M0 - Computer Hardware Fundamentals

Registers

- CPU memory that's small, fast, and expensive - special (program counter) & general purpose

What cycle are instructions executed in? (State & Define)

- Fetch: load instruction - Decode: find opcode/operand & interpret instruction - Execute: carry out instruction

Contents of CPU (State)

- Registers - Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU) - Control Unit

OS Modes (State & Define)

- User Mode: managed & restricted to what the OS allows - Kernel Mode: code of the OS; protected state & have more privileges

Bus

- physical wires that act as a communication system that transfers data between components inside a computer - may have multiple buses connecting elements together

Control Unit

- tracks state / status of CPU - controls other components - regulating and integrating operations

ALU

Arithmetic Logic Unit - Arithmetic & logical computations

BIOS

Binary Input & Output System - Method used to boot up a device - BIOS must be stored on a memory that doesn't lose its information when machine is turned off - NVRAM (non-standardized) ** see notes for process **

T/F: ARM processors are based on complex instruction set computing (CISC) architectures.

False Explanation: ARM processors are based on a reduced instruction set computing (RISC) architecture, which focuses on simpler, faster instructions, unlike CISC architectures used in processors like those from Intel.

T/F: A kilobyte is always equal to 1,000 bytes in computer systems.

False Explanation: In computer systems, a kilobyte (KB) is typically considered to be 1,024 bytes (2^10) due to the binary nature of computing, rather than 1,000 bytes, which is the decimal measurement.

T/F: The BlOS is always used in modern x64 systems instead of UEFl.

False Explanation: In modern x64 systems, UEFI has largely replaced the BIOS as the standard for booting, offering more features and a standardized approach. While some x64 systems may still use BIOS, UEFT is more common.

T/F: L1 cache is typically farther from the CPU than SSDs.

False Explanation: L1 cache is very close to the CPU, typically integrated within the CPU itself, whereas SSDs are storage devices connected via a bus, making them much farther from the CPU in terms of both physical proximity and access speed.

T/F: A smartphone's architecture is completely different from a desktop computer's architecture.

False Explanation: The architecture of smartphones and desktop computers is actually quite similar. Both have a CPU, memory, storage, and input/output devices, although the form factors and specific components may differ.

T/F: The cost of memory typically increases the farther it is from the CPU.

False Explanation: The cost of memory actually decreases the farther it is from the CPU. For example, registers and caches (which are closer to the CPU) are more expensive per bit than RAM or SSDs, which are farther away.

T/F: UEFI provides a standardized boot process for both Intel and ARM processors.

False Explanation: While UEFI is widely adopted in systems based on Intel (x86/x64) architectures, a similar standardized boot system has not been universally adopted for ARM processors. Some ARM systems use UEFI, but it is not yet a standard across all ARM systems.

Boot Sector

First sector of a disk which tells you the position in memory of the boot loader

Boot Loader

Program that actually starts the OS

T/F: A CPU fetches, decodes, and executes instructions in a continuous cycle.

True

T/F: A kibibyte is larger than a kilobyte by 24 bytes.

True

T/F: Registers are a type of storage found inside the CPU.

True

T/F: The ALU in a CPU is responsible for carrying out arithmetic and logic operations.

True

T/F: The UEFI boot process stores bootloaders in a special EFI partition on the disk.

True

T/F: The UEFl system includes a protective master boot record to warn users about the presence of UEFI.

True

T/F: The closer a type of memory is to the CPU, the faster it is but also the smaller in size.

True

T/F: The control unit of the CPU is responsible for regulating and integrating operations in the computer.

True

UEFI

Unified Extensible Firmware Interface - Method used to boot up a device - NVRAM (standardized) ** see notes for process **