4.2 Understanding Computer Hardware

Question 1

H/W

ref 32-bit instructions set associated with Intel 80386

Answer 1

i386

Question 2

H/W

references 32-bit instruction sets assocated with successors to the 80386 such as 80486, 80586 and pentium

Answer 2

x86

Question 3

H/W

References processors that support both the 32-bit and 64-bit instructions of the x86 family

Answer 3

x64 / x86-64

Question 4

H/W

reference to x86 support by AMD processors

Answer 4

AMD

Question 5

H/W

reference to x64 support by AMD processors

Answer 5

AMD64

Question 6

H/W

References a Reduced Instruction Set Computer (RISC) CPU that is not based on the x86
instruction set. Commonly used by embedded, mobile, tablet, and battery operated devices. A
version of Linux for ARM is used by the Raspberry Pi.

Answer 6

ARM

Question 7

H/W

For CPUs this number relates to both the native size of data it manipulates and the amount of
memory it can access. Most modern systems are either 32-bit or 64-bit. If an application needs
access to more than 4 gigabytes of memory then it must run on a 64-bit system since 4
gigabytes is the maximum address that can be represented using 32 bits. And, while 32-bit
applications can typically run on 64-bit systems, 64-bit applications cannot run on 32-bit
systems.

Answer 7

Bit Size

Question 8

H/W

Often expressed in megahertz (MHz) or gigahertz (GHz). This relates to how fast a processor
processes instructions. But processor speed is just one of the factors impacting system response
times, wait times, and throughput. Even an active multi-tasking user rarely keeps a CPU of a
common desktop PC active more than 2 or 3 percent of the time. Regardless, if you frequently
use computationally intensive applications involving activities such as encryption or video
rendering then CPU speed may have a significant impact on throughput and wait time

Answer 8

Clock speed

Question 9

H/W

CPUs require a constant stream of both instructions and data in order to operate. The cost and
power consumption of a multi-gigabyte system memory that could be accessed at CPU clock
speeds would be prohibitive. CPU-speed cache memory is integrated onto the CPU chip to
provide a high-speed buffer between CPUs and system memory. Cache is separated into
multiple layers, commonly referenced as L1, L2, L3 and even L4. In the case of cache, more is
often better.

Answer 9

Cache

Question 10

H/W

Core refers to an individual CPU. In addition to core representing a physical CPU, HyperThreading Technology (HTT) allows a single physical CPU to concurrently process multiple
instructions thus virtually acting as multiple physical CPUs. Most typically, multiple physical
cores are packaged as a single physical processor chip. However, there are motherboards that
support multiple physical processor chips. In theory having more cores to process tasks would
always seem to yield better system throughput. Unfortunately, desktop applications often only
keep CPUs busy 2 or 3 percent of the time, so adding more mostly idle CPUs is likely to result in
minimal improvement to throughput. More cores are best suited to running applications that
are written to have multiple independent threads of operation such as video frame rendering,
web page rendering, or multi-user virtual machine environments.

Answer 10

Cores

Question 11

H/W

general term that applies to any type of processor. often used incorrectly as a synonum for CPU

Answer 11

processor

Question 12

H/W

central processing unit that provides support for gen purpose computational tasks

Answer 12

CPU

Question 13

H/W

graphical processing unit that optimizes supporting activities relating to the presentation of graphics.

Answer 13

GPU

Question 14

H/W

what would you expect the name of the device in /dev to be for partition 3 of the third SATA drive in a system

Answer 14

SDC3