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A Level Computer Science > Topic 1: The characteristics of contemporary processors, input, output and storage devices > Flashcards

Topic 1: The characteristics of contemporary processors, input, output and storage devices Flashcards

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1
Q

What are the 2 Architectures of the Computer

A

Von Neumann Architecture

Harvard Architecture

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2
Q

What is Von Neumann Architecture

A

Has one control unit, ALU, registers and memory unit with a shared memory and data bus used for data and instructions.

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3
Q

What is Harvard Architecture

A

Has separate memories for instructions and data. It is more commonly used in embedded processors

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4
Q

Compare Harvard and Von Neumann Architectures

A
  • Von Neumann Architecture is cheaper to develop as the control unit is simpler and allows programs to be optimised in size.
  • Harvard Architecture allows data and instructions can be fetched in parallel and both memories can be different sizes.
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5
Q

What is Contemporary Processing

A
  • Combines Harvard and Von Neumann architecture
  • Von Neumann is used when working with data and instructions in main memory
  • Harvard is used when working with cache.
  • Has a separate instruction and data cache.
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6
Q

What is RAM

A

Random Access Memory
* Volatile
* Holds data and programs which are currently in use
* High access speeds
* Very expensive per gigabyte

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7
Q

What is ROM

A

Read Only Memory
* Non-volatile (Cannot be modified)
* Used to store fixed instructions such as the computer start up routine

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8
Q

What is a Multi-core System

A

Multi-core CPUs have many cores which complete separate fetch-execute cycles independently.

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9
Q

What are Parallel Systems

A

Parallel systems can carry out multiple instructions simultaneously using a single core using techniques like pipelining.

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10
Q

Steps of the Fetch stage of FDE Cycle

A

o Address copied from the PC to the MAR.
o Data bus copies the instruction from that location to the MDR
o At the same time, the contents of the PC increase by 1
o The value is them copied from the MDR to the CIR

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11
Q

Steps of Decode stage of the FDE cycle

A

Contents of the CIR are split into operand and opcode

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12
Q

Steps of Execute stage of the FDE cycle

A

The opcode is executed on the operand

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13
Q

What is the Opcode

A

The type of instruction and the hardware to execute it

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14
Q

What is Operand

A

The address where the operation is performed

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15
Q

Name the 5 registers:

A
  • PC (Program Counter)
  • ACC (Accumulator)
  • MAR (Memory Address Register)
  • MDR (Memory Data Register)
  • CIR (Current Instruction Register)
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16
Q

Name the 3 buses

A
  • Data bus
  • Address bus
  • Control bus
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17
Q

What is the PC

A

Stores the address of the next instruction to be executed

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18
Q

What’s the ACC

A

Stores the results of calculations

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19
Q

What’s the MAR

A

Holds the address in memory that that is to be written to or read from

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20
Q

What’s the MDR

A

Holds data which has been read or needs to be written

21
Q

What’s the CIR

A

Stores the current instruction, split into operand and opcode

22
Q

What are Buses

A
  • Parallel wires connecting two or more CPU components together
  • The number of wires determine the width
  • The System bus contains the data bus, control bus and address bus
23
Q

What is the ALU

A

Arithmetic Logic Unit
Carries out arithmetic and logical operations

24
Q

What is the CU

A

Control Unit
Directs operations inside the processor

25
Q

What are registers

A

Small, fast memory cells used to temporarily store data

26
Q

What is Flash Storage

A
  • Fast and compact
  • Logic gates store an electrical charge
  • High represents a binary 1
  • Low represents a binary 0
  • Information is stored in blocks which are combined to form pages
  • More expensive
  • Limited lifespan
27
Q

What are SSD

A

Solid State Drives
* Light and portable
* No moving parts
* More resistant to damage from movement than hard disk drives
* High data transfer rates
* Smaller capacity than hard disk drives

