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GCSE OCR Computer Science > Computer Systems > Flashcards

Computer Systems Flashcards

1
Q

What is a General Purpose System?

A

Computers with a variety of uses, the tasks are usually chosen by the end user.

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2
Q

What is an Embedded System?

A

Specialised computer systems that have dedicated functions within a larger system. The function is usually chosen by the manufacturer.

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3
Q

What are some examples of General Purpose Systems?

A
  • TV
  • Laptop
  • Tablet
  • Smartphone
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4
Q

What are some examples of Embedded Systems?

A
  • Coffee machine
  • Speaker
  • Thermostat
  • Robot vacuum
  • Printer
  • Game controller
  • TV
  • Smoke Alarm
  • Security System
  • Car Key
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5
Q

What is the CPU?

A
  • Central Processing Unit
  • A large chip inside the computer
  • The brains of the computer: it controls everything
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6
Q

What is RAM?

A
  • Random Access Memory
  • It is fast to read/write
  • It is volatile. When a computer is switched off, all the data stored in RAM is lost
  • RAM is both readable and writable. You can add, change and delete data stored in RAM
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7
Q

What is ROM?

A
  • Read-Only Memory
  • ROM is non-volatile memory, which means it doesn’t need power to keep the data inside it
  • It is fast
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8
Q

What is the Hard Drive?

A

The main storage device in your computer.

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9
Q

What is the BIOS?

A

Contains all the basic code for controlling your computer hardware (such as keyboards, mice, monitors, and hard drives).

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10
Q

What is the Start-up Sequence?

A

1) The boot sequence begins
2) CPU starts up and fetches the BIOS from ROM
3) Instructions from BIOS are loaded into RAM
4) BIOS starts up the monitor and keyboard
5) BIOS checks the computer is working
6) Operating system is fetched from secondary storage
7) Operating system is loaded into RAM
8) The BIOS hands control over to the operating system

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11
Q

What is Programme Management (Operating System)?

A

The operating system makes sure that each application, open on a computer, has enough resources to accomplish its tasks.

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12
Q

What is Processor Management (Operating System)?

A

Instructions are executed by the CPU, but the operating system controls which instructions are fed in to be executed.

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13
Q

What is Interaction with the User (Operating System)?

A

The operating system provides a graphical user interface which makes operating the computer much simpler.

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14
Q

What is Error Handling (Operating System)?

A

When a program fails or encounters a problem, the operating system protects the wider system from crashing.

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15
Q

What is File Management (Operating System)?

A

When you save data to your hard drive, the operating system will find an available section of storage and send the data to be written to that location.

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16
Q

What is Memory Management (Operating System)?

A

The operating system controls where each piece of data is stored in RAM.

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17
Q

What is a Security (Operating System)?

A

The operating system stops unauthorised individuals from accessing data on secondary storage or the data in memory.

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18
Q

What is Input and Output (Operating System)?

A

The operating system captures data from peripherals and provides data to the output devices to display to the user.

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19
Q

What is a computer?

A

A programmable device that takes in data, processes it into useful information, and then outputs the information so it can be used.

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19
Q

What are the roles of the operating system?

A
  • Interaction with the user
  • File management
  • Program management
  • Error handling
  • Processor management
  • Security
  • Input and output
  • Memory management
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19
Q

What is utility software?

A
  • Provides some enhanced functionality for a computer system
  • They can be chosen and installed by the user, and aren’t necessary for a computer to function
  • They add to the performance of the computer
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19
Q

What are the different types of utility software?

A
  • Antivirus software
  • Backup tools
  • Compression software
  • Defragmentation software
  • Encryption software
  • Email application
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19
Q

What is compression software?

A

It is a software program that compresses and decompresses various file types.

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19
Q

What is encryption software?

A

It is a software that uses cryptography to prevent unauthorized access to digital information.

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19
Q

What are some examples of compression software?

A
  • WinRAR.
  • WinZip.
  • ALZip.
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19
Q

What are some examples of encryption software?

A
  • VeraCrypt
  • TrueCrypt
  • Boxcryptor
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19
Q

What is email application?

A

A programme or application that lets users send, receive and store emails.

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19
Q

What are some examples of email application?

