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CIS101 > Chapter 02: The System Unit: Processing and Memory > Flashcards

Chapter 02: The System Unit: Processing and Memory Flashcards

1
Q

arithmetic/logic unit (ALU)

A

The part of a CPU core that performs logical operations and integer arithmetic. (p74)

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2
Q

ASCII (American Standard Code for Information Interchange)

A

A fixed-length, binary coding system used to represent text-based data for computer processing on many types of computers. (p54)

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3
Q

bandwidth

A

The amount of data that can be theoretically transferred through a communications medium in a given period of time. (p62)

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4
Q

binary numbering system

A

The numbering system that represents all numbers using just two symbols (0 and 1). (p52)

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5
Q

bit

A

The smallest unit of data a digital computer can recognize; represented by a 0 or a 1. (p52)

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6
Q

bus

A

An electronic path on the motherboard or within the CPU or other computer component along which data is transferred. (p68)

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7
Q

bus interface unit

A

The part of a CPU core that allows it to communicate with other CPU components. (p75)

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8
Q

byte

A

A group of 8 bits. (p52)

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9
Q

Cache memory

A

A group of fast memory circuitry located on or near the CPU to help speed up processing. (p61)

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10
Q

carbon nanotubes (CNTs)

A

Tiny, hollow tubes made of carbon atoms. (p82)

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11
Q

central processing unit (CPU)

A

The chip located on the motherboard of a computer that performs most of the processing for a computer. (p58)

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12
Q

control unit

A

The part of a CPU core that coordinates its operations. (p74)

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13
Q

decimal numbering system

A

The numbering system that represents all numbers using 10 symbols (0-9). (p52)

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14
Q

decode unit

A

The part of a CPU core that translates instructions into a form that can be processed by the ALU and FPU. (p75)

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15
Q

dual-core CPUs

A

A CPU that contains two separate processing cores. (p58)

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16
Q

exabyte (EB)

A

Approximately 1,000 petabytes. (p52)

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17
Q

expansion buses

A

A bus on the motherboard used to connect peripheral devices. (p68)

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18
Q

expansion cards

A

A circuit board that can be inserted into an expansion slot location on a computer’s motherboard to add additional functionality or to connect a peripheral device to that computer. (p66)

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19
Q

Expansion slots

A

A location on the motherboard into which expansion cards are inserted. (p66)

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20
Q

FireWire

A

A high-speed bus standard sometimes used to connect digital video cameras and other multimedia hardware to a computer. (p69)

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21
Q

Flash memory

A

Nonvolatile memory chips that can be used for storage by the computer or user; can be built into a computer or a storage medium. (p65)

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22
Q

floating point unit (FPU)

A

The part of a CPU core that performs decimal arithmetic. (p74)

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23
Q

frontside bus (FSB)

A

The bus that connects the CPU to the chipset that connects to the rest of the bus architecture. (p69)

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24
Q

gigabyte (GB)

A

Approximately 1 billion bytes. (p52)

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25
Q

graphics processing unit (GPU)

A

The chip that does the processing needed to display images on the screen; can be located on the motherboard, inside the CPU, or on a video graphics board. (p59)

26
Q

kilobyte (KB)

A

Approximately 1 thousand bytes (1,024 bytes to be precise). (p52)

27
Q

machine cycle

A

The series of operations involved in the execution of a single machine-level instruction. (p76)

28
Q

machine language

A

A binary-based language for representing computer programs that the computer can execute directly. (p56)

29
Q

megabyte (MB)

A

Approximately 1 million bytes. (p52)

30
Q

Memory

A

Chip-based storage. (p62)

31
Q

memory bus

A

The connection between the CPU and RAM. (p69)

32
Q

microprocessor

A

A central processing unit (CPU) for a personal computer. (p58)

33
Q

motherboard

A

The main circuit board of a computer, located inside the system unit, to which all computer system components connect. (p57)

34
Q

multi-core CPUs

A

A CPU that contains the processing components or core of more than one processor in a single CPU. (p58)

35
Q

multiprocessing

A

The capability to use multiple processors or multiple processing cores in a single computer, usually to process multiple jobs at one time faster than could be performed with a single processor. (p81)

36
Q

nanotechnology

A

The science of creating tiny computers and components by working at the individual atomic and molecular levels. (p81)

37
Q

nonvolatile

A

A characteristic of memory or storage in which data is retained even when the power to the computer is turned off. (p62)

38
Q

optical computer

A

A computer that uses light, such as from laser beams or infrared beams, to perform digital computations. (p84)

39
Q

parallel processing

A

A processing technique that uses multiple processors or multiple processing cores simultaneously, usually to process a single job as fast as possible. (p81)

40
Q

PCI Express (PCIe) bus

A

One of the buses most commonly used to connect peripheral devices. (p69)

41
Q

petabyte (PB)

A

Approximately 1,000 terabytes. (p52)

42
Q

pipelining

A

The capability of a CPU or CPU core to begin processing a new instruction as soon as the previous instruction completes the first stage of the machine cycle. (p80)

43
Q

ports

A

A connector on the exterior of a computer to which a device may be attached. (p70)

44
Q

prefetch unit

A

The part of a CPU core that attempts to retrieve data and instructions before they are needed for processing in order to avoid delays. (p75)

45
Q

processors

A

A chip (such as the CPU or GPU) that performs processing functions. (p58)

46
Q

quad-core CPUs

A

A CPU that contains four separate processing cores. (p58)

47
Q

quantum computing

A

A technology that applies the principles of quantum physics and quantum mechanics to computers to direct atoms or nuclei to work together as quantum bits (qubits), which function simultaneously as the computer’s processor and memory. (p83)

48
Q

RAM (random access memory)

A

Chips connected to the motherboard that provide a temporary location for the computer to hold data and program instructions while they are needed. (p62)

49
Q

register

A

High-speed memory built into the CPU that temporarily stores data during processing. (p65)

50
Q

ROM (read-only memory)

A

Nonvolatile chips located on the motherboard into which data or programs have been permanently stored. (p65)

51
Q

system clock

A

The timing mechanism within the computer system that synchronizes the computer’s operations. (p75)

52
Q

system unit

A

The main box of a computer that houses the CPU, motherboard, memory, and other devices. (p56)

53
Q

tera-scale computing

A

The ability of a computer to process data at teraflop speeds. (p85)

54
Q

terabyte (TB)

A

Approximately 1 trillion bytes. (p52)

55
Q

throughput

A

The amount of data that is actually transferred through a communications medium under real-life conditions. (p62)

56
Q

Unicode

A

An international coding system that can be used to represent text-based data in any written language. (p54)

57
Q

Universal Serial Bus (USB)

A

A universal bus used to connect up to 127 peripheral devices to a computer without requiring the use of additional expansion cards. (p69)

58
Q

volatile

A

A characteristic of memory or storage in which data is not retained when the power to the computer is turned off. (p62)

59
Q

yottabyte (YB)

A

Approximately 1,000 zettabytes. (p52)

60
Q

zettabyte (ZB)

A

Approximately 1,000 exabytes. (p52)

CIS101 (17 decks)

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