Unit 1 - 1

Question 1

What is general purpose computer, give 3 examples?

Answer 1

A computer designed to be able to carry out many different tasks for example TABLET, SMARTPHONES, GAMES CONSOLES

Question 2

What is hardware, give an example?

Answer 2

A physical component of the computer for example the CPU

Question 3

What is software, give an example?

Answer 3

Programs that run on the computer for example ANTI VIRUS SOFTWARE

Question 4

What is the 3 stage cycle in a computer?

Answer 4

Fetch - decode - execute

Question 5

Describe STAGE 1 - FETCH?

Answer 5

The program counter (PC) holds the address of the following instruction, the memory address register (MAR) takes a copy of this instruction from PC and is used to fetch contents (data or instructions), these are then stored in the MAR and the PC counter increases by 1

Question 6

Describe STAGE 2 - DECODE?

Answer 6

The control unit decodes the instruction that is being stored in the MAR, if the contents of the RAM are instructions the instruction will go the current instruction register (CIR), if they are an address they go to the MAR and if a number they go to the accumulator (AC)

Question 7

Describe STAGE 3 - EXECUTE?

Answer 7

If the instruction is a calculation or comparison It is carried out by the arithmetic logic unit (ALU). The results are further stored in the AC

Question 8

What are the 6 main components of the CPU?

Answer 8

Control unit, PC, MAR, CIR, AC, ALU

Question 9

What is hyper threading?

Answer 9

Process by which a CPU divides up physical cores into virtual cores, these virtual cores are called hyper threads, e.g. when a program needs less than one core to run, the computer will divide this core up to utilise its power and not waste core power

Question 10

What is cache memory?

Answer 10

High speed random access memory (RAM), built into the processor, used to temporarily hold data and instructions that the processor is likely to reuse, DOES NOT HAVE TO WAIT FOR RAM

Question 11

What is a register?

Answer 11

One of a small set of data holding places that are part of a computer processor

Question 12

What are the elements of Von Neumann Architecture?

Answer 12

Data and instructions are stored as binary digits and are stored in primary storage. The processor decodes and executes both data and instruction on a cycle until all data and instructions stored are gone

Question 13

What are the 3 factors that affect CPU performance?

Answer 13

CLOCK speed, CACHE size, number of CORES

Question 14

What is clock speed?

Answer 14

Measures the number of cycles per second that are executed in HERTZ

Question 15

How does clock speed affect CPU performance?

Answer 15

The higher the frequency of pulses (clock speed), the more instructions can be executed at any time

Question 16

What is cache?

Answer 16

Type of high speed RAM that stores frequently used instructions

Question 17

How does cache affect CPU performance?

Answer 17

The bigger the cache, the less time the processor has to wait for instructions to be fetched, faster processing speed

Question 18

What is cores?

Answer 18

Each core is a processing unit within the CPU (capable of fetching decoding and executing instructions)

Question 19

How does the number of cores affect CPU performance?

Answer 19

The more cores a CPU has, the more instructions it can carry out simultaneously meaning the computer can multitask

Question 20

Define an embedded system?

Answer 20

A small computer that forms part of a larger system, machine or device, (can perform a limited number of tasks and user can usually interact with it)

Question 21

Give 2 advantages of an embedded system?

Answer 21

Cheaper to design and build AND require less power (some run off batteries)

Question 22

Give 3 examples of an embedded system?

Answer 22

Dishwasher, digital watch, GPS systems