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CIS*1000 > Unit 06: Understanding and Assessing Hardware: Evaluating your System > Flashcards

Unit 06: Understanding and Assessing Hardware: Evaluating your System Flashcards

1
Q

Moore’s Law

A

the pace at which CPU’s improve

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2
Q

who created Moore’s law? when?

A

Gorden Moore - 1965

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3
Q

DRAM?

A

dynamic random access memory - most common form of memory found in personal computers

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4
Q

will Moore’s law always be true?

A

probably not

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5
Q

6 main types of devices available?

A
  1. smartphones
  2. tablets
  3. ultrabooks
  4. 2-in-ones
  5. laptops
  6. desktops
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6
Q

3 types of tech users?

A
  1. casual users - internet access focus
  2. power users - fast and powerful process focus
  3. mobile users - lightweight focus
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7
Q

4 computer subsystems?

A
  1. CPU
  2. memory
  3. storage
  4. media
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8
Q

3 advantages of the desktop?

A
  1. more computing power
  2. easier to upgrade hardware
  3. bigger screen
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9
Q

how long should I keep my computing device?

A

2-5 years depending on upgrading system

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10
Q

system evaluation?

A

checks how the computer’s subsystems perform during a typical workday

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11
Q

CPU?

A

located on motherboard responsible for processing instruction, performing calculations, and managing the flow of info

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12
Q

AMD?

A

popular manufacturer of CPU

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13
Q

Ryzen and FX series are examples of?

A

AMD CPU’s

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14
Q

Step on how CPU processes data (4)

A
  1. fetch - collects binary data from RAM
  2. decode - decodes binary code into commands
  3. execute - CPU uses specialized hardware to perform the task
  4. store - outcome is stored in register
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15
Q

register?

A

special memory storage area built into CPU

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16
Q

machine cycle?

A

series of step CPU goes through when performing program instructions

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17
Q

the 2 units of a CPU?

A
  1. ALU

2. control unit

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18
Q

ALU?

A

arithmetic logic unit - performs all the arithmetic calculations and makes logical comparisons

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19
Q

control unit?

A

manages CPU switches

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20
Q

system clock?

A

the internal clock used by the motherboard to control when the CPU moves to the next stage

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21
Q

clock cycle?

A

sets the pace by which the CPU moves from process to process

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22
Q

clock speed?

A

the pace/speed by which the CPU moves from process to process - frequency

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23
Q

what determines a CPU’s processing power? (3)

A
  1. clock speed
  2. number of cores
  3. amount of cache memory
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24
Q

benefits of higher clock speed?

