Hardware

Question 1

Hardware

Answer 1

Described as the physical parts of a computer, and include parts such as the CPU, motherboard, graphics/audio cards, memory (RAM), and hard disks

Question 2

Hertz

Answer 2

A standard unit, and in computing is measured by how many operations (instructions) a CPU can complete in one second.

Question 3

Central Processing Unit (CPU)

Answer 3

Part of a computer that performs the input/output

Question 4

Instruction Cycle

Answer 4

An instruction cycle is a set of predetermined steps that the CPU takes in order to grab instructions, and then execute them

Steps:

1) Fetch
2) Decode
3) Execute

Question 5

Fetch

Answer 5

This step fetches the next instruction from the memory at an address stored in the program counter

Question 6

Decode

Answer 6

The decode interprets the instruction

Question 7

Execute

Answer 7

During execute, the CPU performs the action told by the decoded instruction.

Question 8

Pipeline

Answer 8

A computing pipeline is a ‘series’ or analogically a pipe of processes of data, where the output of one unit is the input in the following unit.

Question 9

Serial/Parallel Processing

Answer 9

A serial process is one that occurs in series, where one process needs to be finished before the next can begin.

Question 10

Bit

Answer 10

A bit is the basic bit of computing information. When we have eight bits together, we call that a byte.

8 bits = 1 byte

Question 11

Memory Sizes

Answer 11

A byte is also what we use to measure memory sizes. The most common memory sizes you’ll hear today are kilobyte, megabyte, gigabyte, and terabyte.

Kilo = 1 thousand 
Mega = 1 million 
Giga = 1 Billion

Question 12

Sequential Access Memory (SAM)

Answer 12

Memory that must be accessed in sequence (i.e. the first part of the memory must be read before moving onto the second part).

Question 13

Random Access Memory (RAM)

Answer 13

Can be accessed at any pint or area in the memory. Unlike SAM, it doesn’t need to wait for the a full rotation of the platter or tape, but can jump directly to where the data is located.

Question 14

Volatile Memory

Answer 14

Memory which is only maintained for as long as the computer is on and providing power. After shutdown, the memory is lost.

Question 15

System Cache

Answer 15

Temporary storage memory which usually has a very fast access time It is for data intended to immediate use.

Question 16

L1 Cache

Answer 16

First level of cache for the CPU, and is generally very small. This is the fastest level of cache, and the processor checks this first.

Question 17

L2 Cache

Answer 17

Intermediate cache. Known as the secondary cache,

Question 18

L3 Cache

Answer 18

The largest, and determines to a significant extent the speed of memory access a CPU has.

Question 19

Data Storage/Hard Drivers

Answer 19

Hard drives are used for storing permanent data.

Question 20

Virtual Memory

Answer 20

Virtual memory is almost always slower than having everything in RAM. in the early 1980’s by Phillips and Sony.

Question 21

Compact Disc (CD)

Answer 21

Form of physical media which was developed in the early 1980’s by Phillips and Sony. They can hold between 500 to 700 megabytes of data.

Question 22

Flash Memory

Answer 22

Another form of permanent data storage. Common in phones, USB flash drives, and in solid state drives for personal computers.

Question 23

Peripheral Devices

Answer 23

A peripheral device is a device which is connected to a computer but not part of the computer itself. This includes the mouse monitor, keyboard, and speaker.

If it has to be plugged into a computer, then it’s a peripheral.

Question 24

Input/Output devices

Answer 24

Are used by people to communicate with a computer, and for the computer to communicate with people.

Input devices: Scanners, keyboards, and mice.

Output devices: Monitors, printers, and speakers.

Question 25

Mouse

Answer 25

An input peripheral that allows the user to move the pointer on a GUI (Graphical User Interface.)

Question 26

Universal Serial Bus (USB)

Answer 26

Most common connection devices used today, and the current version, USN 3.0 is able to transfer data at a rate of 5.0 Gbits/sec.

Question 27

Printer

Answer 27

An output peripheral device which is able to print characters onto a sheet of paper for a user to read.

The two primary types of printers are inkjet printers and lasers printers.

Question 28

Fax (telefax)

Answer 28

A fax machine can transmit scanned printed material over a remote printer or other computer.

Question 29

Scanner

Answer 29

A scanner optically reads (scans) a page and converts it into a digital image file ).jpg, .png)

Question 30

Monitor

Answer 30

Output device that is used to display data or images to the user.

Question 31

Pixel/Resolution

Answer 31

Refers to the number of distinct points of light in a display device like a computer screen. The number of pixels in a display determines the resolution.

The resolution defines how many pixels are on the screen, and therefore how sharp/ detailed the image will be.

Question 32

Refresh Rate

Answer 32

The refresh rate is the rate at which new data is renewed onto the display. A normal display typically has a refresh rate of 60 Hertz (Hz), meaning each second the display is refreshed 60 times.

Question 33

Modem

Answer 33

A modem is a peripheral device that allows your computer to connect to other computers and the internet

Question 34

Network interface Care (NIC)

Answer 34

A hardware component that connects a computer to a network or a modem. Are necessary for physical connections to other computers or the internet.

Question 35

Motherboard

Answer 35

Also called the system board and is the primary circuit found in computers. You can think of this as the table which all other parts of the hardware sits on.

Question 36

Expansion Ports

Answer 36

Are areas of the computer motherboard in which additional hardware components can be placed to increase the capability of the computer.

Question 37

ISA

Answer 37

‘Industry Standard Architecture’ is the eldest of the expansion slots.

Question 38

PCI

Answer 38

Peripheral Component Interconnect replaced the ISA slots.

Question 39

AGP

Answer 39

‘Accelerated Graphics Port’

This slot was used to attach a graphics card to the motherboard.

Question 40

PCI express

Answer 40

Common expansion slot typically used for graphics card and physics cards. They were introduced in 2003.