Ch 2: Bus Width and Functionality Flashcards
(14 cards)
How does data move from one component to another on the motherboard?
Through the use of buses
What is a bus?
An electronic path along which data moves
Most buses are embedded in the motherboard
What is bus width?
Size of the bus
How does the size of the bus width correlate to the amount of data the bus can carry?
The larger the bus width, the more data the bus can carry per second and vice versa
What is the purpose of the system bus?
connects CPU to Main Memory
What is the purpose of an expansion bus?
An expansion bus provides communication between the CPU and peripheral device
What is one way to visualize a bus?
think of it as a highway which stops along the way or exits where data is dropped off or picked up
What is a bus width similar to?
the number of lanes on the highway
The more lanes, the more traffic the highway can handle
What is the specific speed that a bus operates similar to?
Like the speed limit on a highway
Since all data travels at exactly the same speed, what supports additional devices?
An expansion board
What is the purpose of an expansion board?
adds specific capabilities to the system
Fits in one type of slot
The slot types correspond to different types of buses
What is the purpose of an expansion slot?
opening that allows insertion of an expansion board
Ensure a board is purchased that fits an empty slot
What is the most common bus today?
Peripheral Component Interconnect Express (PCle) Express Bus
What are the different sizes of PCle Express Bus?
- PCle times 16
- PCle express times 4
- 32 bit PCle slot
