1.1

• Accumulator:

  • a register
  • Holds the result of calculations
  • used to hold data that is currently being processed by the processor
• Address bus:

  • Carries the address of an instruction or data
  • From the CPU to the memory unit
• ALU:

  • Arithmetic Logic Unit
  • Handles logical comparisons
  • Performs calculations
• Bus:

  • communication lines that transfer binary between components
• Cache Memory:

  • Memory inside the processor providing fast access to frequently used instructions and data
• Clock Speed:

  • frequency at which the internal clock generates pulses
  • measured in hertz
• Control Bus:

  • A set of wires that carry command and control signals to and from every other component of a computer
• Control Unit:

  • decodes instructions
  • sends signals to control how data moves around the CPU
• Core:

  • A processing unit within a CPU
• CPU:

  • Central Processing Unit
  • decodes and executed instructions
• Current Instruction Register (CIR):

  • stores the instruction currently being decided and executed
  • small memory location inside the CPU to assist with the fetch-execute cycle
• Data Bus:

  • a set of wires that carry data to and from the processor
• Fetch-Decode-Execute:

  • The complete process of retrieving an instruction from store, decoding it, and carrying it out
• Harvard Architecture:

  • Instructione and data stored in separate memory units
  • Each memory has its own bus
  • Reading and writing data can be done at the same time as fetching an instruction
• Memory Address Register (MAR):

  • Small memory location inside the CPU to assist with the fetch-execute cycle
  • Holds the address of data or the address of an instruction to be fetched
• Memory Data Register (MDR):

  • Small memory location inside the CPU to assist with the fetch-execute cycle
  • Holds the data fetched from or to be written to the memory
• Pipelining:

  • While the current instruction is being executed, the next is being decoded and the one after that is being fetched
  • output of one operation is the input to the next
• Program Counter (PC):

  • Small memory location inside the CPU to assist with the fetch-execute cycle
  • Holds the address of the nest instruction to be executed
• Register:

  • Tiny areas of extremely fast memory located in the CPU
  • designed for a specific purpose, where data or control information is stored temporarily
• Von Neumann Architecture:

  • Instructions and data share the same memory space
  • Instructions are fetched, decoded and executed one at a time
  • One system bus
• CISC:

  • Complex Instruction Set Computer
  • a processor design capable of performing a large number of instructions in a single operation
• GPU:

  • Graphics Processing Unit
  • designed to accelerate the creation of images
• Multicore system:

  • Several CPUs in one microprocessor
• Parallel Processor system:

  • The simultaneous use of several processors to perform a single job
• RISC:

  • Reduced Instruction Set Computer
  • A simple cheaper lowered powered processor with a basic range of machine instructions
• Flash Storage:

  • Non-volatile solid state storage
• Input Device:

  • Any device that can send data to the computer
• Magnetic Storage:

  • Medium storage with layers of magnetic material which data can be stored
• Optical Storage:

  • Medium Storage that uses discs on which data is stored
  • read by lasers
• Output Device:

  • A device which allows the computer to send information out
• RAM:

  • Random Access Memory
  • Holds data and programs which are currently in use
• ROM:

  • Read only memory
  • Non-volatile
  • used to store Instructions and data that cannot be changed (computer start up routine)
• Storage Device:

  • Any object (optical, magnetic, solid state) that holds data or programs
• Virtual Storage:

  • Data stored in remote hard disks accessed over the internet