Topic 1b Flashcards
What is data on a computer stored as?
Binary digits or bits for short
What does a bit hold and how is it represented?
Bits hold either a 1 or 0.
A pulse of 5 volts of electricity can represent 1 bit and a pulse of zero volts can represent a 0 bit.
How are bits represented with a fibre optic cable?
A 1 bit is represented by the presence of light while a 0 bit is represented by the absence of light.
What is a byte?
A byte is a collection of 8 bits.
What is main memory?
Organizes bits into words containing 32 bits. A 32 bit word contains a four 8 bit bytes.
What is cache memory?
It is adjunct to the main memory and holds frequently executed or currently running programs and data. It is also faster and smaller than main memory.
What are the processors functional unit components?
Contains logic circuits, timing and control circuits, as well as registers.
What is a logic circuit?
logic circuits perform arithmetic and logic operations on word-size data operands (32-bit words)
What are timing and control circuits?
they are used for fetching program instructions and data from memory, one after another.
What do registers do?
Registers each hold one word of operand data.
What does the processors logic and arithmetic unit do?
Most computers operations are carried out by the ALU of the processor. The ALU performs logic or arithmetic operations
What does the processors control unit do?
The control unit coordinates the operations of memory, ALU and I/O units.
What can the operation of a computer be summarized as?
The computer gets information through the input unit in the form of programs and data and stores it in the memory. Information stored in the memory is fetched under program control into the ALU where it is processed. Processed info leaves through a output unit.
What are the three basic instruction types?
Load, store and operate.
How does the load instruction type work?
Read a data operand from memory or an input device into the processor.
