What is a microprocessor?
An integrated circuit that processes instructions and is the main component of a digital device.
What company is a major chipmaker and powered the original IBM PC?
Intel Corporation
What does x86 refer to?
The processor standard based on the 8086 chip family.
Name modern processors descended from the 8086 line.
Intel Core i3/i5/i7 and AMD Ryzen.
What technology dominates smartphones and Apple devices?
ARM technology.
Why are ARM processors ideal for mobile devices?
They are energy efficient.
What factors affect processor performance?
Clock speed, cores, cache, word size, and instruction set.
What does GHz measure?
Billions of clock cycles per second.
What is a cycle?
The smallest unit of processing time.
What is a multi-core processor?
A processor with more than one processing unit.
What is RAM?
Temporary memory for data, programs, and the OS.
What does volatile memory mean?
It requires power to retain data.
How does magnetic storage represent data?
By magnetizing microscopic particles on a disk.
What components are inside a hard disk drive?
Platters and read-write heads.
How does optical storage represent data?
As light and dark spots read by a laser.
What are examples of optical storage?
CDs and DVDs.
What is solid state storage?
Non-volatile storage using rewritable circuitry (flash memory).
What does non-volatile mean?
Data is retained without power.
What is cloud storage?
Internet-based remote storage.
What is a backup?
A copy of files made in case originals are damaged.
What are expansion ports?
Ports that expand input, output, and storage options.
What is a USB hub used for?
Connecting more devices when ports are limited.
What is Bluetooth?
A low-power wireless technology for connecting peripherals.
What is a device driver?
Software that allows a peripheral to communicate with its host.
