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    Cards (36)

    • CPU components (central processing unit)
      Control Unit
      Arithmetic Logic Unit
      Clock
      Cache
      Registers
      Buses
    • Control Unit
      controls the flow of data
      decodes instructions
      co-ordinates fetch-decode-execute cycle
      sends control signals to other components
    • Arithmetic Logic Unit
      performs the arithmetic and logical operations
      eg addition, boolean
    • Clock
      sends out regular electric pulses to synchronise the components, increasing frequency(pulses per second) increases number of instructions carried out per second
    • Cache
      fast, temporary, stores data that is frequently used, close to CPU
    • Registers
      Small, specific, high-speed storage locations that temporarily store data and instructions.
    • Buses
      the wires that transfer data from one component to another
    • how to increase cpu performance
      - increase number of processing cores
      - increase cache size
      - increase clock speed
    • clock speed
      The more pulses per second, the more fetch-decode-execute cycles performed per second
      each instruction starts on a clock pulse
      so more pulses means more instructions carried out
      but overclocking can cause long term damage to the CPU as it is working harder and producing more heat.
    • number of processor cores
      - each core can fetch and execute instructions independently so a multiple core processor can handle several instructions simultaneously
      - only possible, if the program has been written to take advantage of multiple cores
      - 2 cores can double the speed
    • cache size
      The cache is closer to the processor so it takes less time to transfer data from the cache to the CPU so more efficient
      more cache means more data held closer to the cpu
    • Fetch-decode-execute cycle
      - Fetch: the next instruction or data must be fetched from the computer's memory
      The instruction or data is brought back to the CPU
      - Decode: the control unit decodes the instruction
      - Execute: the CPU will carry out the instruction that was fetched e.g. performs a calculation, stores result/data back in main memory, fetches data for next instruction
      The cycle repeats many times
    • What is multitasking in computing?
      Running multiple applications simultaneously
    • How does multitasking benefit users?
      It allows data sharing between applications
    • What can you do while multitasking on a PC?

      Listen to music while word processing
    • What does memory management do in an operating system?
      It decides where programs are held in memory
    • Why does memory become fragmented over time?
      Programs use different amounts of memory
    • What happens when memory is full?
      The operating system uses virtual memory
    • What is the role of device drivers?
      Translate OS instructions into hardware commands
    • Why does each peripheral need a device driver?
      To ensure proper communication with the OS
    • What is application software?
      Software for user benefit like word processors
    • What is system software?
      Programs needed to operate hardware and services
    • What does the operating system do?
      Links hardware and software together
    • What are the two categories of user interfaces?
      Command-line Interface (CLI) and Graphical User Interface (GUI)
    • How does a Command-line Interface (CLI) differ from a Graphical User Interface (GUI)?

      CLI uses text commands, GUI uses visual icons
    • What is a process in computing?
      A program being executed by the processor
    • What does a single-tasking OS do?
      Executes one process at a time
    • How does a multi-tasking OS operate?

      Switches rapidly between multiple processes
    • What does the OS allocate for each process?
      CPU time based on priority
    • What happens when a user opens a program?
      It is loaded into the RAM
    • What is the role of peripheral management?
      Manage supplementary hardware like printers
    • What are device drivers used for in peripheral management?
      Convert peripheral signals to OS signals
    • What does user management involve?
      Managing usernames, passwords, and accounts
    • What does file management do in an OS?
      Maintains records of all stored files
    • What does the acronym MUMPF stand for in operating systems?
      • M: Memory Management
      • U: User Interface
      • M: Multi-tasking
      • P: Peripheral Management
      • F: File Management
    • What are the key functions of an operating system?
      • Manages hardware and software resources
      • Provides user interface
      • Handles multitasking and process management
      • Oversees memory and file management
      • Manages peripheral devices
      or
      OS handles management of the:
      • processor(s)
      • memory
      • input/output (I/O) devices
      • applications
      • security.
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