A

faster processing of instructions by CPU

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25
overclocking?
CPU runs faster than the manufacturer recommends
26
results of overclocking
1. shorter lifespan | 2. faster processing power
27
who uses overclocking?
gamers
28
what does a core contain?
parts of the CPU required to process an instruction
29
results of having more cores?
allows multiple instructions to be executed at once
30
parallel processing?
the network of computers that each work on a portion of the same problem simultaneously
31
cache memory?
form of RAM that gets data to the CPU faster
32
what are the 3 levels of cache memory? a) speed? b) storage area
1. located as a block of memory on the CPU chip - fastest 2. located on the CPU chip but further away - more storage area 3. located in the CPU chip - slowest speed but the biggest storage area
33
pipelining?
a technique that enables the CPU to work on more than one instruction at the same time
34
does pipeline increase or decrease processing speed? by how much?
increase 4 times
35
hyperthreading?
provides quicker processing of info by enabling a new set of instructions in a different program to start executing before the previous one has finished
36
when was hyperthreading introduced?
2002
37
CPU benchmarks?
measurements used to compare performances between CPU's by pushing their limits
38
CPU usage?
the percentage of time the CPU is working
39
CPU usage graph?
records CPU usage per minute
40
4 things important for evaluating CPU?
1. clock speed 2. number of core 3. cache memory level 4. CPU benchmark
41
is the CPU the only variable to aid system performance?
no RAM and the hard drive are important as well
42
instruction set?
collection of commanding that a CPU can execute
43
RAM?
temporary storage space
44
why not always use a hard drive to store info?
because RAM is easier for the CPU to retrieve
45
the fastest access to slowest access 1. Virtual memory 2. level 1 cache 3. SSD 4. optical disk drive 5. level 2 cache 6. level 3 cache 7. CPU registers 8. physical RAM 9. hard drive
7 - 2 - 5 - 6 - 8 - 1 - 3 - 4 & 9
46
the biggest storage space 1. Virtual memory 2. level 1 cache 3. SSD 4. optical disk drive 5. level 2 cache 6. level 3 cache 7. CPU registers 8. physical RAM 9. hard drive
4 & 9 - 4 - 3 - 1 - 8 - 6 - 5 - 2 - 7
47
memory module/cards?
small circuit boards that hold a series of RAM chips located in the motherboard
48
physical memory?
the amount of RAM sitting on memory modules
49
SuperFetch?
monitors the apps you use the most and preloads them into the system memory so they'll be ready for you when you want to use them
50
what is the min RAM needed to run windows?
2GB
51
why is RAM limited?
because the motherboard only has so many slots
52
hard drive?
the largest capacity of any storage device
53
platter?
where data is saved within a hard drive
54
platter spots aligned in one direction means?
1
55
platter spots aligned in different direction means?
0
56
access time?
the time it takes a storage device to locate its stored data and make it available for processing
57
SSD?
solid-state drive - electronic memory with no mechanical moving parts
58
SSHD?
solid-state hybrid drive - a combination of both mechanical hard drive and SSD into a single device
59
RAID?
redundant array of independent disks - set of strategies for using multiple drives in a system
60
RAID 0 and RAID 1 are?
the most popular options for consumer machines
61
RAID 0
twice as fast as hard drive due to being able to write 2 drives simultaneously
62
RAID 1
all the data written into one drive is mirrored into a second drive
63
the 4 things used to evaluate storage?
1. mechanical hard drive 2. SSD 3. SSHD 4. cloud storage
64
video card/adapter?
an expansion card that translates binary code into displayed images
65
GDDDR6 memory?
graphics double data rate 6 - newer memory chips with a faster data rate
66
GDDDR5 memory?
graphics double data rate 5 - standard memory chip
67
GPU?
graphics processing unit - specialized processing chip to handle 3D graphics and image and video processing with great efficiency and speed
68
NVIDIA and AMD are examples of?
major video card set manufacturers
69
NVLink?
standard video card for NVIDIA
70
CrossFireX?
standard video card for AMD
71
4 things meant to evaluate video cards?
1. total memory on the card 2. number of monitors it can support 3. the right ports 4. speed of the GPU
72
difference between USB-C and USB
USB-C is a smaller sized port
73
sound card?
an expansion card that enables the computer to drive the speaker system
74
3D sound card?
sound card with omnidirectional sound
75
surround sound?
audio processing that makes listeners experience sound as if it was coming from all directions by using multiple speakers
76
Dolby?
standard surround-sound
77
7.1 surround?
7 speakers
78
5.1 surround?
5 speakers
79
audio MIDI interface box?
an interface that enables users to edit and mix audio tracks through different software packages
80
MIDI?
electronics standards that enable different kinds of electronic instruments to communicate with each other
81
Ableton Live and GarageBand are examples of?
different audio software packages
82
3 things meant to evaluate audio subsystems
1. speaker quality 2. audio MIDI interface box 3. surround sound
83
5 ways to ensure system reliability
1. install a reliable antivirus package 2. run spyware and adware removal programs 3. clear out unneeded files 4. run disk defragmenter utility on hard drive 5. automate key utilities
84
5 things to do if the system crashes
1. system restore 2. check RAM availability 3. visit Microsoft knowledge base for windows code errors 4. search google 5. resent PC (last resort)
85
Can my software affect system reliability?
yes having the latest version is more reliable
86
5 key items in system evaluation
1. CPU 2. RAM 3. storage 4. video 5. audio

CIS*1000 (15 decks)

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