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Computing > Topic 4-Computer systems > Flashcards

Topic 4-Computer systems Flashcards

1
Q

What is the bus?

A

Pass data between the components of the CPU and ALU and memory and is a set of parallel wires.

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2
Q

How do the cores affect the performance of the CPU?

A

A dual core processor can fetch decode and execute an instruction in the time it takes a single core processor to do one. They are much more expensive to design and make, they also use much more power. Instructions have to be split up and merged which slows it down slightly.

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3
Q

What are some types of utility software?

A

Encryption, maintenance, disk defragmentation, automatic updating and compression software.

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4
Q

What is encryption software?

A

Help keep sensitive data safe. Uses an algorithm and a key to transform the plaintext into cyphertext.

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5
Q

What is virtual memory?

A

If a program needs more memory than is available the operating system will reserve some in secondary storage that acts as an extension. This will slow down the CPU.

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6
Q

Why is secondary storage needed?

A

Stores data for long periods of time, robust and reliable. Much cheaper per MB than main memory, more capacity and is portable.

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7
Q

What does the control bus do?

A

Carries control signals from the processor to other components.

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8
Q

What is RAM?

A

Readable and writeable. It is volatile and fast to read and write. Stores currently open files.

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9
Q

What is the motherboard?

A

Main board of a computer that all components connect to.

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10
Q

What are some characteristics of embedded systems?

A

Limited resources and often function without a user.

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11
Q

What is storage?

A

Secondary storage device.

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12
Q

How many levels of cache are there?

A

3, 1 is part of CPU and then they get further out, as they get further out the memory gets bigger but speed slows down.

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13
Q

What does BIOS stand for?

A

Basic input/output system. Contains all code for controlling your computer hardware.

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14
Q

What are the negatives of optical storage?

A

It is expensive for large capacities, easily scratched, slow read speeds and limited reusability as each time you reuse it there is less storage as you cannot unwrite stuff.

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15
Q

What are the three buses?

A

Control address and data.

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16
Q

What does the control unit do?

A

Runs the show by understanding the instructions and tells the other components what each instruction needs from them. It manages instructions and controls the other components.

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17
Q

What is the operating system?

A

Software that controls the hardware.

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18
Q

How does the operating system manage memory?

A

Controls where each piece of data is stored in RAM.

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19
Q

What are the third and fourth stages of the start-up sequence.

A

Instructions from BIOS are loaded into RAM and the BIOS starts up the monitor and keyboard.

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20
Q

How does the operating system manage programs?

A

It makes sure that when more than one processes are being ran at once that each application has enough resources to complete it’s task.

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21
Q

How does magnetic storage work?

A

Uses platters(disks)to store data. Sections of this material can be magnetised(1) and demagnetised(0). A read/write head attached to an arm applies a magnetic field to read and write.

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22
Q

What was it like before von neumann?

A

Instructions had to be hard-wired and data went through physical switches.

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23
Q

What is a computer?

A

A programmable device that takes in data, processes it into useful information and then outputs the useful information so it can be used.

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24
Q

What is the cycle?

A

Fetch decode and excecute.

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25
Q

What are the advantages of solid state?

A

Fast, lightweight, durable, silent, low power.

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26
Q

What are the fifth and sixth stages of the start up sequence?

A

The BIOS checks your computer is working and then the operating system is fetched from secondary storage.

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27
Q

What is magnetic storage?

A

Oldest form and data is stored in a series of polarised dots. The polarity(pos or neg) of the dot determines whether it stores a 1 or 0. These devices come in very large capacities and are cheap.

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28
Q

What are the first two stages of the start-up sequence?

A

The boot sequence begins and the CPU starts up and fetches the BIOS from ROM.

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29
Q

What is memory?

A

RAM.

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30
Q

How many channels will 4, 5 and 6 core CPU’s have?

A

6, 10 and 15.

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31
Q

How does the operating system handle inputs and outputs?

A

The operating system captures data from peripherals and provides data to the output devices to display to the user.

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32
Q

What is the accumulator register?

A

Stores important data being used in calculations.

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33
Q

What are the three types of secondary storage?

A

Solid state, optical and magnetic.

34
Q

What is computer architecture?

A

Term used to describe the design of a computer system. and modern computers use the Neumann architecture.

35
Q

What are the disadvantages of solid state?

A

Expensive, unreliable and lower capacity than hard drive.

36
Q

How does the operating system handle security?

A

Stops unauthorised individuals from accessing data on secondary storage or the data in memory.

37
Q

What was his architecture?

A

Data and instructions are stored in memory as binary digits and the instructions are fetched from memory one at a time in order. The processor then decodes it and then executes it.

38
Q

What does the clock do?

A

Controls processor timing and synchronises all CPU operations.

39
Q

How does optical storage work?

A

Uses light, a laser burns marks into the reflective side and these are called pits, the space between them are called lands. The discs spin, the laser is shone on the disk at a lower power to read it(laser less powerful).