A
  • Outlook
  • Gmail
  • Hotmail
  • Yahoo
19
Q

What is defragmentation software?

A

Takes fragmented files and data and rearranges the segments so they run continuously. This helps speed up computer performance.

20
Q

What are some examples of defragmentation software?

A
  • Smart Defrag
  • Wise Care 365
20
Q

What is antivirus software?

A

Antivirus software is a computer programme used to prevent, detect, and remove viruses from your computer.

21
Q

What are some examples of antivirus software?

A
  • Norton 365
  • McAfee
22
Q

What is computer architecture?

A

The design of a computer system

23
Q

What is the stored program concept (Von Neumann Architecture)?

A
  • Von Neumann proposed a new way to store and run programs on a computer
  • His idea was to store common instructions in memory alongside the data, making computers much more versatile
  • This architecture is widely used today
24
Q

What is the Von Neumann Architecture sequence?

A

1) Data and instructions are stored as binary digits ​
2) The instructions are fetched from memory, one at a time in order (serially)​
3) The processor decodes instructions before it executes it.
In order to follow this system, modern CPUs contain several key components that all play a role.​

25
Q

What is the ALU?

A
  • Arithmetic logic unit
  • It is the calculator of the CPU. It handles mathematical and logical operations that are required as part of an instruction.
26
Q

What is a clock?

A

Used to regulate the number of cycles carried out per second and synchronise the other components.

27
Q

What is the control unit?

A

The control unit understands the instructions and tells other components what each instruction needs from them.

28
Q

What is a bus?

A

A set of parallel wires that transport the data between the components inside the processor and memory.

29
Q

What is a register?

A

These are small, very fast memory locations located inside the CPU

30
Q

What do registers store?

A
  • Memory addresses (MAR)​
  • Data from memory (MDR)​
  • Current instruction (CIR)​
  • A count of instructions (PC)​
31
Q

What is the FDE Cycle sequence?

A
  1. Instructions are loaded into RAM from secondary memory
  2. The instructions are stored in RAM in numbered memory locations
  3. The CPU sends a signal along the address bus requesting an instruction from a specific numbered location in RAM
  4. The instruction is transferred via the data bus to the CPU
  5. The CPU decodes the instruction
  6. The CPU may fetch data held in memory if referenced in the instruction
  7. The CPU executes the instruction
  8. The result may be stored back into RAM
  9. The cycle repeats
32
Q

What is the FDE Cycle inside the CPU?

A
  1. The control unit sends the fetch instruction
  2. Buses carry the instruction to memory and carry the data back
  3. MAR holds the address to fetch the instruction from
  4. MDR receives the instruction fetched from RAM
  5. CIR gets a copy of the instruction
  6. The program counter goes up by one
  7. Control unit decodes the instruction
  8. Buses carry the instruction to the control unit
  9. CIR provides the instruction to the control unit
  10. The control unit tells other components what they need to do
  11. ALU performs calculations
  12. Buses carry any data required or received from the instruction
  13. The accumulator holds any data that is produced
33
Q

What are the characteristics of ROM?

A
  • Read only
  • Stores permanent instructions that tell a computer how to ‘boot up’
  • Data is not lost when the screen is switched off (non-volatile)
  • 6-8MB
  • Stores the BIOS (basic input output system)
  • Types of main memory which means they are directly accessible to the CPU
  • Memory is used to store instructions for the CPU to execute
  • They are much faster to access than storage (e.g., hard drive)
34
Q

What are the characteristics of RAM?

A
  • Types of main memory which means they are directly accessible to the CPU
  • Memory is used to store instructions for the CPU to execute
  • They are much faster to access than storage (e.g., hard drive)
  • Read and write
  • Stores instructions and data ready for the CPU to execute
  • Data is lost when the screen is switched off (volatile)
  • 1-256GB
35
Q

Volatile

A

data is lost when the power is switched off

36
Q

Non-volatile

A

does not lose memory when the power is switched off

37
Q

Why is secondary storage needed?

A
  • If a program needs more memory than is available, the operating system will reserve some in secondary storage that acts as an extension of main memory. ​
  • It stores data for long periods of time ​
  • It is robust and reliable ​
  • It is much cheaper per MB than the main memory ​
  • It has more capacity ​
  • It is portable​
38
Q

What does cache do?

