Computer Science AQA > Internal Hardware Components > Flashcards

Internal Hardware Components Flashcards

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1
Q

Draw and label the internal hardware process of a computer

A
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2
Q

List the component of a computer

A

processor
○ main memory
○ address bus
○ data bus
○ control bus
○ I/O controllers

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3
Q

What is the use of main memory

A

Main memory
● Includes RAM (random access memory) and ROM (read only memory)
● Stores program instructions and frequently used data
● Usually much faster than secondary storage

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4
Q

What is the use of a bus

A

Buses
● A bus is a series of parallel wires that connects internal components of a computer
system, allowing signals to be passed between them

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5
Q

What is the an address bus

A

Address bus
● Used to transport memory addresses
●

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6
Q

What is the use of data bus

A

● Sends data and instructions to and from the different components of the computer
system

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7
Q

What is use of control bus

A

Control bus
● Used to carry control signals that regulate the operation of the computer system
● Also carries the computer’s clock signal

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8
Q

What is the use I/O Controllers

A

I/O Controllers
● Pieces of hardware that control the communication of data between the processor
and external hardware devices such as keyboards, mice and monitors

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9
Q

What is the Havard architecture ?

A

Harvard architecture
● The processor uses two separate main memory locations
● One is used for instructions and the other for data
● Each piece of main memory can be given different characteristics
○ Memory used for instructions could be made read-only so that instructions
cannot be altered
● Extensively used in embedded systems such as digital signal processing

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10
Q

what is fetch

A

Retrieving instruction from the memory to the control unit

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11
Q

What is decode

A

Finding out what the information retrieved actually means

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12
Q

Execute

A

Processing information and giving command out for it to run

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13
Q

What are the functions of an ALU

A

The role of the ALU is to perform arithmetic and
logic operations. Arithmetic operations are
mathematical operations like addition, logic
operations include AND, OR and XOR

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14
Q

What does a Clock do

A

The clock generates a signal that is used to synchronise the operation of the processor and the movement of data around the other components of the computer

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15
Q

What do registers do

A

Tiny parts of memory hat can be used by the CPU to hold data temporarily

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16
Q

What is CIR
what is PC
what is MBR
What is MAR

A

Current Instruction Register - What is being processed at that moment
Programme counter - instruction that comes up next
Memory Buffer Register - Holds data that as just been read or is about to be written in the main memory .
Memory Address Register - Stores the memory location where data in the MBR is about to be written to or read from

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17
Q

What is width ?

A

● The number of parallel wires in a bus is called its width

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18
Q

What is the feature of a bus width

A

● A bus’ width and has a direct relationship to the number of bits it can transfer
simultaneously

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19
Q

Features of an address bus

A

Specifies where in memory data is to be sent to or retrieved from
● Increasing the width increases the range of addresses that can be specified
● Adding a single wire doubles the number of addressable memory locations

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20
Q

What is cpu also known as ?

A

The brain of the computer

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21
Q

What is the role of cpu in a computer

A

Its job is to process data. And by processing we mean things like searching, sorting, calculating and decision making.

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22
Q

What are the three steps followed by the cpu

A

three steps in order to process data:
It is known as the Fetch - Decode - Execute cycle

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23
Q

What is CISC

A

Complex Instruction Cycle - very hardware intensive

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24
Q

What is RISC

A

Reduced Instruction Cycle - Removes the ability to remove complex line instructions

