Operating Systems Flashcards
What does an operating system do?
It controls the execution programs and coordinates actions between hardware, software, and the user.
An operating system is controlled by ____ and runs on computer
_____.
software, hardware
What does Microcomputer hardware consist of?
CPU (Central Processing Unit)
Primary Storage
I/O (Input/Output) Devices
Secondary Storage
What is the CPU?
This can be described as the heart or brains of a computer. It handles nearly all operations.
Who was the original CPU designed by?
Intel (the 8086)
How does a computer represent data?
Using binary digits called bits (0s and 1s)
What is a byte?
a group of bits, usually 8, that represents a single character.
What is the meaning of word in computers?
A group of bytes, always in multiples of two.
how large were the internal word structure and the path of data transfer in the Intel 8086?
16 bits
How much data can most modern processors handle at a time?
64 bits
What is the clock on a microprocessor chip?
A Clock sets the pace (the clock rate) at which a processor handles its operations and keeps everything synchronized.
On the processor chip Pentium II, what are the statistics clock speed (MHz), Internal data path, external data path?
233-450 MHz, 32-bit, 64-bit
What determines a CPU’s overall processing capacity
The design of the chip,
the internal clock speed,
the width of the data paths
What is the purpose of primary storage?
It provides temporary holding locations for software and data being processed. It is called RAM and ROM.
What are RAM and ROM measured i?
Bytes, commonly in Gigabytes these days.
