Vocabulary

• What does CPU stand for?


  Central Processing Unit
• What is a core in the context of a CPU?


  An individual processor within a CPU
• What is cache memory?


  Incredibly fast, but very expensive volatile memory close to the CPU
• What does clock speed measure in a CPU?


  The number of FDE cycles that a CPU can carry out in one second
• What are the levels of cache in a CPU?


  L1, L2, L3 – L1 is the fastest and most expensive cache level
• What is overclocking?


  Processor running at a higher speed than the manufacturer has recommended
• What does CU stand for in computing?


  Control Unit
• What is the function of the Control Unit (CU)?


  Fetches, decodes and executes instructions, issues signals to control the hardware and moves data around the system
• What does MAR stand for?


  Memory Address Register
• What is the role of the Memory Address Register (MAR)?


  Holds the address of the current instruction that is to be fetched from memory
• What does MDR stand for?


  Memory Data Register
• What is the function of the Memory Data Register (MDR)?


  Holds the contents found at the address held in the MAR, or data which is to be transferred to primary memory
• What does PC stand for in computing?


  Program Counter
• What is the role of the Program Counter (PC)?


  Holds the memory address of the next instruction to be fetched from primary memory
• What is an accumulator in computing?


  A small, fast register used to keep track of the data currently being processed
• What does ALU stand for?


  Arithmetic Logic Unit
• What is the function of the Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU)?


  It performs arithmetic and logical operations (decisions)
• What does FDE cycle stand for?


  Fetch, Decode, Execute cycle
• What is the basis of the Von Neumann architecture?


  The FDE cycle
• What is the address bus used for?


  It carries memory addresses from the processor to other components
• What does the data bus do?


  It carries the actual data between the processor and other components
• What is the function of the control bus?


  It carries control signals from the processor to other components
• What does CIR stand for?


  Current Instruction Register
• What is the role of the Current Instruction Register (CIR)?


  Holds the instruction that is currently being decoded and executed
• What does RAM stand for?


  Random Access Memory
• What type of storage is RAM?


  Primary, volatile internal storage
• What does ROM stand for?


  Read-Only Memory
• What is the purpose of ROM?


  Non-volatile memory that stores the boot up sequence for the computer
• What is virtual memory?


  Short-term memory allocated when the RAM is at capacity
• What is primary storage?


  Volatile storage used to temporarily hold data
• What is data compression?

  Reducing the file size
• What does lossy compression do?


  Data is removed from a file to reduce the file size
• What is lossless compression?


  Redundant data is removed for sending, then replaced upon receipt
• What is data capacity?


  How much data the storage type can hold, measured in bits
• What is secondary storage?


  Permanently, non-volatile methods of keeping data
• What are the features of storage?


  Capacity, speed, portability, reliability, and cost
• What is flash memory?


  Non-volatile memory that can be read from and written to
• What is the BIOS?


  Basic input output system - the basic firmware that is embedded in the computer ROM chip used to start a computer
• What does GB stand for?


  Gigabyte
• How many megabytes are in a gigabyte?


  1,024 megabytes