system unit
case that contains electronic components of the computer used to process data
motherboard
main circuit board of the system unit
chip
contains integrated circuits
processor/central processing unit
interprets and carries out the basic instructions that operate a computer
control unit
component of the processor that directs and coordinates most of the operations in the computer
arithmetic logic unit (ALU)
arithmetic, comparison, and other operations
clock speed
pace of the system clock
gigahertz (GHz)
clock speed is measured in ____
system clock
controls the timing of all computer operations
Memory
consists of electronic components that store instructions waiting to be executed by the processor, data needed by those instructions, and the results of processing the data
1 thousand
1 million
1 billion
1 trillion
1 kb = ____ b
1 mb = ____ b
1 gb = ____ b
1 tb = ____ b
Volatile memory
Loses its contents when power is turned off
Example includes RAM
Nonvolatile memory
Does not lose contents when power is removed
Examples include ROM, flash memory, and CMOS
Dynamic RAM
is a type of random-access memory that stores each bit of data in a separate capacitor within an integrated circuit. The capacitor can be either charged or discharged
Static RAM
has three different states. It can be in: standby (the circuit is idle), reading (the data has been requested) and writing (updating the contents).
Magnetoresistive RAM
data in MRAM is not stored as electric charge or current flows, but by magnetic storage elements.
Singe Data rate RAM
SDRAM
Double Data Rate Synchronous Dynamic RAM
DDR SDRAM
memory transfer data on both the rising and falling edges of the clock signal
400 MT/s
DDR2 SDRAM
8.5 GT/s; “dual channel mode”; memory installed in pairs
DDR3 SDRAM
Operates at lower voltages; consuming less power
12.8 GT/s; dual and triple channel modes
RAM chips
usually reside on a memory module and are inserted into memory slots.
Memory cache
speeds the processes of the computer because it stores frequently used instructions and data
Read-only memory (ROM)
refers to memory chips storing permanent data and instructions
Flash memory
can be erased electronically and rewritten
hard disk drive (hdd)
a non-volatile storage device which stores digitally encoded data on rapidly rotating platters with magnetic surfaces.
Digital Video Disc (dvd)
optical disc storage media format. Its main uses are video and data storage.
same dimensions as compact discs (CDs) but store more than six times as much data.
Blu-ray Disc
optical disc storage medium to supersede the standard DVD format. Its main uses are for storing PlayStation 3 games, high definition video and data storage with up to 50GB per disc. The disc has the same physical dimensions as standard DVDs and CDs.
USB flash drive
consists of a NAND-type flash memory data storage device integrated with a USB (Universal Serial Bus) interface.
typically removable and rewritable, and most
weigh less than an ounce (30 g)
memory card/flash memory card
solid-state electronic flash memory data storage device capable of storing digital contents
mainly used with digital cameras, handheld and Mobile computers, mobile phones, etc.
keyboard
used to type data into the computer
Pointing devices
move some object on the screen and can do some action
scanner
allows you to scan documents, pictures or graphics and view them on the computer. It converts image into dots that the computer can understand
Digital cameras
used to take electronic pictures of an object
Microphones
used to put sound into a computer. Today, commands can also be given to computer using your voice.
Monitors
shows the processed information on screen. It displays soft copy of the information. When the device is turned off the information goes away
Printers
produces a hard copy of the information.