Computer hardware

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  • Created by: becky.65
  • Created on: 30-05-16 10:44
What does the central processing unit (CPU) do?
It carries out all the processing in a computer
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What does the arithmetic and logic unit (ALU) do?
It carries out all of the arithmetic and logical operations
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What does the control unit do?
It uses electrical signals to control the flow of data within the CPU
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What does the fetch-execute cycle do?
Fetches the instruction from memory, decodes it to find out what processing to do and executes the instruction
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What is the boot sequence?
A sequence of processes that contains all the information and instructions to get the computer up and running
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What is the boot loader?
A program contained in the boot sequence that starts the sequence when the computer is switched on
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After the boot sequence is completed, what happens?
Control is handed to the operating system to provide the programs for the CPU to process
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What does the speed at which a CPU can process data depend on?
The CPU clock speed, cache memory, the number of processor cores
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What does the speed of the fetch-execute cycle determined by?
An electronic clock chip
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What do multi-core processors use?
Multiple CPUs working together
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What is the advantages of multi-core processors?
More data is processed simultaneously
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What the disadvantage of multi-core processors?
More complicated operating systems are needed to manage them
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What is random access memory?
Volatile memory that can be accessed and changed by the computer at any time, it stores programs and data being used by computer and it contains the operating system
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What is read only memory?
Non-volatile memory that is programmed during computer manufacture, it stores the instructions and data required to start up the computer and contains the program
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What is virtual memory?
Part of the hard drive used as an extension to RAM
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When is virtual memory used?
When the computer does not have enough RAM to hold all the data and programs required
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What is cache memory?
Data that is in use is transferred to cache memory to make access to it faster
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What flash memory?
A type of ROM that can be rewritten
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Why do computers use binary values?
Because it is easy to tell the state of a switch
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List three types of secondary storage:
Magnetic hard disk, optical disk and flash memory
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Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

What does the arithmetic and logic unit (ALU) do?

Back

It carries out all of the arithmetic and logical operations

Card 3

Front

What does the control unit do?

Back

Preview of the front of card 3

Card 4

Front

What does the fetch-execute cycle do?

Back

Preview of the front of card 4

Card 5

Front

What is the boot sequence?

Back

Preview of the front of card 5
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