Hardware

Question 1

Describe primary storage.

Answer 1

Primary storage is RAM (Random Access Memory) and ROM (Read-Only Memory). The CPU can directly access primary storage, reading instructions from it and executing them.

Question 2

What is a ‘chip’?

Answer 2

A ‘chip’ is a small piece of semiconducting material, usually silicon, with embedded integrated circuitry and millions of transistors.

Question 3

What is the purpose of the control unit?

Answer 3

The control unit is a component of the CPU, or Central Processing Unit. The control unit manages various components of the computer. It transforms input information into a series of signals to activate other parts of the computer, such as the logic unit, memory, and input and output devices. These signals are sent to the processor, which instructs the hardware what operations to carry out.

Question 4

Describe what is in ROM and how it is stored.

Answer 4

System-level programs are stored in ROM. It stores the firmware, which has instructions on how a device operates and communicates with other devices, and the BIOS, or Basic Input Output System, which instructs the computer on how to perform basic hardware functions. It is hardwired into the integrated circuits.

Question 5

micron

Answer 5

A micron is a unit of length equivalent to one millionth of a metre, or one ten-thousandth of a centimetre. This unit of measurement is used to measure processors and their components.

Question 6

data width

Answer 6

Data width refers to the number of instructions that can be sent to the ALU simultaneously. For example, an 8-bit ALU could perform any operation with two 8-bit numbers at the same time.

Question 7

MIPS

Answer 7

MIPS, or Million Instructions Per Second, is the measure of how many instructions a computer can execute per second. It is a general indicator of the computer’s performance.

Question 8

non-volatile

Answer 8

Non-volatile describes computer memory that can retain saved data even if the power is interrupted. For example, ROM is non-volatile, while RAM is volatile.

Question 9

PROM

Answer 9

PROM, or Programmable Read-Only Memory, is ROM that can be modified by a user once. PROM is blank memory, that the user must program using a PROM programmer or PROM burner, and it is not erasable.

Question 10

EPROM

Answer 10

EPROM, or Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory, is a type of PROM that can be reprogrammed after the contents is erased using ultraviolet light.

Question 11

EEPROM

Answer 11

EEPROM, or Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory, is a type of PROM that can be reprogrammed after the contents is erased electrically. EEPROM chips do not have to be removed from the computer to be reprogrammed.

Question 12

flash ROM

Answer 12

Flash ROM refers to flash memory. It is non-volatile, and can be erased electrically and rewritten. Data is erased from Flash ROM in blocks.

Question 13

clock speed

Answer 13

Clock speed is the rate at which a processor executes instructions. It refers to the number of pulses per second of the computer’s clock which sets the pace for the processor.

Question 14

motherboard

Answer 14

The motherboard is the main circuit board of a computer. It gives power to hardware components and allows communication between the different components.

Question 15

List the order of operations in the BIOS.

Answer 15

(1) CMOS settings, relating to system components, are checked.
(2) Devices drivers and interrupt handlers are loaded.
(3) Power management and registers are initialized.
(4) POST, or Power On Self Test, is performed to check whether all the hardware components are working.
(5) System settings are displayed.
(6) Bootable devices are found.
(7) Bootstrap sequence is started to initialize the OS, or Operating System.

Question 16

Describe what is in ROM and what they each do.

Answer 16

The BIOS, the CMOS, and the firmware are in ROM. The BIOS, or Basic Input Output System, tells the computer how to access attached devices and instructs it on how to perform basic hardware functions. The CMOS, or Complementary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor, stores information relating to system components and settings, and time and date. The firmware is software that stores instructions on how a device operates and communicates with other devices.

Question 17

millisecond

Answer 17

A millisecond is a unit of time equivalent to a thousandth of a second. The speed of the CPU, or Central Processing Unit, is measured in milliseconds.

Question 18

system clock

Answer 18

The system clock is a clock that emits high-frequency electronic pulses to measure time. It is used by the Control Unit to synchronize all computer operations and internal components.

Question 19

DRAM

Answer 19

DRAM, or Dynamic Random Access Memory, is a type of storage often used in the main memory of a computer. It stores information in cells with a transistor and capacitor and this design makes it need to be refreshed by electricity every few milliseconds.

Question 20

SRAM

Answer 20

SRAM, or Static Random Access Memory, is a type of RAM that retains memory as long as power is supplied. Because it uses only multiple transistors, it does not need to be refreshed periodically. It used for cache memory.

Question 21

random access

Answer 21

Random access means that the CPU can access data at any memory location in the same amount of time. The CPU does not need to read the data in sequence from the first address.

Question 22

EDO RAM

Answer 22

EDO RAM, or Extended Data-Out Random Access Memory, is a type of RAM chip that, while processing one block of data, can begin to access the next.

