Module 1 - Computer Systems and Number Operations

Computer System

A system that combines both hardware and software to make the computer usable.

Hardware

The physical parts of a computer, including the Monitor, Keyboard, CPU, RAM, and I/O ports.

Software

Programs and operating systems used by a computer, such as Microsoft Word and Windows.

Central Processing Unit (CPU)

The component that executes instructions provided by the software; often called the brain of the computer.

Random Access Memory (RAM)

Temporary storage for data and instructions of running programs, erased when power is lost.

Secondary Storage Devices

Permanent storage for programs and data, retaining information even without power.

Operating Systems (OS)

Software that manages hardware and software resources to allow users to run applications.

I/O Ports

Input/Output ports enable communication between the computer and its external environment.

General Purpose Computer

A computer system that can run a variety of programs and is not tailored to specific applications.

Reprogrammable

Ability to support running different programs without changing the hardware or system software.

Microcontroller

A compact circuit designed to govern specific operations, lacking an operating system.

System-on-a-Chip (SoC)

A processor that integrates CPU and RAM on a single chip, common in devices like smartphones (and Raspberry Pi)

Parallel Execution

The capability of CPUs to execute multiple programs simultaneously.

Computer Architecture

The blueprint of a computer’s hardware, describing the arrangement and interaction of physical components.

Central Processing Unit (CPU)

The brain of the computer that executes program instructions.

Random Access Memory (RAM)

The short-term memory of the computer where instructions and data are temporarily stored.

Instruction Set Architecture (ISA)

The collection of instructions that a CPU can understand, similar to vocabulary for a language.

Microarchitecture

The circuitry that implements a specific ISA, describing how the ISA is arranged in hardware.

RISC (Reduced Instruction Set Computer)

An ISA classification using simple, quick-executing instructions.

CISC (Complex Instruction Set Computer)

An ISA classification that uses a larger set of more complex instructions, allowing for more functionality per instruction but generally requiring more clock cycles to execute.

x86

A widely used ISA in personal computers and servers, known for its complex instruction set.

ARM

A popular ISA used in mobile devices and embedded systems, emphasizing energy efficiency and performance with a reduced instruction set.

von Neumann Architecture

The blueprint for most modern computers, consisting of a processing unit, control unit, memory, input, and output units.

Arithmetic/Logic Unit (ALU)

The component of the CPU that performs arithmetic and logical operations (part of the Processing Unit)

Control Unit

The part of the CPU that manages the execution of instructions and coordinates operations.

Program Counter (PC)

A register that holds the address of the next instruction to be executed.

Instruction Register (IR)

A register that stores the current instruction being executed - part of the Control Unit.

Buses

Channels that facilitate communication between different parts of the computer.

Word Size

The standard data size that a processor can handle, impacting how much data can be transferred simultaneously (e.g., 32 bits vs. 64 bits).

Decoding

The process of interpreting an instruction to understand the operation and operands it involves.

Processing unit

The component of a computer that carries out program operations defined by instructions.

Memory unit

The component of a computer that stores data and instructions for the CPU.

Input unit(s)

Load program data and instructions onto the computer and initiate program execution.

Output unit(s)

Store or receive program results.

Bus

Communication channel that transfers binary values between communication endpoints.

Fetch-decode-execute-store cycle

A fundamental process in computer architecture where the CPU fetches an instruction, decodes it to understand the required command, executes it, and then stores the result in memory.