Internal Hardware Components Flashcards
Define internal components
The components essential to a computer system
What is a motherboard?
The circuit board to which all other components are connected
What is the CPU?
The central processing unit is an electronic device used to process instructions
What is the main memory?
Memory that can be directly accessed by the CPU
What is RAM?
Random Access Memory: Short term storage for currently running programs and currently used data
What is ROM?
Long term storage for start-up instructions
Define volatile
Data is lost when electrical power is removed
Define non-volatile
Data is retained even when electrical power is removed
What is virtual memory
A portion of secondary storage used to store the least frequently used instructions and data
What are I/O devices?
Input and output devices
What are I/O controllers?
The physical interface between an I/O device and the internal components
What are some examples of internal hardware?
Processor, memory, I/O controller, buses
What is the purpose of main memory?
Store currently used data and currently running programs
Why should memory be addressable?
So required data can be accessed without having to access the whole of the memory
What is a bus?
A communication system for transferring data
What does the control bus do?
Transmits control and status signals
What does the address bus do?
Transmits memory addresses
What does the data bus do?
Transmits data
Which bus is always directed away from the processor?
Address bus
Which bus is bi-directional at the processor and RAM, but uni-directional at different I/O controllers?
Data bus
Which bus is always bi-directional?
Control bus
What is the Von-Neumann architecture?
A computer system design with one shared memory for instructions and data
What is the Harvard architecture?
A computer system design with separate memory for instructions and data
What are the advantages/disadvantages of Von-Neumann architecture.
+ Flexible as each block of memory can be used for instructions or data. Therefore it allows for situations where there is more data than instructions and vice versa.
- Cannot read data and instructions simultaneously so processing is typically slower
What are the advantages/disadvantages of Harvard architecture.
+ Can read data and instructions simultaneously can carry out instructions quicker without having to wait for two sequential read operators to be carried out
- Fixed instruction to data ratio so the system is less effective for general purpose computing
What is the use of Von-Neumann architecture?
Most General purpose computing as it is quite flexible
What is the use of Harvard architecture?
Digital signal processing (DSP) hardware. This includes recording and playing back audio, processing images in a digital camera
