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computing p1 GCSE > computer systems > Flashcards

computer systems Flashcards

1
Q

what is a computer?

A

a machine that processes data

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2
Q

what does a computer system consist of?

A

hardware and software

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3
Q

hardware?

A

physical stuff : motherboard, monitor

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4
Q

software?

A

the programs that a computer system runs : video game, operating system

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5
Q

what is an embedded system?

A

computers built into other devices with a single, dedicated task

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6
Q

embedded system examples?

A

washing machine, dishwasher, windscreen wipers

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7
Q

expand on embedded system dishwasher example?

A

the embedded system could control the water pumps and water release mechanisms, manage the various dishwasher cycles and control the thermostat to keep water at an appropriate temperature

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8
Q

why are embedded systems better than a computer?

A

theyre dedicated to a single task so they are:

cheaper
more efficient
easier to design

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9
Q

CPU stands for?

A

central processing unit

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10
Q

what does the CPU do?

A

it processes all the data and instructions that make the system work

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11
Q

what are the 3 main parts of the CPU?

A

control unit (CU)
arithmetic logic unit (ALU)
the cache

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12
Q

what is the control unit?

A

overall control of the CPU
fetch decode execute cycle
controls the flow of data

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13
Q

what is the arithmetic logic unit?

A

performs all the calculations

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14
Q

what is the cache?

A

stores regularly used data for the CPU to access quickly

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15
Q

characteristics of cache?

A

very fast memory
low capacity
expencive

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16
Q

what else does the CPU contain?

A

registers

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17
Q

what do registers do?

A

temporarily hold tiny bits of data needed by the CPU

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18
Q

characteristic of registers?

A

super quick to read/write to

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19
Q

example of registers?

A

MAR - memory address register
MDR - memory data register
ACC - accumulator
PC - program counter

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20
Q

what is the program counter? (PC)

A

holds the memory address of the instruction for each cycle

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21
Q

what is the accumulator? (ACC)

A

stores results of calculations from the ALU

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22
Q

what is the memory address register? (MAR)

A

holds any memory address about to be used by the CPU

the address might point to data or a CPU instruction

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23
Q

what is the memory data register? (MDR)

A

holds the actual data or instruction that has been fetched from memory or waiting to be written to memory

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24
Q

who is von neumann?

A

came up with a CPU design where it runs programs stored in memory

describes how most computers work today

made in 1945

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25
what cycle does the CPU follow?
fetch - decode - execute
26
what is fetch?
copy memory address from the PC to the MAR copy the instruction stored in the MAR address to the MDR increment the PC to point to the address of the next instruction for the next cycle
27
what is decode?
instruction in the MDR is decoded by the CU
28
what is execute?
the instruction is performed/outputted
29
why is the FDE cycle important?
to run instructions efficiently
30
what is memory?
storage of all the instructions that the CPU follows
31
what does RAM stand for?
random access memory
32
what is RAM?
the main memory in a computer where all files, data and programs are stored while being used can be read and written to volatile
33
volatile meaning?
temporary memory which required power to keep its data forgets
34
non volatile meaning?
permanent memory which keeps its contents even when there is no power doesnt forget
35
how does RAM work?
when a computer boots up the operating system is copied from secondary storage to RAM when software applications are opened they are copied from secondary storage to RAM until closed
36
speed of RAM compared to cache and secondary storage
slower than cache, faster than secondary storage
37
what is virtual memory?
a secondary storage used as extra RAM
38
why is virtual memory used?
computers have a limited amount of RAM when RAM is full it moves data that hasnt been used recently to virtual memory
39
what happens is the CPU needs to read data from virtual memory?
it moves data back to RAM this is a slow process as data transfer rates are slow on secondary storage
40
what does ROM stand for?
read only memory
41
what is ROM?
it can only be read not written to non-volatile
42
what does ROM do?
contains all the instructions a computer needs to boot up (BIOS) when the computer is powered on CPU reads instructions from ROM to perform self checks and set itself up
43
what three things effect CPU performance?
clock speed number of cores cache size
44
what is clock speed?
number of instructions a single processor core can carry out per second measured in Hz
45
higher clock speed = ?
greater number of instructions that can be carried out per second
46
what is a core?
each core in the CPU processes data independently from the rest
47
higher number of cores = ?
the more instructions that can be carried out at once
48
what is the cache?
data storage in the CPU faster than RAM
49
larger CPU cache = ?
gives the CPU faster access to more data
50
more RAM = ?
more applications it can smoothly run making it faster
51
less RAM = ?
runs slowly due to use of virtual memory
52
what does GPU stand for?
graphics processing units
53
what is a GPU?
specialised circuit for handling graphic anf image processing
54
why are GPU's good?
relieve the processing load on the CPU freeing it to do other things
55
what are the two main tiers of storage?
primary storage secondary storage
56
what is primary storage?
memory areas the CPU can access quickly
57
primary storage examples?
RAM ROM cache
58
what is secondary storage?
where all data is stored when not in use non volatile read/write is much slower
59
secondary storage examples?
magnetic drives solid state drives CDs
60
what is a hard drive?
the traditional internal storage 1. made up of a stack of magnetised metal disks that spin extremely fast 2. data is stored magnetically on the disk's circular tracks 3. a moving arm accesses these areas to read or write data
61
advantages of hard disk drives
portable long lasting reliable cheap
62
disadvantages of hard disk drives?
could be damaged if dropped slower than SSD
63
what is a solid state drive? (SSD)
storage device with no moving parts used for internal storage uses flash memory
64
advantages of solid state drives? (SSD)
has much faster read/write times than hard drives non volatile
65
what is an optical disc?
secondary storage uses a laser to read the data from pits and lands as the disc spins
66
examples of optical disc?
CDs DVDs
67
disadvantages of optical discs?
can only be written to once declining as streaming becomes popular easily scratched
68
advantages of optical discs?
cheap portable
69
what does an operating system do?
1. communicate with hardware via device drivers 2. provides a user interface (allows you to interact with the computer) 3. allows computer to multitask 4. deals with file management and disk defragmentation
70
what is an operating system?
runs and maintains a computer system
71
what is a device driver?
used to communicate with hardware
72
examples of device drivers?
mouse keyboard
73
what is a user interface?
allows the user to interact with a computer system
74
what is file management?
organisation of data into a usable hierarchical structure
75
examples of file management?
naming saving moving editing detetion of data
76
what is user management?
who can use the computer at one time
77
what is single user?
one user using the computer at once
78
what is multi user?
multiple users using the computer at once
79
what is utility software?
helps maintain the computer installed within an operating system
80
what is defragmentation?
reorganises data to put broken up files back together moves free space together to prevent further fragmentation
81
why does defragmentation exist?
disk management moves, deletes and changes sizes of files causing extra space, so the operating system fills thr gaps by splitting files this makes it slower to read/write as it has to move back and forth
82
what is compression software?
reduces file sizes by either permanently or temporarily removing unwanted data so they are quicker to downloads

computing p1 GCSE (4 decks)

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