40
Q

What are the key components of the CPU?

A

Control unit, ALU, buses, registers and clock.

41
Q

What is an embedded system?

A

More specialised, they can only do a limited number of things but they do them very well.

42
Q

What is the execute part?

A

Once the instruction is understood it will be executed.

43
Q

What is a hard drive?

A

Main storage device in your computer and is non volatile.

44
Q

What is disk defragmentation?

A

Files split up into segments so it can be stored in available gaps as you can edit or increase size of file. When files are messy they are fragmented. This software moves separate parts of files together for quicker access also groups free space to optimise disk performance. SSD does not need to be defragged.

45
Q

What is the CPU?

A

Large chip inside the computer and is the brains of the computer and controls everything.

46
Q

What are the advantages of magnetic storage?

A

Cheap for large capacities, infinitely rewritable, reliable for long periods of time, faster read speeds than optical.

47
Q

What is ROM?

A

Read only memory is read only and non-volatile. It is also very fast and holds the BIOS. ROM is first stage of start up sequence.

48
Q

What is compression software?

A

Reduce size of file and will zip files so they can be transmitted much quicker.

49
Q

What is an overhead?

A

When cores are shared, they need to share data so they can communicate and complete instructions. They have channels connecting them so they can exchange data but this means some of the clock pulses will be used to slow down the processing speed which is why 2 cores is not twice as fast as 1 core.

50
Q

What are operating systems?

A

Pieces of software that regulate interactions between software and hardware.

51
Q

What is cloud storage?

A

Saving data in an off-site storage system maintained by a third party. It can be accessed via the internet.

52
Q

What is the register?

A

Very fast tiny memory locations inside the CPU.

53
Q

What does volatile mean?

A

When the computer is turned off, all data is lost.

54
Q

What is the decode part?

A

The binary representation of an instruction needs to be decoded before it is run.

55
Q

What are the seventh and eighth staged of the start-up sequence?

A

The operating system is loaded into RAM and the BIOS hands over control to the operating system.

56
Q

What is optical storage?

A

Used to distribute media and software, uses lasers to read and write data on a reflective surface. These devices are typically small in capacity but very cheap to produce.

57
Q

What is the fetch part?

A

Instructions loaded into RAM and each instruction is put into the appropriate registers.

58
Q

What are the positives of cloud storage?

A

You can access the data from anywhere in the world. Backup is no longer an issue and you can share the data with other people in different locations.

59
Q

How does the operating system handle errors?

A

When a program fails or encounters a problem, the operating system protects the wider system from crashing.

60
Q

What does the arithmetic logic unit do?

A

Manages calculations and logic.

61
Q

What is the size of RAM?

A

1-256GB.

62
Q

What are the advantages of optical storage?

A

It is cheap for small capacities, small, portable and lasts a long time.

63
Q

What is the other type of main memory?

A

Cache, saving frequently uses instructions to increase performance.

64
Q

What does the data bus do?

A

Carries the data between the control unit and other components.

65
Q

What are the two main types of system software?

A

Operating systems and utility software.(just software is like basic applications like games or browsers which is in the other ring).

66
Q

What are the negatives of magnetic storage?

A

Damaged if dropped or exposed to magnetic field. It has slower read speeds than solid state and it requires a lot of power.

67
Q

How does the operating system manage files?

A

When you save data to your hard drive, the operating system will find an available section of storage and send the data to be written to that location.

68
Q

How does cache increase performance of system?

A

Speed up process of fetching instructions from RAM.

69
Q

What is a general purpose computer?

A

Devices that have a variety of uses, the user chooses the task for the computer to complete and they usually have user input.

70
Q

What is the size of ROM?

A

6-8MB.

71
Q

How does the operating system handle interactions with the user?

A

Provides a GUI which makes operating it much simpler.

72
Q

How does the operating system manage the processor?

A

Operating system controls which instructions are fed to the CPU to be executed.

73
Q

What are the negatives of cloud data?

A

Need internet connections and some users are concerned about security in the cloud and whether their data could be attacked by a hacker.

74
Q

What is solid state?

A

No moving parts as they store data inside electronic circuits, much smaller, can have a large capacity but are really expensive.

75
Q

What are some characteristics of general purpose systems?

A

Lots of resources(memory, storage, CPU cores).

Most require a user.

76
Q

How does clock speed affect the performance of the CPU?

A

The greater the clock speed, the faster instructions can be executed. Measured in cycles per second.

77
Q

What is main memory?

A

ROM and RAM.

78
Q

For optical storage what is a 0 and what is a 1?

A

Land is 1 and pit is 0.

79
Q

What is automatic updating?

A

Makes sure any software installed is up to date which can help keep system secure as it updates things such as firewalls.

80
Q

What was Newmann’s stored program concept?

A

To store more common instructions in memory with the data to male them more versatile.

Computing (8 decks)

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