section one: components of a computer system and the cpu p 1-3

Question 1

What is the purpose of a computer?

Answer 1

The purpose of a computer is to take data, process it, then output it.

Question 2

Define hardware

Answer 2

Hardware is the PHYSICAL pieces which make up a computer system

Question 3

Define software

Answer 3

Software is the PROGRAMS or APPLICATIONS that runs a computer system

Question 4

Give three examples Hardware

Answer 4

CPU
motherboard
monitor

Question 5

Give three examples software

Answer 5

an operating system
a word processor
video game

Question 6

What is an embedded system?

Answer 6

Embedded systems are computers built into other devices

Question 7

Give three examples of an embedded system

Answer 7

dishwasher
microwaves
tvs

Question 8

why is an embedded system a better choice then a general purpose computer?

Answer 8

An embedded system is a better choice as they focus on one task this means that they are also cheaper to produce.

Question 9

Name 9 internal components you might find in a desktop

Answer 9

Power supply , case cooling fan
Cpu heat sink and cooling fan
CPU , graphics card , optical drive
RAM sticks , Motherboard , hard disk drive

Question 10

Define power supply

Answer 10

Supplies power to motherboard, optical and hard drives, and other hardware.

Question 11

Define case cooling fan

Answer 11

Extracts hot air from the computer case

Question 12

Define CPU heat sink and cooling fan

Answer 12

Keeps the CPU at a steady temperature

Question 13

Define CPU

Answer 13

The most important component, as it does all the processing.

Question 14

Define Optical drive

Answer 14

For read/ write of optical discs

Question 15

Define RAM sticks

Answer 15

where the computer memory is stored

Question 16

Define Motherboard

Answer 16

The main circuit board in the computer where the hardware is connected.

Question 17

Define Hard disk drive

Answer 17

Internal secondary storage

Question 18

Define Graphics card

Answer 18

A piece of hardware containing the graphics processing unit (gpu)

Question 19

What does CPU stand for?

Answer 19

Central processing unit

Question 20

Name the three parts of the CPU

Answer 20

cache
the control unit
the arithmetic logic unit

Question 21

Define cache

Answer 21

the cache is very fast memory in the CPU.

Question 22

Define CU

Answer 22

the control unit is in overall control of the CPU. its main job is to manage the fetching, decoding, and execution of program instructions.

Question 23

Define ALU

Answer 23

the alu does all the main calculations

Question 24

Name and define the four main registers
of the CPU

Answer 24

program counter - holds the memory address of the instruction for each cycle
accumulator - stores intermediate results of calculations in the alu
memory address register - holds any memory address about to be used by the CPU
memory data register - holds the actual data or instructions

Question 25

What is the Von Neumann’s architecture?

Answer 25

describes a system where the CPU runs programmes stored in memory. the programs consist of instructions and data which are stored in memory addresses

Question 26

What three instructions are contained in the fetch-execute cycle?

Answer 26

Fetch instruction
execute instruction
decode instruction

Question 26

What is the fetch-execute cycle

Answer 26

The fetch-execute cycle describes how a cpu carry’s out instructions.

Question 27

define fetch instruction

Answer 27

1)copy memory address from the program counter to the mar
2)copy the instruction stored in the mar address to the mdr
3)increment the program counter to point to the address of the next instruction, ready for the next cycle

Question 27

define execute instruction

Answer 27

the instruction is performed.

Question 28

define decode instruction

Answer 28

the instruction in the mdr is decoded by the cu