CS008 Chapter 4

• Hardware Refers to the physical components of a computer
• Central Processing Unit "The ""brain"" of the computer that processes commands from software "
• Control Unit This unit executes instructions
• Arithmetic Logic Unit: this unit performs arithmetic and logical calculations
• Instruction Cycle: A sequence a CPU goes through to execute a command
• Fetch: Recieves instruction from RAM
• Decode: Determines what the instruction is
• Execute: Performs commands
• Store: Stores the result  to RAM
• Clock Speed: The speed at which a processor executes the instruction cycle
• Multicore Processors: Two or more processors integrated on a single chip to increase prcessing speed and reduce energy consumption
• GPU (Graphics processing unit): Reduces the processing on system CPU required for graphics intensive processes
• Parallel Processing: Distributes processing across multiple processors, a program is assigned a processor by the operating system
• Hyper Threading: The simulation where a single CPU can appear as 2 logical processors
• Pipelining: Used to improve the performance of a single processor, completing 4 instructions at once by assigning an instruction to each instruction cycle step
• Cooling System: Used to prevent electronic components from burning out, i.e heat sinks, cooling sink, liquid cooling system)
• System Unit: Case that ecloses and protects computers internal components
• Motherboard: The main circuit board of a computer that provides a way for devices to connect to a computer
• Ports: Used to connect peripheral devices to the motherboard
• USB: The most common type of port, connecting up to 127 devices to a single port, and can provide power
• Hot Swappable: Meaning devices can be plugged/unplugged without turning off the computer
• Firewire: A legacy port not found in newer computers that can connect up to 63 devices to one port, mostly used for digital cameras
• Thunderbolt: A port commonly used on Apple computers with the same speed as USB 3.2, connects up to 6 devices at one port, and hot swappable
• Bluetooth: Short range wireless technology used to connect many types of peripheral devices
• BIOS: Basic Input/Output System, a read only memory program stored on the motherboard used to boot the computer and keep data from being erased when the computer is off.
• Random Access Memory (RAM): Temporary storage used by a computer to hold instructions and data while they are in use.
• Memory Boards: small circuit boards that contain memory chips making it easy to add memory to desktops and notebooks by plugging them into the motherboard
• Cache Memory: Very fast memory that holds some instructions and data copied from RAM, cache is always checked first when the CPU needs to fetch data. Normally very small compared to RAM.
• Storage Devices: stores instructions and data when they are not being used with their contents not being lost when the power is turned off. Compared to RAM it is non-volatile, larger in capacity, less expensive, but slower to access
• Optical Discs: A type of legacy technology that uses a laser beam to read data on CDS, Blu Ray Discs, DVDs, etc. Read only, recordable and rewritable.
• Flash Memory Storage: a non-volatile form of memory that can be electrically erased and programmed with no moving parts
• Solid State Drives (SSDs): a much more reliable and faster for of storage that can be used in desktops and notebooks instead of a regular hard drive. Usually smaller incapacity and more expensive.
• Flash Drives: a form of portable storage that is used as internal storage on many mobile devices. Can connect to a computer via USB port.
• Memory Cards: a form of portable storage used to expand the storage of smartphones, digital cameras, etc. Some of these include SD, Micro SD, CD, etc
• Hard Drive (Hard Disk): primary mass storage device in most computers that holds the operating system and usually other programs and data files. Data is stored magnetically on metal platters, internally or externally. Most inexpensive form of storage that can have large capacities
• Input Devices: Devices used to enter data into a computer system
• Keyboard: Most common type of input device. Its two major issues are that it's slow and error prone. Commonly used the QWERTY layout.
• Pointing Devices: moves cursor on the screen, these include Mice, touchpads, and touchscreens
• Optical Scanners: include flatbed scanners that scan a page and save it as an image, barcode scanners, and QR code scanners
• RFID (Radio Frequency Identification Scanners): small tags that emit ID on a radio frequency i.e Airtags