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Computer Science > 1 - Hardware > Flashcards

1 - Hardware Flashcards

1
Q

What is used to protect and contain all the components of the pc?

A

PC Case

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2
Q

What does a power supply unit do?

A

A power supply unit converts mains AC to low-voltage regulated DC power for the internal components of a computer.

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3
Q

What type of storage do hard disk drives use (HDD)?

A

Magenetic storage

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4
Q

What does SSD stand for?

A

Solid State Drive

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5
Q

What are some advantages of SSD’s over HDD’s

A

SSD’s can store information permanently even without power

SSD’s have no moving parts so are less vulnerable to mechanical issues

SDD’s have much better read performance and does not need to be defragmented

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6
Q

What do speakers do?

A

Speakers output audio.

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7
Q

What are some disadvantages of SSD’s over HDD’s

A

SSD’s are newer technology so they can cost more per gigabyte

SSD’s have a limited number of write cycles so can degrade over time

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8
Q

What is RAM?

A

RAM (random access memory) is a type of data storage used in computers that is generally located on the motherboard.This type of memory is volatile and all information that was stored in RAM is lost when the computer is turned off.

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9
Q

What is volatile memory?

A

Volatile memory is temporary memory that will delete if the power is turned off

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10
Q

What is a motherboard?

A

A motherboard is the main printed circuit board (PCB) found in general purpose computers. It holds, and allows, communication between many of the crucial electronic components of the PC.

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11
Q

What does a keyboard and mouse do?

A

Keyboard’s and mice are input devices that allow the user to type and control a mouse

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12
Q

What does a router do?

A

A router directs packets of data between computer networks

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13
Q

How do optical drives work?

A

Optical drives work by using a series of pits and bumps to distort a laser that hits it . As the disk spins, the computer shines a laser through the disk which gets reflected back to a detector, the computer then can read these signals and convert them into data.

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14
Q

What are the 4 Components of a CPU?

A
  1. Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU)
    2.Register
    3.Cache
    4.Control Unit (CU)
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15
Q

What does the ALU do in the CPU?

A

Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU) - The ALU performs all the mathematical calculations / logical operations in the CPU

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16
Q

What does the Cache do in the CPU?

A

The Cache stores program instructions and data that are used repeatedly in the operation of programs or information that the CPU is likely to need next.

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17
Q

What does the Register do in the CPU?

A

Fast access storage locations found on the CPU where data or control information is temporarily stored.

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18
Q

What does the Control Unit do in the CPU?

A

Directs the flow of instructions and/or data and coordinates the other parts of the CPU. It generates clock ticks or controls the clock.

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19
Q

What are the 4 registers?

A
  1. Program Counter (PC)
  2. Memory Address Register (MAR)
  3. Current Instruction Register (CIR)
  4. Accumulator (ACC)
20
Q

What is a Program Counter Register (PCR)?

A

A counter that keeps track of the memory address of the instruction to be executed next.

21
Q

What is a Memory Address Register (MAR)?

A

Stores the address in the main memory that is currently being read or written.

22
Q

What is a Current Instruction Register (CIR)?

A

A temporary holding area for the instruction that has just been fetched from memory.

23
Q

What is an Accumulator (ACC)?

A

An accumulator is primarily used as a register in a CPU to store intermediate logical or arithmetic data in multistep calculations.

24
Q

Describe the “Fetch” part of the FDE cycle

A

The fetch cycle takes the address required from memory, stores it in the current instruction register and moves the program counter on one, so that it points at the next instruction

25
Q

Describe the “Decode” part of the FDE cycle

A

The control unit authenticates the
instruction in the current instruction register.
The instruction is decoded to determine the
actions that needs to be carried out

26
Q

Describe the “Execute” part of the FDE cycle

A

The computer performs the actions

27
Q

What is Permanent Storage?

A

Stored data is kept when the power is interrupted or switched off

28
Q

What is RISC?

A

RISC is Reduced Instruction Set Computer. RISC carries out more complex commands, but the problem is broken down into simpler instructions

29
Q

What is CISC?

A

Can process a large number of complex instructions. This allows the processor to understand and carry out complex tasks with only a few instructions

30
Q

What are the advantages of RISC?

A

A RISC processor is able to process these simpler instructions quickly

Processing simpler instructions also requires less circuitry to decode and execute these instructions, which in turn means less power consumption and therefore less heat being generated

31
Q

What are the pros and cons of CISC?

A

Pro:A CISC processor is able to process complex instructions, without having to break them down into many simpler instructions.

Con:Processing complex instructions however requires more circuitry to decode and execute these instructions, which in turn means more power consumption and therefore more heat being generated.

32
Q

What does ROM mean?

A

Read-only Memory

33
Q

What type of storage does ROM use?

A

Permanent

34
Q

Give an example of where ROM is used

A

ROM is used for storing programs such as the system BIOS

35
Q

What is a Flashdrive used for?

A

Moving relativley small files from work to home

36
Q

What is an External Hard Drive used for?

A

An external hard drive is used for backing up home compter systems

37
Q

What is a CD/DVD/Blu-ray disc used for?

A

Storing multimedia files

38
Q

What is Magnetic Tape used for?

A

Magnetic tape is used for backing large commercial servers on multiple tapes

39
Q

What is a GPU?

A

Graphics Processing Unit

40
Q

What are the advantages of an integrated GPU?

A
  • Uses the computer’s RAM
  • Cheaper than installing a
    dedicated GPU
  • Generates less heat and uses less
    power
  • Perfect for general graphics
    processing such as watching
    or editing videos and word
    processing
41
Q

What are the advantages of a dedicated GPU?

A
  • Has its own video memory
  • Provides the best visual
    experience
42
Q

What are the disadvantages of a dedicated GPU?

A

Dedicated GPU’s use more power and requires a good cooling system

43
Q

What does a Sound Card do?

A

The sound card will convert analogue input signals into digital data and reverse this process for output

44
Q

What is an Embedded System?

A

An embedded system is a combination of software and hardware that performs a specific task whereas a general-purpose computer is designed to carry out multiple tasks

45
Q

Give 3 examples of Embedded Systems

A

Mobile Phones, Games consoles, Digital cameras

Computer Science (5 decks)

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