computer systems

Question 1

What is hardware?

Answer 1

the physical components of a computer system e.g.hardrive

Question 2

What is software?

Answer 2

the non-physical components of a computer system e.g.applications

Question 3

What is application software?

Answer 3

programs that help the user perform specific tasks e.g.word processor

Question 4

What is system software?

Answer 4

software used to control the computer and run applications e.g.OS

Question 5

What is utility software?

Answer 5

helps maintain the system e.g.encryption

Question 6

What is volatile memory?

Answer 6

memory where data is lost when the computer is shut down

Question 7

What is ROM?

Answer 7

read-only memory

non-volatile

Question 8

What is RAM?

Answer 8

random-access memory

volatile

Question 9

What is virtual memory?

Answer 9

volatile memory created in storage drive temporarily

Question 10

What is memory?

Answer 10

has short term memory

Question 11

What is storage?

Answer 11

location for saving and accessing data on a long-term basis

Question 12

What is the CPU and what does it do?

Answer 12

the central processing unit which controls the computer

Question 13

How can you improve CPU performance?

Answer 13

Cores- more cores means multiple instructions can be processed at once
clock speed- higher clock speed means more pulses per second and data is processed faster

Question 14

What is the fetch, decode and execute cycle?

Answer 14

fetch- control unit reads memory address, instruction stored in that address,memory address incremented
decode-instruction from memory decoded and control unit prepared
execute- carries out process

Question 15

What are the 3 levels of cache?

Answer 15

L1-stored in CPU
L2-traditionally outside CPU now stored in the CPU
L3-stored in chip between CPU and memory

Question 16

How do magnetic disks work?

Answer 16

use magnetic fields to magnetise individual sections off a metal spinning disk.

Question 17

How do optical disks work?

Answer 17

use a laser to scan the surface of a spinning disk

Question 18

How does solid state work?

Answer 18

can be used as external secondary storage

Question 19

What are the advantages of magnetic disks?

Answer 19

large storage capacity
faster than optical disks
power not required to retain data
cheap
easily replaced

Question 20

What are the disadvantages if magnetic disk?

Answer 20

moving parts will eventually fail
crashes can lead to loss of data
fragile
high power consumption
can be noisy

Question 21

What are the advantages of optical disk?

Answer 21

easy to store
portable
wide compatibility
east to use
can last a long time

Question 22

What are the disadvantages of optical disk?

Answer 22

data on write-once discs permanent
require special drive to read and write
cost of storage is high
easily broken
longevity not confirmed

Question 23

What are the advantages solid state?

Answer 23

read speeds faster than normal hard disk drives
power not required to retain information
lightweight and durable
no moving parts
require less power and are silent

Question 24

What are the disadvantages of solid state?

Answer 24

limited storage capacity
write speeds can be 4x slower than magnetic disks
cost per unit storage is higher than magnetic drives
information can only be modified a certain amount of times

Question 25

What is cloud storage?

Answer 25

storage over the internet, stored in multiple different servers

Question 26

What is an embedded system?

Answer 26

a computer system with a purpose inside a larger mechanical system

Question 27

What are the advantages of cloud computing?

Answer 27

unlimited storage capability automatic back ups universal access device independence

Question 28

What are the disadvantages of cloud storage?

Answer 28

``` requires reliable internet connection requires high bandwith slower to access than local files user doesn't have control over their own data less safe ```

Question 29

What are the advantages of embedded systems?

Answer 29

cheaper to design and build require less power can be built using cheaper, less powerful processors

Question 30

What are the disadvantages of embedded systems?

Answer 30

Difficult to upgrade hardware is limited hard to maintain difficult to backup embedded files

Question 31

What does user interface do?

Answer 31

allows a user to interact with a computer

Question 32

What does processor management do?

Answer 32

allow more than one program to run simultaneously

Question 33

What does memory management?

Answer 33

manages memory so that more than one program can run at the same time and more than one document can be opened at the same time

Question 34

What is applications management?

Answer 34

it allocates memory space and determines time needed by a processor for an application to run

Question 35

What is the Von Neumann model?

Answer 35

all instructions and data stored in the same memory in binary instruction follow fetch, decode and execute cycle serially

Question 36

What are the advantages of the von neumann model?

Answer 36

easier to program computers no need to rewire computer circuits simplifies hardware

Question 37

Why would you use a solid state drive?

Question 38

What does the bus do in Von Neumann?

Answer 38

transmits data from one part of the computer to another

Question 39

What does the arithmetic logic unit in Von neumann?

Answer 39

allows arithmetic and logic operations to be carried out

Question 40

What does the control unit do in Von neumann?

Answer 40

controls the operation of the ALU, memory and input/output devices

Question 41

What does the register do in Von neumann?

Answer 41

high speed storage areas in CPU where data must be stored before it can be processed

Question 42

What does the clock do in Von neumann?

Answer 42

every clock cycle an instruction is fetched from the memory, decoded then executed on the ALU

Question 43

How do you convert from MB to GB?

Answer 43

1 mb = 0.001 gb

Question 44

How is data stored on a hard disk drive?

Answer 44

stored in binary code

Question 45

Why would you use a solid state drive?

Answer 45

accessing data- flashdrive