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computing > unit 4 - computer systems > Flashcards

unit 4 - computer systems Flashcards

1
Q

two types of main memory

A

RAM (random access memory) and ROM (read only memory)

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2
Q

RAM

A
  • doesn’t automatically save (volatile)
  • much faster to access than a hard drive
  • the name random access memory comes from the ability of the CPU to access any part of the memory in the same amount of time
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3
Q

ROM

A
  • used to store data when a computer isn’t on
  • data is read from ROM, but cannot be written to it
  • it is non-volatile as the data isn’t lost if the power is off
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4
Q

what does RAM usually store?

A
  • the operating system (or part currently in use)
  • the software currently in use
  • the data which the software is using
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5
Q

what does ROM usually store?

A
  • the initial program that is run when the computer is turned on
  • it tells the computer where it will find the operating system on the hard drive
  • it also stores the Basic Input/Output System (BIOS)
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6
Q

storage vs memory

A
  • memory keeps the things you’re currently using but is volatile
  • storage isn’t volatile and will store your work in the computer
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7
Q

BIOS

A

controls basic technical configuration of the computer such as the processor speed and system time

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8
Q

differences between RAM and ROM

A
  • RAM is bigger (4GB-32GB) than ROM (4MB-8MB)
  • RAM runs programs and operating systems whilst ROM stores BIOS and the initial computer program
  • RAM is volatile whilst ROM is not
  • you can read on both but can only write on RAM
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9
Q

memory speed

A
  • the speed that data can be accessed changes through the different components in a computer
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10
Q

access speed (in order)

A

processor > cache > RAM/ROM > virtual memory

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11
Q

explain why increasing the amount of RAM will improve the performance of a PC

A
  • hard drives have a slow access speed compared to RAM.
  • RAM is far faster – so for programs and data currently being used this
    makes the computer perform better
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12
Q

secondary storage devices

A

Blu-ray drive
DVD drive
CD drive
Tape drive
Removable flash media / USB stick /SD card

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13
Q

secondary storage

A

storage that isn’t accessible by your CPU
- non-volatile
- can be internal and external to the computer

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14
Q

uses of secondary storage

A
  • programs stored on hard drives
  • blu-ray/dvd/cd - stores films
  • memory sticks used to transport data from place to place
  • SD cards - additional storage on cameras and phones
  • magnetic tape - stores backups
    stores programs + data
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15
Q

data rate

A

the rate at which data can be accessed

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16
Q

basic features of magnetic disks

A
  • contains concentric circles called tracks
  • each track is divided into sectors
  • disk heads mounted on mechanical arms read and write the data
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17
Q

features of a hard disk: magnetic storage

A
  • a very large storage capacity, up to 6TB or more
  • a very cheap form of storage compared to solid state drive
  • portable hard disks can be connected to a computer via a USB port - they are used for backing up or transporting data
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18
Q

advantages of magnetic storage

A

cheap, large storage capacities, relatively fast write speed

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19
Q

disadvantages of magnetic storage

A

lots of mechanical parts, durability an issue, sealed unit due to disk head and platter precision and not very portable

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20
Q

uses and capacities of magnetic storage

A
  • personal computers - stores large quantities of data
  • 500GB - 12TB
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21
Q

basic features of optical storage

A
  • data is stored as pits and lands burnt or pressed into a spiral track circulating outwards from the centre
  • a laser beam reads and writes the data using light
  • stored as either pits or lands
  • from this signal, 0s and 1s can be derived
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22
Q

advantages of optical storage

A
  • cheap, very easily portable, takes up little space physically
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23
Q

disadvantages of optical storage

A
  • less storage capacity compared to other types
  • easily damaged / scratched, requires a CD reader
  • slow write speeds
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24
Q

uses and capacities of optical storage

A
  • songs, videos and other multi-media storage, backup and archiving of data
    CD-ROM – up to 720 MB
    DVD – up to 8.4 GB
    Blu-Ray – up to 50 GB
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25
Q

why does blu-ray have better quality than a cd

A
  • it has smaller pits and lands
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26
Q

solid state storage

A
  • data is recorded onto solid memory chips without any moving parts
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27
Q

basic features of solid state storage

A
  • use non-volatile flash memory to store information
  • very fast read/write speeds as it doesn’t need to wait for a disk to spin
    to the correct location and an arm to move
  • no mechanical or moving parts meaning these disks are very durable
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28
Q

advantages of SSD

A
  • highly durable, no moving parts, very fast read/write speeds, no noisy fan or drive arm, faster start up times
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29
Q

disadvantages of SSD

A
  • more expensive than magnetic hard disks, similar storage capacity as magnetic disks
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30
Q

uses and capacities of SSD

A
  • higher end computers
  • laptops
  • smartphones and tablets
    100GB - 16TB
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31
Q

capacity

A

how much data it can store

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32
Q

speed

A

how fast the data can be read or written

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33
Q

portability

A

how easy it is to transport

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34
Q

durability

A

how easily damaged it is

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35
Q

reliability

A

how likely it is to lose the data

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36
Q

cloud storage

A

saving data in an offsite storage data system maintained by a third party

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37
Q

examples of cloud storage

A
  • dropbox
  • google drive
  • amazon web services
38
Q

how does cloud storage work

A
  • data is saved to servers at a remote location and anywhere in the world
  • data is accessed via the internet
  • either uses magnetic storage or solid state/flash storage
39
Q

advantages of cloud storage

A
  • easily accessible
  • you can efficiently back data up because all your devices are synced
  • because copies of your data are stored in different locations, if the server crashes the data won’t be lost. it can still be accessed from a different server
  • doesn’t require the user to have storage on their own computer
40
Q

disadvantages of cloud storage

A
  • requires internet to access it
  • makes it more susceptible to hacking
  • you have to subscribe to get more storage
  • uploading and downloading data takes time and is dependent on their internet connection
41
Q

input/output devices

A

devices that allow you to input data and receive data

42
Q

primary storage

A

memory in which computers can store data or instructions that are currently in use

43
Q

embedded systems

A

a computer system built into another device to support its operation.

