Module 3 Flashcards
Hardware
refers to the physical elements of a computer:
computer case w/ power keyboard
motherboard mouse
CPU network card
Memory (RAM) modem
Hard disk drive speakers
Optical Drive (DVD) printer
Video Card cabling
Monitor
Hardware is
a physical entity
software is
non-physical entity
binary digit or bit
zeros and ones
8 bits =
1 byte of data
input
the process of entering data and programs into the computer system.
processing
The task of performing arithmetic and logical operations is called processing
output
the process of producing results from the data and getting useful information
Storage:
The process of saving data and instructions permanently is known as storage
control.
Control is the way instructions are executed and the above operations are performed.
CPU
where decisions are made, computations occur, and input/output requests are delegated - the brain
Main Memory
temporary storage for information being processed by the CPU
Bus
a subsystem that transfers data or power between computer components.
It is an electronic highway for information.
Input devices
allows people to supply information to computers
Output devices
allows people to receive information from computers
4 key parts of the CPU
Control Unit
Arithmetic & Logic Unit
Registers
Clock
The Control Unit
extracts instructions from memory, decodes, and executes them, calling on the ALU when necessary
ALU
Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU), as its name implies, is that portion of the CPU hardware that performs the arithmetic and logical operations on the binary data.
Registers
are temporary storage units within the CPU. Some registers, such as the program counter and instruction register have dedicated uses. Other registers such as the accumulator are for more general-purpose use.
data bus
transfers actual data
address bus
transfers information about where the data should go.
control bus
carries signals that report the status of various devices.
instruction cycle
the steps of stages the processor follows.
This is the process where a computer retrieves a program instruction from memory, determines what actions the instruction requires, and carries out the actions
clock
generates a regular sequence of electronic pulses used to synchronize operations of the processor’s components
clock rate (or frequency).
time between pulses is the cycle time and the number of pulses per second
instructions per second (IPS).
thousand instructions per second (kIPS),
million instructions per second (MIPS),
and Giga instructions per second (GIPS).
multi core processor
is a single component with two or more processors called cores.
motherboard / system board / mainboard
is the primary circuit board within a personal computer
form factors
the 29 different varieties motherboards come in.
Internal memory
refers to a computer’s working memory and includes several types of temporary storage, such as main memory, cache memory, and the processor’s registers, all of which can be accessed by the processor.
Cache memory
is smaller and faster than main memory. As a buffer between the processor and main memory, it is used to hold a copy of instructions and data that are likely to be needed next by the processor.
RAM
The main memory - RAM because it randomly selects and uses any location of the memory to directly store and retrieve data. It is also called read/write memory.
read only memory (ROM).
storage of program and data in the ROM is permanent
can only be read by the CPU, but it cannot be changed.
platters.
Both sides of a platter are writable as data is stored on each side
RAID array
redundant array of independent disks). Because they use multiple drives, RAID drives are often sold in a separate enclosure with its own power supply and fan (which can be noisy).
