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[Unit 1.1] Components of a computer Flashcards

Computer Systems

1
Q

define main memory

A

storage locations that are directly accessible by CPU. faster but lower capacity than secondary storage

more expensive than secondary storage (per GB)

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2
Q

define secondary storage

A

storage the computer can store all data not used but needed in long term

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3
Q

what is RAM

A

Random access memory, where programs being run are temporarily stored:a
OS, programs, data running

Volatile (lost when power shuts off)
directly accessible by CPU

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4
Q

what is ROM

A

Read only memory.
can be read from but not written to
non volatile
smaller capacity than RAM

stores firmware/software rarely changed:
-BIOS, embedded systems.

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5
Q

what is flash memory

A

non volatile memory that can be changed to update BIOS

counts as ROM

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6
Q

what does the BIOS do

A

initialises hardware and boots up computer

loads OS from secondary storage to RAM

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7
Q

what is virtual memory

A

use of secondary storage as RAM by OS

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8
Q

how does virtual memory work

A

memory split by OS into pages
less used pages move into VM
when pages in VM are needed they can be swapped back into RAM

this is a slow process

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9
Q

what are the disadvantages of virtual memory

A

if it is used all the time the computer will pause when switching between apps.

this is called thrashing.
it lowers the life expectancy of SSD.

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10
Q

what is parallel processing

A

simultaneous processing of data

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11
Q

what are the four ways of achieving parallel processing

A

pipelining

GPUs

Multicores processing

distributed computing

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12
Q

how does pipelining achieve parallel processing. what are the disadvantages

A

Fetch decode and execute at the same time

increases instructions processed in given time

complicated to build

branching instructions degrade performance

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13
Q

how does multicore processing achieve parallel processing

A

2 or more independent processing units

each core executes instructions independently

-each core does its own pipelining

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14
Q

how does a GPU achieve parallel processing

A

it is a specialised processor to perform graphical calculations

allowing main CPU to perform other tasks

perform same calc to multiple data at same time

has thousands of cores

has its own ram

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15
Q

how does distributed computing achieve parallel processing

A

multiple computers work across a network to solve a common problem

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16
Q

what are the limitations of parallel processing

A

task interdependency (not all tasks can be parallelised)

scalability constraints

specialised software (multiple cores has to be coded to be used)

amdahls law (performance limited by parts of problem that cant be parallelised)

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17
Q

what are the advantages of parallel processing

A

faster for handling large amounts of data

not limited by von neumann bottleneck

is using maximum power of CPU

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18
Q

what is a CISC design for the CPU

A

Complex Instruction Set Computer

has a large instruction set built in
-hardware more complicated but software easier

single instruction may take many clock cycles

allows for powerful instructions at cost of slower and larger CPU

Desktops

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19
Q

what are the advantages of a CISC design for the CPU

A

simplifies programming

easier for compilers

easier for low level programmers

shorter programs

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20
Q

what are the disadvantages of a CISC design for the CPU

A

more hardware needed

more transistors

larger in size

more expensive

consumes more power

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21
Q

what is a RISC design for the CPU

A

Reduced Instruction Set Computer

has small highly optimised instruction set built in
-simpler hardware, harder software

