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Computing > Hardware > Flashcards

Hardware Flashcards

1
Q

What is a peripheral device?

A

Peripherals are devices that arenotthe computer’s core architecture involved inmemoryand processing. Peripherals include input hardware, output hardware and storage devices

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2
Q

What is an input device?

A

any device that allows us yo get information from the outside world into a computer so it can be stored and processed in a digital form. it is converted from analogue to digital.

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3
Q

What is an output device?

A

any device which we can take data stored inside a computer in a digital form and turn it into another format which we can process.

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4
Q

Give some examples of input devices

A

mouse, webcam, joystick, keyboard, microphone, touch screen, OCR, OMR, barcode scanner, sensors

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5
Q

Give some examples of input devices for disabilities

A

foot operated mouse, specialised keyboards, sip-and-puff switches

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6
Q

Give some examples of output devices

A

speakers, monitor, printers (inkjet, laser, dot-matrix) and LEDs

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7
Q

Why do computers need input devices?

A

because otherwise the computer would be no use to us

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8
Q

What is the CPU?

A

The central processing unit is the brain of the computer which processes all of the data and instructions.

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9
Q

What is the Control unit in the CPU?

A
  • The CU’s job is to execute program instructions by following the fetch decode execute cycle.
  • It controls the flow of data inside the CPU and outside the CPU.
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10
Q

What is the Arithmetic Logic Unit in the CPU?

A
  • the ALU does all the calculations. it performs logic operations and Binary shifts.
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11
Q

What is the Cache in the CPU?

A
  • Very fast memory in the CPU
  • it stores regularily used data for quick access.
  • low capacity and expensive
  • different levels of Cache. lvl1 is quickest but smallest
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12
Q

What is the fetch decode execute cycle?

A

FETCH
the CPU fetches data and instructions from the main memory and stores it in the registers
DECODE
the instruction is decoded by the CU. and The CU then prepares for the next step.
EXECUTE
- The instruction is performed.

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13
Q

What is RAM?

A
  • RAM is random access memory and is used as the main memory (stores all the data, files and programs) in a computer. it can be read and written to and is volatile.
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14
Q

What does volatile/non-volatile mean?

A
  • volatile means it is temporary memory. it requires power to retain its data.
  • non-volatile is permanent memory. it keeps its contents even when it has no power.
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15
Q

What is virtual memory?

A

A section of the hard disk is used to store items in RAM which are not being currently used when RAm runs out of space

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16
Q

What is ROM?

A
  • Read only memoryis non-volatile memory and is non-volatile.
  • it contains all the instructions the computer needs to boot up called the BIOS.
17
Q

How does clock speed affect a CPUs performance?

A
  • clock speed is the number of instructions a single processor can carry out per second. (usually about 3.5GHz)
  • the higher the clock speed the greater the number of instructions that can be carried out per second.
18
Q

How does the number of cores affect a CPUs performance?

A
  • each core in a CPU can process data independently from the rest. This mean the more cores there are the more instructions it can carry out at once.
19
Q

How does the size of the cache affect a CPUs performance?

A
  • a larger cache gives the CPU faster access to more data it needs to process.
20
Q

What is secondary storage?

A

secondary storage device is a non-volatile device that holds data until it is deleted or overwritten.

21
Q

What is magnetic storage?

A
  • data is magnetically stored in sectors and read/write arms are used to access the sectors.
22
Q

What are the disadvantages of magnetic storage?

A
  • can be affected by heat or magnetic fields
  • have moving parts making it vunerable
  • not portable (unless you get a portable hard disk)
23
Q

What are the advantages of magnetic storage?

A
  • very large storage capacity
  • cheap
  • reliable
  • high access speed
24
Q

What is solid state storage storage?

A
  • it has no moving parts and is based on electronic circuits. it is non-volatile
25
Q

What are the advantages of solid state storage?

A
  • reliable
  • portable
  • durable
  • very high access speed
26
Q

What are the disadvantages of solid state storage?

A
  • more expensive
27
Q

What is optical storage?

A
  • a pattern of dots that can be read with a beam of light due to different reflections.
28
Q

What are the disadvantages of optical storage?

A
  • slow access speed
  • easily damaged
  • degrade after 20-100 years
29
Q

What are the advantages of optical storage?

A
  • portable

- cheap

30
Q

Why do computers use binary?

A
  • it represents the flow of electricity
  • the devices are easy to build
  • easier for the computer to process
31
Q

What is a truth table?

A

a breakdown of a logic function by listing all the possible values the function can attain

32
Q

What are the possible outputs of an AND gate?

A

0 0 0 1

33
Q

What are the possible outputs of an OR gate?

A

0 1 1 1

34
Q

What are the possible outputs of an NOT gate?

A

1 0

35
Q

What is moores law?

A

it says that the number of the transistors in a circuit board double every two years. this therefore increases the speed and capacity.

36
Q

What is cache?

A

a type of RAM that is faster and more expensive and located close to the CPU. it is used to store commonly/recently used instructions

37
Q

Why is the operating system needed?

A

Providing a user interface
Providing a platform for applications
Memory management
File/disk managemen

38
Q

why is secondary storage needed in most computer systems?

A

To store the files/eg operating system even when the system is switched off/which must be non-volatile.

Computing (7 decks)

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