Question 23

SDRAM

Answer 23

SDRAM, or Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory, is a type of DRAM that is synchronized with the CPU and can therefore run at much higher speeds.

Question 24

RDRAM

Answer 24

RDRAM, or Rambus Dynamic Random Access Memory, is a type of DRAM. It is the fastest type of computer memory available, using a high speed bus, or channel.

Question 25

nanosecond

Answer 25

A nanosecond is a unit of time equivalent to a billionth of a second. The speed of RAM chips is measured in nanoseconds.

Question 26

gigahertz

Answer 26

Gigahertz is a unit commonly used for measuring processor speed. One gigahertz is equivalent to one billion cycles per second.

Question 27

GT/s

Answer 27

GT/s, or gigatransfers per second, is a measure of bus speed in millions of “effective” transfers per second, or the delivered speed, rather than the frequency of the clock.

Question 28

bus

Answer 28

A bus is a group of wires that is transmits information between different computer components. The size of the bus is an indicator of the speed of a computer.

Question 29

Why does the computer need interrupt requests?

Answer 29

An interrupt request stops the OS to allow the control unit to manage and execute multiple commands at once. Without interrupts, the computer would not be able to begin performing another command before finishing the first.

Question 30

List and describe the 6 buses.

Answer 30

The six buses are the address bus, the data bus, the control bus, the internal data bus, the expansion bus, and the local bus.

The address bus, which connects the RAM to the CU, is a channel through which data addresses, stored in the form of binary numbers, are transmitted. The data bus, which connects the RAM to the CU, is a channel through which data is transmitted. The control bus is used by the CPU to communicate with other components of the motherboard. It transmits commands from the CU to these other components and returns status signals. The internal data bus is located in the CU, and controls operations between the Arithmetic Logic Unit, the Control Unit and the registers, small high-speed circuits. The expansion bus is a channel across which data is transmitted to and from expansion slots and internal hardware. The local bus is a high-speed channel connecting the CPU directly to peripheral devices.

Question 31

AGP

Answer 31

An AGP, or Accelerated Graphics Port, is an interface for video cards and 3D accelerators.

Question 32

drive bay

Answer 32

The drive bay of a computer is the space where any type of drive or other extra computer component can be installed.

Question 33

PCI

Answer 33

PCI, or Peripheral Component Interconnect, is a hardware bus used to connect peripherals to the computer system.

Question 34

bus speed

Answer 34

Bus speed refers to the amount of data that can be transferred by the bus simultaneously. It is measured in MHz, or megahertz.

Question 35

EISA

Answer 35

EISA, or Extended Industry Standard Architecture, is a bus that extends the ISA bus from 16 bits to 32 bits and provides bus mastering, the direct communication between a bus and other components, without passing through the CPU.

Question 36

drive speed

Answer 36

The drive speed refers to the average access time, or the time it takes for one piece of information to be accessed and obtained. It is measured in milliseconds.

Question 37

access time

Answer 37

The access time is the amount of time between a request for information and the retrieval of this data. The access time is measured in milliseconds.

Question 38

port

Answer 38

A port is an interface between the computer system and another internal or external device. For example, an internal port would connect a disk drive and an external port would connect a printer.

Question 39

serial

Answer 39

Serial means one at a time. In relation to computer hardware, serial refers to serial ports, which can transfer one bit at a time. Serial ports are much slower than parallel ports, but the cables the risk of electronic interference is much lower.

Question 40

parallel

Answer 40

In relation to computer hardware, parallel refers to parallel ports, which transfer multiple bits at a time, depending on the number of wires. The data arrives at the same time. Although parallel ports are faster than serial ports, the risk of interference of the electric signals is significantly higher.

Question 41

IDE

Answer 41

IDE, or Integrated Drive Electronics, is a standard hard drive interface. The controller is integrated into the drive, allowing it to connect directly to the motherboard.

Question 42

EIDE

Answer 42

EIDE, or Enhanced Integrated Drive Electronics, is a standard hard drive interface. However, the enhancement allows it to access drives larger than 504 MB, and provides faster access to hard drives.

Question 43

SCSI

Answer 43

SCSI, or Small Computer System Interface, is a type of parallel port that can connect seven to fifteen peripheral to one port.

Question 44

bus width

Answer 44

The bus width refers to the number of data lines over which information is transferred. The bus width is measured in bits. For example, a bus with 32 data lines has a bus width of 32 bits.

Question 45

expansion slot

Answer 45

An expansion slot is a space in the computer system where an expansion card can be inserted, giving the computer additional features such as graphics.

Question 46

hot swappable

Answer 46

Hot swappable refers to components of a computer that can be removed or replaced without the computer system having to be shut down.