in a PC
Random Access Memory (RAM)
Read Only Memory (ROM)
What is RAM
Normal memory which the program uses, and changes the controls of, as a result of calculations. The information only resides in memory for as long as power is supplied to the computer.
How much RAM would a laptop or desktop have
A laptop or desktop would typically have about 4GB or 8GB, but can have up to 32GB.
How much RAM would a phone have
A phone will typically have about 2GB or 4GB.
How much RAM would a games console have
Around 8GB
What is ROM
ROM permanently holds a (small) program (called the “boot strap”) which is immediately executed when switching on the machine and it allows you to load a more complicated program from disk
What is the function of the Operating System (O/S)
The O/S allows you to run programs
List input devices
The keyboard
Mouse
Games controller
Scanner
Digital camera
Touch sensitive screen
Microphone
Biometric scanners
List outputs devices
Monitors
Data projectors
Printers
Headphones/speakers
What does LCD and CRT mean and how are they different
LCD = Liquid Crystal Display
CRT = Cathode Ray Tube
LCD are thin and light monitors, whilst CRT are thick and heavy monitors
What is the resolution of a HD ready screen
1080x720
What is the resolution of a HD screen
1920x1080
What is the resolution of Ultra HD (4k)
3840x2160
List the different forms of storage
Hard drives
USB memory keys
SD cards
CDs, DVDs and Floppy Disks
List the specs of a hard drive
High volume/fast (120-500GB/current max about 8TB for mainstream) and can be internal or external
The internal drive in a laptop is typically about 250GB, in a desktop 500GB+
List the specs of USB memory keys
High volume/moderately expensive (typically 1-8GB/current max about 128GB)
What is the function of SD cards
They come in standard, mini and micro. They are designed for use in portable devices and can be up to a number of TB
What are binary numbers
All computers use binary numbers 1 and 0.
For arithmetic - adding and subtracting
For logic - AND, OR & NOT
Everything any computer does is eventually broken down into a combination of 0s and 1s.
Who invented hardware
Charles Babbage designed the difference engine in the 1820s - the first non-human computer
Explain what the CU is
The CU is the boss of the CPU. It asks the memory for instructions and data. It tells the ALU what numbers to use and what operation to carry out on them and controls the operation of all peripheral devices.
