Components of a System

Dynamic Ram

(DRAM) must be re-energized constantly or it will lose its contents.

DIMMs

(Dual In-line Memory Module) is when the pins are on opposite sides of the circuit board and do not connect thus forming two sets of contacts.

ROM

(Read Only Memory) refers to memory chips storing permanent data and instructions. Read only means that the chip cannot be modified, is nonvolatile meaning their contents are not lost when power is removed from the computer; included in peripheral devices like printers that may contain data for fonts on the ROM chips. ; chips called firmware contain permanently written data, instructions and information such as a computer's start up instructions.

Static Ram

(SRAM) are faster and more reliable and do not have to be re-energized and are much more expensive.

SIMMs

(Single Inline Memory Module) which has pins on opposite sides of the circuit board that connect together to form a single set of contacts.

Video Card

(graphics card) converts computer output into a video signal traveling through a cable to the monitor to be displayed on the screen.

Processor Cooling

A main fan is included in the main power supply of a computer to generate airflow, however, today's computers processors often require additional cooling. (Liquid cooling, cooling pad, heat sink)

Clock Cycle

The clock speed is the pace of the clock and is measured by the number of ticks per second. PC's have clock speeds in the gigahertz range.

Data Bus

The data bus transfers the data.

Adapter Cards and types

Two popular adapter cards are sound and video cards.; Bluetooth-Enables Bluetooth connectivity; MIDI-Connects to musical instruments; Modem-Connects to transmission media, such as cable television lines or phone lines; Network-Provides network connections, such as to an Ethernet port

Port - (Also be able to identify types of Ports)

the exterior to a computer to which a device can be attached using a connector; Example: monitor port, Network port, modem port, USB port, firewire port, MIDI, audio, keyboard ports etc.

Executing

the process of carrying out the commands.; third step to machine cycle

Fetching

the process of obtaining a program or an application instruction or data item from memory. ; first step of machine cycle

Machine Cycle

the processor repeats a set of four basic operations for every instruction: Fetching, Decoding, Executing, Storing (if necessary)

Gigabyte

Approximately 1 billion bytes. (Bytes are what manufacturers use to state the size of memory available for storage)

Terabyte

Approximately 1 trillion bytes.

The System Clock

A small quartz crystal circuit that controls the timing of all computer operations. Just as your heart beats regularly to keep your body functioning, the system clock generates regular electronic pulses, or ticks that set the operating pace of components of the system unit.

Transistor

A transistor acts as an electronic switch that opens or closes the circuit for electrical charges.

motherboard

AKA system board; main circuit board of the computer; processor, memory, and other components attach to it

Bits

Buses transfer bits from input devices to and from the memory, processor to output or storage devices; smallest unit of data (0 or 1); 8 bits per byte

CMOS

Complementary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) provides high speeds and consumes little power which is why some RAM chips and flash memory chips utilize it; uses battery power to retain information even when the power is off. (keeps info current and updated while the computer is off such as date, time, and calendar

Batteries

Different motherboards and devices require different wattages on the power supply; Mobile computers and devices can run on either a power supply or batteries; Batteries are generally rechargeable lithium-ion batteries;One end of the adapter plugs into the wall outlet while the other attaches to the peripheral. The AC adapter converts the AC power into the DC power that the peripheral requires. Mobile computers and devices can run on either a power supply or batteries. Batteries are generally rechargeable lithium-ion batteries; Not all batteries are removable, especially when referring to ultra-thin laptops and some mobile devices.

Types of Cache

Level 1 (L1) cache is built directly on the processor chip and has very small capacity, Level 2 (L2) is slower than L1 but has much larger capacity. A type of L2 cache is the ATC (Advanced transfer cache) built directly on the processor chip; Level 3 (L3) cache is separate from the processor chip on the motherboard and exists only on computers that use L2 ATC; A processor searches memory in this order: L1, L2, L3 (if exists), RAM.

L1, L2, L3 Cache

Level 1 (L1) cache is built directly on the processor chip and has very small capacity; Level 2 (L2) is slower than L1 but has much larger capacity. A type of L2 cache is the ATC (Advanced transfer cache) built directly on the processor chip; Level 3 (L3) cache is separate from the processor chip on the motherboard and exists only on computers that use L2 ATC.; A processor searches memory in this order: L1, L2, L3 (if exists), RAM.

Liquid cooling technology

Liquid cooling technology uses continuous flow of fluids like water or glycol to reduce the temperature of the processor by transferring the heated fluid away from the processor to a radiator-type grill which then cools the liquid and returns it cooled to the processor.

Flash Memory

Nonvolatile memory that can be erased electronically and rewritten; Computers use flash memory to hold their start-up instructions as it allows the computer to update contents easily like changing from daylight savings time to standard time.

RAM

Random Access Memory, also called main memory, consists of memory chips that can be read from and written to.;RAM can accommodate multiple programs and applications simultaneously; Saving is copying from RAM to a storage device.

Adapter card types cont'd

Sound-Connects to speakers or a microphone; TV tuner-Allows viewing of digital television broadcasts on a monitor USB-Connects to high-speed USB ports Video-Provides enhanced graphics capabilities, such as accelerated processing or the ability to connect a second monitor- Video Capture-Connects to a video camera

System Bus

System bus also called the front side bus (FSB) is part of the motherboard connecting the processor to the main memory.

Types of Buses

System bus also called the front side bus (FSB) is part of the motherboard connecting the processor to the main memory; The backside bus (BSB) connects the processor to the cache; The expansion bus allows the processor to communicate with peripheral devices; When the term bus is used by itself, it is usually referring to the system bus, front side bus (FSB); Bus width determines the amount of bits that the computer can transmit at one time.

