lesson 2 definitions

register

(of an instrument) detect and show (a reading) automatically

machine cycle

A machine cycle, also called a processor cycle or a instruction cycle, is the basic operation performed by a central processing unit (CPU). A CPU is the main logic unit of a computer

multicore processor

A multi-core processor is a single computing component with two or more independent actual processing units (called "cores"),

execution cycle

An instruction cycle (sometimes called fetch-decode-execute cycle) is the basic operation cycle of a computer. It is the process by which a computer retrieves a program instruction from its memory, determines what actions the instruction requires, and carries out those actions.

instruction cycle

An instruction cycle (sometimes called fetch-decode-execute cycle) is the basic operation cycle of a computer. It is the process by which a computer retrieves a program instruction from its memory, determines what actions the instruction requires, and carries out those actions.

gigahertz

Definition of:GHz. GHz. (GigaHertZ) One billion cycles per second. High-speed computers have internal clocks rated in GHz, and radio frequency applications transmit in this range. For an explanation of how GHz and MHz affect computer performance, see MHz.

thrashing

In computer science, thrashing occurs when a computer's virtual memory subsystem is in a constant state of paging, rapidly exchanging data in memory for data on disk, to the exclusion of most application-level processing.

nonvolatile memory

Non-volatile memory is typically used for the task of secondary storage

control unit

The control unit (CU) is a component of a computer's central processing unit (CPU) that directs operation of the processor. It tells the computer's memory, arithmetic/logic unit and input and output devices how to respond to a program's instructions.

system unit

The system unit refers to the computer itself but does not include the monitor, the keyboard, the mouse, or any other peripherals.

volatile memory

Volatile memory is computer storage that only maintains its data while the device is powered. Most RAM (random access memory) used for primary storage in personal computers is volatile memory

BYTE

a byte considered as a unit of memory size.

CACHE

a collection of items of the same type stored in a hidden or inaccessible place

motherboard

a printed circuit board containing the principal components of a computer or other device, with connectors into which other circuit boards can be slotted.

multithreading

a technique by which a single set of code can be used by several processors at different stages of execution.

circuit board

a thin rigid board containing an electric circuit; a printed circuit.

read only memory

memory read at high speed but not capable of being changed by program instructions.

megahertz

one million hertz, especially as a measure of the frequency of radio transmissions or the clock speed of a computer.

clock speed

the operating speed of a computer or its microprocessor, defined as the rate at which it performs internal operations and expressed in cycles per second

CENTRAL PROCESSING UNIT

the part of a computer in which operations are controlled and executed.

ALU arithmetic logic unit

the part of a computer processor that carries out arithmetic and logic operations on the operands in computer instruction words.