A

Improves the performance of a computer system by saving frequently used instructions and data, so they are quickly available for the CPU to retrieve

39
Q

What are the three levels of cache?

A
  • Level 1: Cache is usually part of the CPU. It is the fastest but the smallest in size
  • Level 2: Has a medium size and medium speed
  • Level 3: The slowest cache, but the largest in size (it is twice as fast as RAM). It is the closest to RAM
40
Q

How does cache speed up a computer?

A

Cache is there to help speed up the process of fetching instructions from RAM.

41
Q

What is solid-state storage?

A
  • Solid-state storage devices have no moving parts. They store data inside electronic circuits, which can be set to store a 1 or 0. These devices are typically much smaller than magnetic devices. They can have a large capacity, but are more expensive.​
  • This type is also called flash memory.​
42
Q

What is optical storage?

A
  • Optical storage is most commonly used to distribute media and software — movies and video games for example
  • This type uses lasers to read and write data on a reflective surface. These devices are typically small in capacity, but very cheap to produce
43
Q

What is magnetic storage?

A
  • Magnetic storage is the oldest form of storage, and has been in use since the 1920s (before computers were available)
  • Data is stored in series as polarised dots. The polarity (positive or negative) of the dot determines whether it stores a 1 or 0
44
Q

What are the characteristics of solid-state storage?

A
  • Expensive
  • Medium capacity
  • Fast access speed
  • Robust
  • Reliable
  • Somewhat portable
45
Q

What are the advantages of solid state storage?

A
  • Fast: With read speeds up to 550MB per second ​
  • Lightweight: Typically much smaller than hard drives ​
  • Durable: They do not suffer mechanical faults ​
  • Low power consumption ​
  • Silent when in use
46
Q

What are the disadvantages of solid state storage?

A
  • Expensive cost per MB​
  • Typically a lower capacity than hard drives ​
  • Can be unreliable​
47
Q

How do magnetic storage devices work?

A
  • They use a stack of high-speed spinning thin metal discs coated with a film of microscopic magnetic grains
  • Data is recognised through groups of tiny grains called Bits which corresponds to binary code
  • The actuator arm can read each cell and change them to the opposite using an electromagnetic write head to switch
48
Q

How do optical storage devices work?

A
  • An optical disk drive uses a laser beam to read the data from the disk as it is spinning
  • It separates the pits and lands based on how the light reflects off the recording material
  • The drive uses the differences in reflectivity to determine the 0 and 1 bits that represent the data
49
Q

What are the characteristics of magnetic storage?

A
  • Very cheap
  • Large capacity
  • Slow/fast access speed
  • Somewhat robust
  • Very reliable
  • Not portable
50
Q

What are the characteristics of optical storage?

A
  • Cheap
  • Small capacity
  • Slow access speed
  • Delicate
  • Not reliable
  • Portable
51
Q

What are the advantages of magnetic storage?

A
  • High-capacity storage
  • Cheap
  • Data security
  • Reusable memory
  • Long-life
  • Reliable
52
Q

What are the disadvantages of magnetic storage?

A
  • Requires maintenance
  • Needs specialist equipment
  • Can easily get damaged
  • Slow
53
Q

What are the advantages of optical storage?

A
  • Durable
  • Hold more data than standard DVD
  • Better picture quality than standard DVD
  • Better sound quality than standard DVD
54
Q

What are the disadvantages of optical storage?

A
  • More expensive than DVDs
  • Needs a Blu-ray player
  • Can lose data when scratched
  • Slower to read and write data than other devices
55
Q

What is cloud storage?

A
  • A way to store and access files through the internet
  • The data is stored on servers with hard drives. Cloud storage providers have warehouses full of these servers, called server farms
56
Q

What are the advantages of cloud storage?

A
  • Capacity can expand as you need it​
  • Files can be accessed anywhere in the world, on any device​
  • Sharing files is easier, enabling collaboration​
  • Back-ups are easier, the provider looks after the files ​
57
Q

What are the disadvantages of cloud storage?

A
  • Requires a (stable) internet connection
  • Can still be slower than storing data on a physical device
  • Storing data online carries some risks

GCSE OCR Computer Science (2 decks)

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