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Computer

Computer

A device capable of performing computations and making logical decisions.

Computer hardware

The physical components of a computer, such as the CPU, motherboard, and input/output devices.

Computer software

Instructions that tell the hardware how to perform work and what to do.

Processor

The component of a computer that interprets and executes programs.

Memory

The component of a computer that stores both data and programs.

Input unit

Obtains information from input devices, such as a keyboard or mouse.

Output unit

Outputs information, such as to a screen or printer.

Central Processing Unit (CPU)

The part of a computer that supervises and coordinates the other sections of the computer.

Motherboard

The main circuit board of the system unit that many electronic components attach to.

Byte

A group of 8 bits, which can represent characters.

Coding schema

Patterns that define the different combinations of 0s and 1s in data representation.

Control unit

A module responsible for sequencing operations and ensuring data is in the correct place at the correct time.

Datapath

The part of the CPU that consists of an arithmetic logic unit (ALU) and storage units.

ALU

The arithmetic/logic unit that can perform arithmetic and logical operations.

Registers

Temporary storage areas in the CPU that hold instructions or data and perform high-speed operations.1. General Purpose Registers:Very fast temporary storage locations in CPU, used to temporarily store the intermediate results of calculations of ALU.

Special Purpose Registers

User invisible registers that the user cannot see or control. Examples include the Program Counter (PC), Memory Address Register (MAR), and Memory Data Register (MDR) or Memory Buffer Register (MBR).

Instruction Register (IR)

Holds the current instruction being executed.

Buses

Sets of wires that allow communication between the CPU and other components. They convey a single bit along each line and allow for parallel movement of bits.

Processor memory buses

Short, high-speed buses closely matched to the memory system to maximize data transfer bandwidth.

I/O buses

Longer buses that allow for many types of devices with varying bandwidths.

Backplane bus

Built into the structure of the machine and connects the processor, I/O devices, and memory.

Clocks

Synchronize the activities of a computer's components. Clock frequency determines the speed of operations.

Interrupts

Alters the normal execution of a program when an event of higher priority occurs. Nonmaskable interrupts are high priority and cannot be ignored, while maskable interrupts can be disabled or ignored.

Memory

Linear array of addressable storage cells. Each memory location has a unique address and can be byte or word addressable.

Memory sizes

Kilobyte (KB), Megabyte (MB), Gigabyte (GB), Terabyte (TB) represent different sizes of memory storage.

Byte-addressable memory vs

Memory can be accessed at the byte level or half-word level.

Types of Memory

RAM (Random Access Memory) and ROM (Read-Only Memory) are the two basic types of memory.

RAM

Random Access Memory used to store programs and data needed for program execution. It is volatile and loses information when power is turned off.

Types of RAM

DRAM (Dynamic Random-Access Memory) and SRAM (Static RAM) are two general types of RAM chips.

DRAM

Consists of capacitors that slowly leak charge and need to be refreshed to prevent data loss. Different types include MDRAM, FPM DRAM, EDO DRAM, BEDO DRAM, SDRAM, SL DRAM, DDR SDRAM, and DR DRAM.

SRAM

Very fast memory that does not need to be refreshed like DRAM. Used to build cache memory. Different types include asynchronous SRAM, synchronous SRAM, and pipeline burst SRAM.1. SRAM:Faster and more expensive type of memory compared to DRAM.

DRAM

Denser and more power-efficient type of memory compared to SRAM, often used for main memory.

ROM (Read-only Memory)

Non-volatile memory that does not need to be refreshed and retains data even when the system is turned off.

PROM (Programmable Read-only Memory)

A type of ROM that can be programmed by the user, but the data and instructions cannot be changed once programmed.

EPROM (Erasable Programmable Read-only Memory)

A type of ROM that is programmable and can be erased using ultraviolet light, allowing for reprogramming.

EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-only Memory)

A type of ROM that can be erased by applying an electric field, allowing for selective erasure of portions of the chip.

Flash memory

Similar to EEPROM, but allows for writing or erasing data in blocks, removing the limitation of one-byte-at-a-time erasure.

Memory Hierarchy

The organization of memory in a hierarchical fashion, with faster and more expensive memory closer to the CPU and slower and cheaper memory further away.

Cache Memory

A smaller and faster memory that stores recently used data closer to the CPU, speeding up access compared to main memory.

Input/Output Devices

Devices that allow communication between the computer system and the user, including input devices for data entry and output devices for information retrieval.

Interface

The connection between the CPU and an input/output device that handles data transfers and converts signals to a format acceptable to the device.

Storage

The holding of data, instructions, and information for future use.