44
Q

general purpose systems

A

capable of performing many tasks eg. smartphones, macs, pc

45
Q

what do 1 and 0 represent?

A

TRUE and FALSE

46
Q

truth table

A
  • a way of evaluating a boolean expression
  • shows every possible combination of inputs and the outputs
47
Q

boolean function: AND

A

if both inputs are TRUE then the output is TRUE

48
Q

boolean function: OR

A

only one of the outputs has to be TRUE for the output to be TRUE

49
Q

boolean function: NOT

A

inverts the input
- if the input is TRUE then the output is FALSE
- if the input is FALSE then the output is TRUE

50
Q

hardware

A

the physical components that make up a computer

51
Q

examples of hardware

A

processors, memory, storage, input/output devices

52
Q

software

A

the programs which run on a computer

53
Q

examples of software

A

operating systems, utility programs, apps

54
Q

logic symbols:

A

AND: .
OR: +
NOT -
XOR: + in a circle

55
Q

boolean function: XOR

A

if just one input is TRUE than the output is TRUE but if both inputs are TRUE then the output is FALSE

56
Q

operating system

A

system software that acts as an interface between the user and the hardware, managing all hardware and all other software
- software must be launched from the operating system

57
Q

what is managed by the OS?

A

processors, memory, i/o devices, apps, security

58
Q

os managing processors

A
  • decides which processes will be carried out by which processor
  • if multiple processes are running, which one the processor should handle next
  • how long of a time slice each process should be given
59
Q

os managing memory

A
  • loads programs and data backup store to main memory
60
Q

translators

A

special software that convert source code into executable binary

61
Q

compilers

A
  • translate the whole program in one go
  • will provide a list of errors once it has attempted the compilation process, which makes debugging easier
  • compiled languages: C, C++, visual basic
62
Q

pros of compilers

A
  • produce an executable program; no need to repeat the process more than once per version of software
  • compilers hide the source code from the end user; helps to protect the developers’ intellectual property
63
Q

cons of compilation

A
  • the process can be very slow in development if many small changes need to be made
64
Q

interpreters

A
  • converts high-level languages to executable machine code
  • takes place one line at a time (rather than in one go)
  • interpreted languages: python, javascript
65
Q

pros of interpreters

A
  • they will stop as soon as they encounter an error, useful for debugging
  • they are ‘portable’ can be run on many different types of CPU
  • quicker to get started which is good for making small changes
66
Q

cons of interpreters

A
  • interpreted programs are slower than compiled ones because you have to translate every line (each time the software is run)
  • doesn’t have a compiled program file so the process must be repeated each time the program is run
67
Q

assembly

A

low-level programming language
each instruction directly corresponds to a binary sequence, and the assembler replaces the command with the relevant binary

68
Q

pros of assemblers

A
  • assembly has exact control of the hardware meaning that the code if efficient and takes up little memory which is quick to execute
  • can be used on low spec machines
69
Q

cons of assemblers

A
  • assembly is difficult to use and requires technical knowledge
70
Q

types of translators

A
  • compilers
  • interpreters
  • assemblers
71
Q

transistors in the CPU

A
  • they are arranged into circuits to perform operations such as calculations when electricity is passed through them
  • modern CPUs contain over 3 billion transistors which perform calculations by the second
72
Q

transistors

A
  • act as electrically- controlled switches
  • 1 = presence of electricity and 0 = absence of electricity
73
Q

logic gates

A

multiple transistors can be arranged together to make logic gates (complex switches) that only allow electricity flow if some or all of the transistors are “on”

74
Q

logic circuits

A

a combination of logic gates

75
Q

application software

A
  • helps a user of a computer system to complete a given task
76
Q

examples of application software

A
  • word processors
  • web browsers
  • powerpoint
77
Q

system software

A
  • controls the hardware of the computer and provides an environment for the apps to run
78
Q

device drivers

A
  • one type of system software
  • small programs which tell the operating system how to use a piece of hardware
79
Q

utility software

A
  • type of system software
  • performs maintenance tasks to make sure the operations of the system
80
Q

types of system software

A
  • operating system
  • device drivers
  • utility software
81
Q

four main types of utility software

A
  • compression
  • defragmentation
  • encryption
  • backup
82
Q

compression

A
  • applying an algorithm to reduce the space needed to represent a file or its content
83
Q

encryption

A
  • designed to prevent unauthorised access to files by applying an algorithm to “scramble” data
84
Q

defragmentation

A
  • improving the hard disk performance by applying an algorithm to reorganise data
85
Q

backup

A
  • making copies of data that can be restored in the event of data loss
86
Q

purpose of the operating system

A

a piece of system software the hardware within a computer

87
Q

API

A
  • application programming interface - a set of code libraries that software developers can use to write applications for that operating system
88
Q

graphical user interface

A
  • has the drag and drop feature so that you can easily exchange information between software
    eg. windows XP, apples OSX
89
Q

purpose of memory manager

A
  • controls the allocation of RAM to each running process
  • if it fails to do so, the computer will fail and crash
90
Q

purpose of process manager

A
  • allow users to run multiple programs at once
  • a CPU can only execute one process at a time so it must switch between processes so quicky that it seems that they are running simultaneously

computing (10 decks)

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