Week 2 Re-Review Computer Hardware - The Modern Computer Flashcards
What are ports?
Ports are connection points that we can connect devices to
What size EDB are there?
8, 16, 32, 64-bit
8 bit = 8 wires
What are registers?
a component in a CPU that allows us to store the data to be calculated
each part to be calculated has its own register
How does the RAM communicate with the CPU?
It uses the Memory Controller Chip which acts as a bridge to retrieve data from the RAM for the CPU
What’s the difference between RAM and using a cache?
Cache can store less data but has a faster retrieval speed by storing frequently or recently accessed data
Simply, what is overclocking?
Overclocking is increasing the maximum amount of clock cycles of the CPU
What is a clock cycle?
A voltage sent through the clock wire to the CPU completing a cycle of operation
Why do people perform overclocking?
To increase performance and the amount of tasks CPU can handle
Where is cache stored?
cache is stored on hardware or in software
Explain in detail what exactly cache stores?
the cache stores a local copy of frequently/recently accessed data in temporary storage
Where do older computers store their CPU cache?
On older computers, the CPU cache is stored on a transistor chip on the motherboard that’s connected to the CPU via high speed bus
How do you calculate the core frequency?
(GHz) Base clock speed/frequency X core multiplier = core frequency
What is base clock frequency measured in?
GHz
What are 2 things to check before overclocking a CPU?
- Can the CPU be overclocked?
- Does the motherboard support an overclocked CPU? Is it compatible?
On what hardware does the BIOS run?
Motherboard