Power Supply (AC/DC)

The AC adapter converts the AC power into the DC power that the peripheral requires; The power supply or laptop adapter converts the wall outlet AC (Alternating Current) power into DC (Direct Current) power because the standard wall outlet supplies and unsuitable power. AC adapters are used for some external peripheral devices such as: cable modem, speakers, printer; AC adapters are used for some external peripheral devices such as: cable modem, speakers, printer.

Address Bus

The address bus transfers the information and tells the data where it should reside in the memory.

Backside Bus

The backside bus (BSB) connects the processor to the cache.

Adapters

USB adapters can be used to add memory, communications, multimedia, security or storage.; The power supply or laptop adapter converts the wall outlet AC (Alternating Current) power into DC (Direct Current) power because the standard wall outlet supplies and unsuitable power.; One end of the adapter plugs into the wall outlet while the other attaches to the peripheral.; The AC adapter converts the AC power into the DC power that the peripheral requires. (ACDC)

USB

USB-Connects to high-speed USB ports; The USB adapter is a dongle that plugs into a USB port, enhances functions of a mobile computer, providing connections to peripheral devices; can be used to add memory, communications, multimedia, security or storage.

Multi-core processor

a single chip with two or more separate processor cores. Used in all sizes of computers.

Heat Sink

a small ceramic or metal component with fans on its surface that absorbs and disperses heat produced by electrical components.

Expansion Slot

a socket on desktop or server motherboard that can hold an adapter card (sound and video)

Buses cont'd

allows devices inside and outside of the system to communicate with each other, similar to vehicles traveling on a highway; transfer bits from input devices to and from the memory, processor to output or storage devices; consist of data and addresses.( The data bus transfers the data.) address bus transfers the information and tells the data where it should reside in the memory.

Memory

consists of electronic components that store instructions waiting to be executed by the processor, data needed by by those instructions and the results of processing the data; consists of one or more chips on the motherboard or other circuit board

Firmware

contain permanently written data, instructions and information such as a computer's start up instructions.

Addressable Memory

data that resides in location in memory that has an address; To access data or instructions, the computer reference the addresses that contain bytes of data.

Bus Width

determines the amount of bits that the computer can transmit at one time. The larger the number the faster the computer transfers data. The wider the bus the fewer steps required and the faster data transfers. Most computers today use a 64-bit bus.

Non-Volatile Memory

does not lose its content when power is removed. It is permanent memory: ROM, flash memory, CMOS.

Sound Card

enhances the sound-generating capabilities of a personal computer; allowing sound to be input through a microphone and output through speakers or headphones.

Gigahertz

equal to 1 billion ticks per second; clock speed in a PC is measured in gigahertz

Flash Memory Cont'd

flash memory chips store data and programs on mobile devices and peripheral devices like smartphones and printers; Memory cards contain flash memory instead of on a chip for removable devices; often uses CMOS technology to store a computer's start-up information.

Front Side Bus

front side bus (FSB) is part of the motherboard connecting the processor to the main memory; When the term bus is used by itself, it is usually referring to the system bus, front side bus (FSB).

Chip

include millions or billions of transistors (electronic switch that opens or closes the circuit for electrical charges

Central Processing Unit

interprets and carries out basic instructions that operates a computer.

Processor

interprets and carries out basic instructions that operates a computer. AKA CPU

Control Unit

interprets and executes instructions in memory. (Processors contain a control unit)

The Control Unit

interprets each instruction issued by a program or an application and then initiates the appropriate action to carry out the instruction; directs arithmetic logic unit, registers, and buses

Cache

is a temporary storage area; Memory cache stores frequently used instructions and data.;

Bytes

known as a character, is the basic storage unit in memory; instructions and data exist as bytes; Bytes are what manufacturers use to state the size of memory available for storage (GB-1bill. bytes; TB-1 trill. bytes)

Volatile Memory

loses its contents when power is removed. Memory is temporary, RAM.

The Arithmetic Logic Unit

performs calculations on the data in memory;Component of the processor; Performs arithmetic, comparison and other operations; Includes basic calculations known as arithmetic operations (+*/-); Comparison operations compares on data to another like > = <

Chassis

refers to the case on a desktop that contains and protects the motherboard, hard drive, memory and other electronic components.

Decoding

refers to the process of translating the instruction into signals the computer can execute.; second step to machine cycle

Registers

small high-speed storage locations contained in the processor that temporarily hold data and instructions. control unit directs registers

Memory cont'd

stores three basic items:The OS and other programs that control or maintain the computer, Applications that carry out a specific task, such as word processing, The data being processed by the applications and the resulting information; stores both data and programs.

Memory Access Time

the amount of time it takes the processor to read data, instructions and information from memory; directly affects how fast the computer processes data; accessing data in memory can be 200,000 time or more faster than accessing data on a hard disk.

Plug and Play

this technology refers to the computer's ability to automatically recognize peripheral devices as you install them. This means that you can begin using a device as soon as you plug it in; This technology permits computers to connect and communicate with devices easily but also creates security flaws that allow hackers to take control of things such as: security systems, routers, Smart TVs, printers, webcams and any other device connected to the Internet.

Graphics Card

video card (graphics card) converts computer output into a video signal traveling through a cable to the monitor to be displayed on the screen.

Storing

writing the result to memory (not to a storage medium). ; step 4 to machine cycle