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25
What are the two different addressing modes
In-immediate addressing and direct addressing
26
explain in-immediate addressing
In immediate addressing, the value specified in the operand is to be treated as the actual value. The operand is the datum;
27
explain direct addressing
the value specified by an operand signifies a memory address. For example, if the operand were again 18, the value to be used by the operation would be whatever the content of memory location 18 is.
28
Define the term instruction set
The set of bit patterns or binary codes representing machine operations;
29
What is an interrupt
An interrupt is a signal sent to the processor by another part of the computer requesting the attention of the processor.
30
Examples of interrupt
A printer sends a request for more data to be sent to it. The user presses a key or clicks a mouse button. An error occurs during the execution of a program, for example, if the program tries to divide by zero or tries to access a file that does not exist. An item of hardware develops a fault.
31
What is an ISR
a series of instructions for handling the interrupt that is specific to the type of interrupt.
31
Describe the vector interuppt mechanism
When an interrupt occurs, the processor stops executing the current program and places the content of its registers onto the system stack. This is referred to as saving the “volatile environment”. Now that the processor has saved its progress on the system stack, it loads the appropriate interrupt service routine (ISR): a series of instructions for handling the interrupt that is specific to the type of interrupt. Once the processor finishes executing the interrupt service routine, it restores the volatile environment from the system stack and resumes execution of any programs that were running before the interrupt.
32
Describe the role of interrupts.
Allows the currently executing program to be suspended so that an urgent error condition can be dealt with
33
Explain why the volatile environment (the contents of registers) must be saved before an interrupt is serviced.
So that the currently running program can be returned to;
34
Name four registers that are used in the Fetch Decode part of the cycle
Program Counter Instruction Register Memory Buffer Register Memory Address Register
35
What additional steps would be required if the computer system had an interrupt mechanism?
Test for an interrupt Identify the source of the interrupt; restore the volatile environment handle the interrupt Disable (lower priority) interrupts
36
How does this mechanism make the use of interrupts more flexible?
A different routine can be easily introduced
37
what happens when the width of a data bus is increased
● Increasing the width increases the volume of data that can be transferred at any one time
38
Describe the role of the control unit
To send control signals to other components; To control the transfer of data between registers; To handle interrupts;
39
explain the term opcode.
represents the instruction to be executed;
40
What are the factors affecting processor performance
Number of cores (C^2ANDW) Cache memory Clock Speed Word Length Address bus width Data Bus width
41
How does the number of core affect the performance of a processor
The number of cores are processor has directly affects the performance of the processor . Each core can perform its own fetch execute style independently of others
42
How does the cache memory affect the processor's performance
The more cache a processor has, the more information it can store and more time saved in fetching information.
43
What is a cache
This is a small portion of incredibly fast memory. It is used to store frequently used information and reduces time
44
How does the processors clock speed affect the processor
The processor's clock speed relates to the frequency of the pulses. The higher the frequency the more cycles of the fetch execute ccycle can be completed .
45
Can error occur when the computer clock speed is far increased
Yes
46
Component of a barcode
laser light source lens photodiodes mirror
47
How does a barcode work ?
The mirror detects light from the laser to the printed barcode. The light reflected by the barcode passes through the lenses and is incident on the photodiode which turns light into electrical charge. This is processed to form a signal representing the content of the barcode
48
Explain the error detection that barcode uses
They can have parity bits and check digits built in, allowing computers to tell whether a barcode has been read correctly
49
Component of a digital camera
Lense Sensor Shutter
50
WHat is CMOS
COmplementary MEtal Oxide Semiconductor
51
WHat is CCD
CHarged couple device
52
Describe how a digital image could be captured by a digital camera and compressed using run-length encoding.
Image Capture *   Light enters through by the lens; on to the sensor chip *   Each sensor produces a signal; *   The signal represents a pixel; *   An (ADC) converts measurement of light intensity into binary / digital data; *   Colour filter is applied to generate separate data values for red, green and blue colour components; *   The pixels are recorded as a group / array; Run-Length Encoding *   The image is analysed to identify runs / sequences of the same colour *   The colours run-lengths are represented and stored
53
WHat is a bayer filter
Special color filter used in digital camera , it has the same number of green filters as red and blue combined
54
WHat is a laser printer
An output device that produces images from digital signals
55
Component of a laser printer
Mirror Fusers Toner roller Laser Drum Paper
56
How does a laser printer work ? ( role of the drum , toner roller )
When a document is printed , the drum is positively charged all over before the laser is directed at its surface by the mirror , Areas of which the laser incident are discharged leaving behind an impression of the page in electrical charge The toner roller dispenses negatively charged toner onto the drum, as opposite charges attracts , toner is attracted positively to the positively charged portion of the drum . The toner is then applied to the paper by the drum before the paper is heated by fusers , fixing the toner to the paper.
57
How do colour printers work ?
They apply the same process with four different colours : cyan , yellow, magenta and black to achieve full colour prints .
58
What is RFID
Radio Frequency Identification
59
WHat is the role of RFID
This is a method of trasferring information wirelessly between a tag and a reader. This is used in contacless credit and debit card
60
WHat is inside RFID tag
This is a chip whcih contains small amount of memory . The chip is attached to a coil of wire which acts as an antenna
61
What happens when an RFID tag is scanned
The reader emits radio waves which is picked up by the tag's anttena . The power induced in the tags attena from these waves is enough to power the chip , which then uses its antenna to emit its oen radio waves which contains information held on the chip . The wave is then picked up by the reader which decodes the information and returns the information to a computer
62
What does pros and cons of a hard disk
- High capacity of between 500gb to 5 tb -Good read and write speeds 100mb/s -High latency -Bulky heavy and easily damaged by movements -High power consumption
63
Pros and cons of a ssd
- Relatively low capaicty typicallly under 1tb - Very high read and write head - 500MB/s - Very low latency - It is very lightweight and rarely damaged by movement - Low power consumption Good for laptops, phones and tablets
64
WHat is the meaning of an SSD
Solid state drive
65
WHat is the pro and cons of optical disk
-Very low capacity - highest capacity of 25gb - Relatively low speeds - 30mb/s - High latency - Very lightweight but can be damaged by scratches - High power consumptions - Good for sharing and distributing small volumes of data
66
Explain how SSD works
It consists of NAND flash memory cells and a controller that manages the structure of data on the drive. They are not capable of overwriting data , it erases the page before writing a new information
67
What is NANd flash memory
it is non - volatile , this means ssd content are retained even when there is no power supply. The memory cells are formed of floating gate transistors which store information by trapping electrical charge
68
Explain How Optical disk work
They store information which can be read optically by a laser
69
Describe the principles of operation of an optical disk drive that is used to read data from an optical disk such as a CD-ROM or DVD-ROM.
Reading mechanism * light is shone at disk *   (Some) light is reflected back from disk *   Amount of light reflected back is measured // light sensor detects reflection *   Disc spins at constant linear velocity How data is represented *   Data is stored on one/spiral track A. data is read in a spiral A. land reflects light whereas pits scatter light/do not reflect light or vice-versa Transition between land and pit indicates a 1 and continuation of land / pit represents 0
70
A computer is fitted with a solid-state disk (SSD). Describe the principles of operation of an SSD.
Data is stored electronically // there are no mechanical / moving parts. state represents 0 or 1 NAND memory is used A block must be erased before it can be overwritten
71
Give two reasons why cockpit voice recorders store data using solid-state memory instead of using a traditional hard disk drive.
No reliance on mechanical parts that could fail; No corruption of data due to magnetic fields; Faster write speed so more data could be recorded;
72
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