unit 1 lecture 2 Flashcards
what is the main memory?
a storage unit inside the computer serves as a coordinator of the processing, the “ receptionist” to the CPU, provides the CPU with a working storage area for program instructions and data
what are the 2 types of memory
RAM, ROM
what is RAM
random access memory- TEMPORARY storage unit inside the computer, information stored in RAM is lost when the power to the computer is turned off, the main memory is comprised mostly of RAM
what is ROM
read-only memory - PERMANENT, when the power is turned off, contains special programs that power up the computer
what is the motherboard?
the main electronic component in the computer is a circuit board, which is a rigid piece of insulating material with circuits ( electrical parts) that control specific functions, the motherboard holds the processing hardware
what is the Central Processing Unit (CPU)
the processor inside the computer follows instructions of a computer program to process or change the incoming data to the desired output this is the part of the computer that sequences and executes instructions ( Like a busy city street)
what is clock speed?
how fast the processor works, measured in hertz (GHz), a series of electronic pulses at a predetermined rate ( how quickly the CPU (brain) works )
what is bus speed?
how fast data and info move between the CPU and the Main memory (how quickly the CPU (brain) can talk to the main memory (Hands)
what is the cache size?
how much space is available for those frequent tasks (it knows what you open and use a lot so it is right there for you)
what is hertz
one wave or cycle per second; measures the speed of the processor ( 1 GHz= one billion cycles per second)
what is cache
enables the processor to access frequent tasks saving the processor time and work
what is front side bus (FSB)
“the bus” is a set of electronic circuits that route data and instructions to and from various components; the connection between the CPU and the system memory; bus width is measured in bits
what is a multicore processor?
a processor with 2 or more independent processing units, called a multicore processor, these cores are capable of sequencing and executing multiple instructions at the same time, thus increasing the amount of processing that can be completed in a given amount of time
know the 4 actions of the main memory and draw and label the actions
how well do you know it?
what does step one in the main memory do
accepts data from data devices and program instructions from storage devices