complex instructions arent used frequently

each instruction carried out in 1 cycle of FDE

Phones and embedded systems

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22
Q

what are the advantages of a RISC design for a CPU

A

less transistors

easier to design

smaller in size

more power efficient

cheaper

pipelining can be implemented easier

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23
Q

what are the disadvantages of a RISC design for a CPU

A

more software for complex tasks

longer programs

large number of general purpose registers needed

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24
Q

what other uses do GPUs have

A

cryptomining

AI and ML

scientific simulations

modelling

editing

gaming

data analysis

cryptography

VR and AR

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25
What is Moore's Law
The number of transistors on CPU double every 2 years (approx) from 1965
26
What are the 5 special purpose registers?
PC, CIR, MAR, MDR, ACC
27
What is the PC
stores the address of the next instruction to be fetched. increments by 1 after each FDE cycle. However, instructions can modify next address if it is elsewhere
28
What is the CIR
stores most recently fetched instruction, waiting to be decoded and executed.
29
What is the MAR
Stores the memory address of the instruction waiting to be fetched from memory
30
What is the MDR
Stores the data of the instruction which has just been fetched from memory
31
What is the ACC
stores the results from the ALU
32
What is the address bus
provides memory address to system memory or I/O devices
33
what is the data bus
transfers data between CPU and memory or I/O devices
34
What is the control bus
provides control signals that cause the memory or I/O devices to perform a read or write operation.
35
What is the use of general purpose registers
to hold intermediate results while working through a calculation or algorithm.
36
What happens during the fetch stage of the FDE cycle
1-PC copies address of next instruction into MAR 2-CU loads address to be used onto address bus 3-CU sends a read signal down the control bus -causing RAM to place instruction asked for on data bus 4-Instruction on data bus loaded into MDR 5-MDR copies into CIR 6-PC incremented by one or jump instruction
37
What happens during the decode stage of the FDE cycle
CU examines instruction in CIR and decodes (each CPU has own instruction set that defines decoder)
38
What happens during the execute stage of the FDE cycle
-instruction in CIR is carried out by CPU -repeat FDE cycle with next instruction
39
what is clock speed
how quickly CPU can carry out FDE cycle sends pulse at fixed intervals triggering next stage in FDE
40
what is cache
small amount of very fast memory built into CPU (holds instructions frequently used)
41
what are the 3 levels of cache
L1 - smallest, fastest, expensive L3 - largest, slowest, cheapest
42
what is the core (CPU)
a complete processing unit (CU,ALU,registers)
43
what are the benefits of having multiple cores in a cpu
more instructions can be carried out at same time -multitasking -parallel processing
44
what is parallel processing
splitting program between cores to execute faster
45
what is pipelining
technique of fetching an instruction while prior is being decoded and one before is being executed -more operations happening in same amount of time
46
what are the issues with pipelining
sometimes programs branch (jumps to out of sequence instructions) -cpu has to do "branch prediction" -if an error is made the pipelines have to be flushed
47
what are the issues of having multiple cores in a CPU
programs have to be written to take advantage of the multiple cores.
48
What are the 5 components of the Von Neumann Architecture
-Memory (hold data and program) -Control unit -Input/Output devices -ALU -Bus
49
What are the 2 problems with the Von Neumann Architecture
1- cpu is faster than the bus - Von Neumann Bottleneck 2- data and programs share memory - can write data over instructions
50
Key features of Harvard architecture
-keeps data and programs separate in memory -data and program have separate buses -data and instructions can be fetched at same time
51
define storage devices
hold data and programs for long term
52
6 factors that you consider when choosing secondary storage
cost (per GB) speed capacity durability reliability portablility
53
what are the three types of secondary storage
magnetic flash/solid state optical
54
how does magnetic storage work
magnetisable material represents a 0 or 1 depending on its polarised state (N or S)
55
(Dis)advantages of magnetic storage
Ad: high capacity cheap per GB Dis: vulnerable to magnetic fields, xrays and shock not as reliable as others.
56
how does optical storage work
laser and sensor detects reflection to determine where pits are. represent 0s and 1s
57
(dis)advantages of optical storage
Ad: cheap (for small amounts) portable reliable and durable dis: expensive (perGB) slow read/write computers no longer have disc drives
58
what are the different types of optical discs
CD-ROM: read only, 700MB DVD-ROM: read only, 4.7GB BluRay: read only, 25GB CD/BluRay/DVD-R: recordable once CD/BluRay/DVD-RW: rewritable multiple times
59
what is flash memory
a specific implementation of solid state memory that we use
60
what are the advantages of solid state memory
no moving parts high read/write speeds unaffected by shocks (robust) lower power consumption silent portable
61
what the disadvantages of solid state memory
more expensive per GB limited number of read/write cycles
62
Why cant SSDs be used for archiving files
with power the transistors charge are refreshed. without power, charge dissipates
63
define input devices
peripherals used to provide data and control signals to a computer system
64
what are examples of input devices
keyboard mouse microphone barcode reader
65
what are biometrics
identifying people using unique characteristics (e.g iris) users must opt in and consent to the storage and processing of their personal data
66
what are examples of sensors
GPS, accelerometer, gyroscope, pedometer
67
what should be considered when choosing an input device
cost speed accuracy reliability
68
define output devices
display result of processing data to the user
69
what are examples of output devices
monitors printers speakers projectors motors.

Computing (9 decks)

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