Chapter 3 - System Architecture

Question 1

What is hardware

Answer 1

A component with physical presence

Question 2

what is an example of hardware

Answer 2

• printer
• hard-drive
• mouse
• monitor

Question 3

What is software

Answer 3

Programs that control the hardware

Question 4

What is an example of software

Answer 4

• Operating System
• Word Processors
• Games

Question 5

How does a simple computer system function

Answer 5

Input -> Process -> Output

Question 6

What happens at the input stage of a simple computer system

Answer 6

Where input data that is converted into the computer’s internal representation. This is done by the input devices like keyboard and mouse

Question 7

What does the control unit do?

Answer 7

1. Controls and monitors the hardware (e.g. Printer)
2. Controls the input and output of data so that the signals go to the right place at the right time
3. Controls the flow of data in the CPU

Question 8

What does the Arithmetic and Logic Unit do?

Answer 8

1. Arithmetic part – performs calculations on the data

2. Logic part – deals with logic and comparisons (e.g. Is one value greater than another)

Question 9

What does Immediate Access Storage do?

Answer 9

This holds the data and instructions needed by the control unit.

Question 10

What is the purpose of the CPU?

Answer 10

The main purpose of the CPU is to fetch, decode and execute tasks and the CPU cycles through this pattern.

Question 11

What are some processing tasks of the CPU?

Answer 11

Processing task involve: searching, sorting, calculations, making decisions.

Question 12

What is secondary storage, and why is it useful?

Answer 12

Anything that stores data other than in temporary storage (RAM). This is useful as RAM is volatile so this can be used as a back-up

Question 13

What can secondary storage also be known as?

Answer 13

External memory, auxiliary storage

Question 14

What are the main uses of secondary storage?

Answer 14

Storing programs and data
Backing up data
Adding additional storage 
Transferring files between computers 
Shared network storage

Question 15

Give examples of places where magnetic secondary storage is used?

Answer 15

Disks

Tapes

Question 16

Explain magnetic secondary storage?

Answer 16

Stores it magnetically, depending on which way it’s positioned it will represent a 1 or a 0

Question 17

Give examples of places where optical storage is used?

Answer 17

CD
DVD
blue-ray disks

Question 18

What is optical storage?

Answer 18

Used the reflection of a laser to see if it is a 1 or a 0

Question 19

Give examples of where solid state storage is used?

Answer 19

USB

Flash card

Question 20

What is solid state storage?

Answer 20

Stores data in an electric circuit

Question 21

What is a bus?

Answer 21

A bus is simply a set of wires along which data can be transmitted.

Question 22

What does an address bus carry?

Answer 22

An internal channel from the CPU to memory across which the addresses of data (not the data) are transmitted

Question 23

What does a data bus carry?

Answer 23

An internal channel that carries data between a computer’s central processing unit and its random-access memory.

Question 24

What does a control bus carry?

Answer 24

The control bus carries commands from the CPU and returns status signals from the devices.

Question 25

What is Von Neumann Architecture?

Answer 25

Von Neumann architecture is when there is one central memory store that holds two things: The Instruction The Data

Question 26

What does the FETCH command do?

Answer 26

The CPU fetches the data from its location.

Question 27

What does the DECODE command do?

Answer 27

The CPU has its individual command set and it uses this to work out what data is being used.

Question 28

What does the EXECUTE command do?

Answer 28

The instruction is carried out.

Question 29

What is meant by direct access?

Answer 29

The exact file can be accessed directly without having to read any other files

Question 30

What is meant by sequential access?

Answer 30

Each bit of data needs to be read before the required data is located

Question 31

Give an advantage of a magnetic disk

Answer 31

Rewritable

Question 32

Give a disadvantage of a magnetic disk

Answer 32

Easily damaged Low storage capacity Noisy

Question 33

Give an advantage of magnetic tape

Answer 33

Large storage capacity for the size of the tape

Question 34

Give a disadvantage of magnetic tape

Answer 34

Not very durable | Needs to be protected

Question 35

Give an advantage of optical storage

Answer 35

Quite long lasting | Portable

Question 36

Give a disadvantage of optical storage

Answer 36

Expensive Only readable Easily scratched

Question 37

Give an advantage of a solid state disk

Answer 37

Fast start up time Silent Durable

Question 38

Give a disadvantage of a solid state disk

Answer 38

Expensive Limited storage capacity Information can only be erased and written about 100,000 times

Question 39

Give an advantage of a USB pen drive

Answer 39

Durable | Portable

Question 40

Give a disadvantage of a USB pen drive

Answer 40

Easy to lose