Computer Systems

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  • Computer Systems
    • CPU
      • Central Processing Unit
      • integrated circuit, referred to as "the brain"
      • moves data between memory locations
        • carries out fetch execute cycles
          • finds sets of instructions and carries them out
      • cpu clock speed is very important, determines how many cycles can be carried out
        • measured in cycles per seconds (Hertz or Hz)
      • heat sink & fan are essential components
    • RAM
      • Random access memory
      • volatile but fast
      • temporary
      • used to hold data that is currently in use
    • Power Supply
      • converts electrical current into voltage, current and frequency
      • stores energy incase any interruptions happen
    • Storage
      • HDD
        • magnetic
        • cheap
        • retains information even when device is powered off because it's stored magnetically
      • SSD
        • used to be very expensive
        • very fast compared to HDDs
        • commonly used to store the OS on whereas HDD is used for files and games
    • Graphics Card
      • responsible for rendering images to the monitor
      • different to integrated graphics (iGPU)
      • graphics pipelines
        • OpenGL
        • DirectX
        • Vulkan
    • Motherboard
      • allows system components to connect and communicate with eachother via a central circuit
    • ROM
      • Read-only memory
      • permanent, data store is retained even after PC is shut down
      • used to store the BIOS
      • slow, not volatile (can store data without power)
    • interpret everything in binary
      • 1s and 0s
    • Cache
      • located in CPU
      • high speed memory used as temporary store for recently processed data

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