28
Q

What is Virtual Storage

A
  • A method of storing information remotely.
  • Allows multiple computers to access data over a network or The Internet.
  • Includes cloud storage and network accessible storage.
  • Becoming more popular as network and Internet speeds increase.
  • Relies on a network connection for access to data.
  • Limited by network speed.
29
Q

What is Virtual storage limited by

A

Network Speed

30
Q

What Is Magnetic Storage

A
  • Two magnetic states represent binary
    o Polarised sectors represent 1
    o Unpolarised sectors represent 0
  • Can be damaged by strong magnets
31
Q

Features of Hard Disk Drives

A
  • High capacity
  • Magnetic platters rotate at high speeds beneath a read/write head
  • Multiple platters are stacked to maximise storage capacity
  • Moving parts can become damaged
32
Q

Features of Magnetic Tape

A
  • An older storage medium
  • Tape is round onto reels within a cartridge
  • The tape drive spins the reels to move the tape across a reader
33
Q

Features of Floppy Disks

A
  • A thin magnetic disk in a plastic case.
  • Small and portable
  • Typical storage capacity of 1MB
34
Q

What’s an Input device

A

Input devices are used to send data to the computer, such as a keyboard, mouse or sensor.

35
Q

What’s and Output Device

A

Output devices allow the computer to send information out, such as a speaker or screen.

36
Q

What is RISC

A

Reduced Instruction Set Computers
* Small instruction set
* One instruction is one line of machine code
* Used in personal computers

37
Q

What is CISC

A

Complex Instruction Set Computers
* Large instruction set
* Instructions built into hardware
* Used in microcontrollers and embedded systems
* Compiler has less work to do
* Less RAM is needed to store the code

38
Q

How does Optical Storage work

A
  • Use lasers to read and write to a disk.
  • Sectors of the disc are written in a spiral.
    o Pits scatters light representing 0
    o Lands reflects light representing 1
39
Q

Disadvantages of Optical Storage

A
  • Small and light so very portable
  • Easily scratched
  • Not very fast
40
Q

Features of a CD

A

Compact disk
Commonly used for audio but can store any data type
Stores relatively little information

41
Q

Features of a DVD

A

Digital Versatile Disk
Higher storage capacity than CDs
Often used to store videos

42
Q

Features of Blu-ray

A

More than 5x as much storage as DVDs
Used to store HD films

43
Q

What is Pipelining

A
  • Allows three instructions to be processed through the fetch, decode and execute cycle at the same time.
  • Data is stored in a buffer close to the CPU until required.
  • Whilst one instruction is being executed, another can be decoded and another fetched.
  • Reduces the amount of CPU idle time.
44
Q

What’s a GPU

A

Graphics Processing Unit
* Had multiple processors working in parallel.
* Efficiently completes repetitive tasks.
* Used for image processing and machine learning.
* A co-processor (a secondary processor which supports the activities of the primary processor)

45
Q

3 Factors that affect CPU performance

A
  • Clock Speed
  • Number of Cores
  • Amount and Type of Cache Memory
46
Q

What is Clock Speed

A
  • Determined by the system clock
  • All activities begin on a clock pulse
  • Each operation starts when the clock changes from 0 to 1
  • The clock speed is the number of clock cycles which can be completed in a second.
  • Faster clock speed = better performance
47
Q

What is Number of Cores

A
  • Each core is an independent processor which executes its own fetch-execute cycle
  • CPUs with several cores can complete more than one fetch-execute cycle at the same time
  • Some applications can only use one core.
  • More cores = better performance
48
Q

What is the Amount and Type of Cache Memory

A
  • Cache memory is fast memory built into the CPU
  • Instructions are held in cache allowing them to be accessed quickly if needed.
  • As cache fills up, unused instructions are overwritten.
  • More cache = better performance
  • Cache can be Level 1, 2, or 3
  • Level 1 is the fastest but smallest
  • Level 3 is the slowest but largest

A Level Computer Science (8 decks)

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