Module 3

Question 1

Hardware

Answer 1

refers to the physical elements of a computer:
computer case w/ power keyboard
motherboard mouse
CPU network card
Memory (RAM) modem
Hard disk drive speakers
Optical Drive (DVD) printer
Video Card cabling
Monitor

Question 2

Hardware is

Answer 2

a physical entity

Question 3

software is

Answer 3

non-physical entity

Question 4

binary digit or bit

Answer 4

zeros and ones

Question 5

8 bits =

Answer 5

1 byte of data

Question 6

input

Answer 6

the process of entering data and programs into the computer system.

Question 7

processing

Answer 7

The task of performing arithmetic and logical operations is called processing

Question 8

output

Answer 8

the process of producing results from the data and getting useful information

Question 9

Storage:

Answer 9

The process of saving data and instructions permanently is known as storage

Question 10

control.

Answer 10

Control is the way instructions are executed and the above operations are performed.

Question 11

CPU

Answer 11

where decisions are made, computations occur, and input/output requests are delegated - the brain

Question 12

Main Memory

Answer 12

temporary storage for information being processed by the CPU

Question 13

Bus

Answer 13

a subsystem that transfers data or power between computer components.
It is an electronic highway for information.

Question 14

Input devices

Answer 14

allows people to supply information to computers

Question 15

Output devices

Answer 15

allows people to receive information from computers

Question 16

4 key parts of the CPU

Answer 16

Control Unit
Arithmetic & Logic Unit
Registers
Clock

Question 17

The Control Unit

Answer 17

extracts instructions from memory, decodes, and executes them, calling on the ALU when necessary

Question 18

ALU

Answer 18

Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU), as its name implies, is that portion of the CPU hardware that performs the arithmetic and logical operations on the binary data.

Question 19

Registers

Answer 19

are temporary storage units within the CPU. Some registers, such as the program counter and instruction register have dedicated uses. Other registers such as the accumulator are for more general-purpose use.

Question 20

data bus

Answer 20

transfers actual data

Question 21

address bus

Answer 21

transfers information about where the data should go.

Question 22

control bus

Answer 22

carries signals that report the status of various devices.

Question 23

instruction cycle

Answer 23

the steps of stages the processor follows.

This is the process where a computer retrieves a program instruction from memory, determines what actions the instruction requires, and carries out the actions

Question 24

clock

Answer 24

generates a regular sequence of electronic pulses used to synchronize operations of the processor’s components

Question 25

clock rate (or frequency).

Answer 25

time between pulses is the cycle time and the number of pulses per second

Question 26

instructions per second (IPS).

Answer 26

thousand instructions per second (kIPS),
million instructions per second (MIPS),
and Giga instructions per second (GIPS).

Question 27

multi core processor

Answer 27

is a single component with two or more processors called cores.

Question 28

motherboard / system board / mainboard

Answer 28

is the primary circuit board within a personal computer

Question 29

form factors

Answer 29

the 29 different varieties motherboards come in.

Question 30

Internal memory

Answer 30

refers to a computer’s working memory and includes several types of temporary storage, such as main memory, cache memory, and the processor’s registers, all of which can be accessed by the processor.

Question 31

Cache memory

Answer 31

is smaller and faster than main memory. As a buffer between the processor and main memory, it is used to hold a copy of instructions and data that are likely to be needed next by the processor.

Question 32

RAM

Answer 32

The main memory - RAM because it randomly selects and uses any location of the memory to directly store and retrieve data. It is also called read/write memory.

Question 33

read only memory (ROM).

Answer 33

storage of program and data in the ROM is permanent

can only be read by the CPU, but it cannot be changed.

Question 34

platters.

Answer 34

Both sides of a platter are writable as data is stored on each side

Question 35

RAID array

Answer 35

redundant array of independent disks). Because they use multiple drives, RAID drives are often sold in a separate enclosure with its own power supply and fan (which can be noisy).