ICT UNIT 1

• RAM is part of computer that temporarily stores instructions that computer is running whilst data being by CPU
• RAM is volatile memory so data is lost when computer is turned
• ROM is built-in memory that cannot be changed and normally holds boot up instructions to start computer
• ROM is non-volatile memory
• CPU is brain of computer. It is where all searching sorting, calculating an decision making takes place
• 1 gigahertz = 1 billion instructions carried out per second
• Cache is the fastest type of memory located between processor and RAM and it collects data from RAM
• Cache holds onto commonly used data and will automatically transfer next set of data from RAM into cache so it can be processed by CPU
• An input device is a device that can pass data into computer
• output devices take data from computer
• Peripheral devices are devices that need to be connected to computer
• Backing storage is non-volatile
• Backing storage is used to store data for a long time (data can be read from and written to)
• Software is a collection of instructions that can be run on a computer which tell computer what to do
• Examples of application software are word processing, spreadsheets, databases, photo editing, graphics manipulation, video editing
• System software are involved in running of computer
• Examples of system software include operating systems, device drivers, utilities, linkers, compilers
• Compilers translate program written in a specific language which can be understood by computer
• Linkers combine object files produced by compiler into single program
• Utilities help to manage and maintain computer resources and performance by running specific tasks
• Device drivers allow hardware devices to run on computer like printers, sound, graphics, network cards
• Operating systems manage computers functions including hardware devices and provides users with GUI interface
• Input hardware devices are input data into a computer like mouses, keyboards, microphones
• Output hardware devices ouputs data from a computer like monitors, speakers, printers
• External storage devices provides external storage of backup solutions
• `Hardware is the physical components making up a computer system