Computer Fundamentals and Hardware Architecture

Flashcards created from lecture notes covering computer basics, hardware architecture, motherboards, processors, memory, I/O ports, and security threats.

Who developed the early mechanical analytical engine design in 1837?

Charles Babbage.

What does it mean for a computer to have "No I.Q."?

It possesses no intelligence of its own, has an I.Q. of zero, and must be instructed on what to do and in what sequence.

What are the four primary functional categories of the data processing cycle?

Data input, data processing, data output, and storage.

What is the maximum coverage range and typical application of a Personal Area Network (PAN)?

A coverage range up to $10\,meters$, typically used for connecting personal devices like Bluetooth smartphones, laptops, and smartwatches.

What is the coverage range of a Local Area Network (LAN)?

Up to $1\,kilometer$.

Which network topology connects all devices to a single backbone cable with terminators at both ends?

Bus Topology.

Which network topology features a central hub, switch, or router through which all communications pass?

Star Topology.

How does a Mesh Topology achieve high reliability and security?

Every device is connected directly to every other device, providing multiple paths for data transmission and eliminating any single point of failure.

Based on the topology comparison chart, what are the cost and reliability characteristics of a Hybrid Topology?

It has a Very High cost and Very High reliability.

What type of data do analog computers process?

Continuous data represented through physical quantities such as temperature, pressure, speed, voltage, and sound waves.

How do digital computers process information?

They process discrete data using the binary number system consisting of digits $0$ and $1$.

How does a hybrid computer convert continuous signals for digital processing?

It uses an Analog-to-Digital Converter (ADC) to convert continuous data into digital form, and a Digital-to-Analog Converter (DAC) if output conversion is required.

Who is known as the "Father of Supercomputing" and designed the CDC 6600?

Seymour Cray.

What computing technique allows supercomputers to solve complex tasks by dividing them across thousands of processors?

Parallel processing.

What key technology was used for CPU circuitry and memory in First Generation computers (1946–1959)?

Vacuum tubes.

What electronic component replaced vacuum tubes in Second Generation computers (1959–1965)?

Transistors.

What technology characterized Third Generation computers (1965–1971)?

Integrated Circuit (IC) technology, also known as microelectronics technology.

Which technology enabled Fourth Generation computers (1971–1980) to incorporate around $5000$ transistors onto a single chip?

Very Large Scale Integrated (VLSI) circuits.

What component integration technology is utilized in Fifth Generation computers (1980–present)?

Ultra Large Scale Integration (ULSI) technology, incorporating ten million electronic components on a microprocessor chip.

What are the three main functions of a computer's Input Unit?

Taking data/commands from the user, converting given data into machine-readable (binary) form, and transmitting the converted data into the main memory.

What are the two key units that compose the Central Processing Unit (CPU)?

The Control Unit (CU) and the Arithmetic and Logic Unit (ALU).

What is the primary role of the Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU)?

Performing mathematical calculations (addition, subtraction, multiplication, division) and logical operations (comparisons).

Does the Control Unit (CU) perform mathematical calculations?

No, it controls and supervises all operations, indicating what components should do without performing calculations itself.

What are the physical dimensions of a Standard ATX motherboard?

$12 \times 9.6\,\text{inches}$ ($305 \times 244\,\text{mm}$).

What are the physical dimensions of a Micro-ATX motherboard?

$9.6 \times 9.6\,\text{inches}$ ($244 \times 244\,\text{mm}$).

Who developed the Mini-ITX motherboard form factor in 2001, and what are its dimensions?

Developed by VIA Technologies in 2001, measuring $6.7 \times 6.7\,\text{inches}$ ($170 \times 170\,\text{mm}$).

What is the function of the CMOS battery on a motherboard?

It provides power to the complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) chip to retain BIOS information and settings when powered down.

What output voltages does a standard 20-pin motherboard power supply connector convert from $110\text{-V AC}$ input?

It converts $110\text{-V AC}$ into $\pm 12\text{-Volt}$, $\pm 5\text{-Volt}$, and $3.3\text{-Volt}$ direct current (DC) power.

What technology allows a single physical processor core to handle two tasks simultaneously?

Intel's Hyper-Threading and AMD's SMT (Simultaneous Multithreading).

What is the purpose of a Neural Processing Unit (NPU)?

Handling artificial intelligence and machine learning tasks natively on the device.

What is the key functional difference between SRAM and DRAM?

SRAM (Static RAM) is faster, bulkier, and more expensive than DRAM (Dynamic RAM), making SRAM ideal for cache memory and registers.

What type of ROM can be erased and rewritten electrically while installed in a computer system?

EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory).

What are the optical laser wavelengths and storage capacities for CDs, DVDs, and Blu-ray discs?

CD uses a $780\,\text{nm}$ red laser ($700\,\text{MB}$); DVD uses a $650\,\text{nm}$ red laser ($4.7\,\text{GB}$ to $8.5\,\text{GB}$); Blu-ray uses a $405\,\text{nm}$ blue laser ($25\,\text{GB}$ to $50\,\text{GB}+$, BDXL up to $100\,\text{GB}+$).

What is the native storage capacity of an LTO-9 tape drive cartridge?

$18\,\text{TB}$ native ($45\,\text{TB}$ compressed).

What were the two major historical versions of the ISA expansion slot introduced by IBM?

8-bit ISA (introduced in 1981 with the IBM PC) and 16-bit ISA (introduced with the IBM AT).

What feature of PCI slots allows connected hardware devices to communicate directly with memory without continuously involving the CPU?

Bus mastering.

What are the pin counts for internal SATA Data and SATA Power cables?

SATA Data cables have $7$ pins; SATA Power cables have $15$ pins.

What is the maximum bus rate and real-world transfer speed of SATA III (3.0)?

A bus rate of $6.0\,\text{Gbps}$ with a maximum transfer speed of $\sim 600\,\text{MB/s}$.

What are the main physical differences between PGA, LGA, and BGA CPU sockets?

PGA has pins on the CPU; LGA has pins inside the motherboard socket; BGA uses solder balls permanently attaching the CPU to the motherboard.

Which CPU socket mounting type is permanently soldered to the motherboard and cannot be upgraded?

BGA (Ball Grid Array).

What standard protocol defines the electrical signals and pin configuration for a standard serial cable connection?

RS-232.

What are the three signal line groups that make up the 17 signal lines of a Standard Parallel Port (SPP)?

Control ($4$ lines), Status ($5$ lines), and Data ($8$ lines).

What is the main operational feature of an Online (Double-Conversion) Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS)?

It converts power continuously, offering zero switchover time for heavy servers and critical systems.

What frequency band does Bluetooth technology use to transmit data wirelessly?

The $2.4\,\text{GHz}$ frequency band.

How does Li-Fi (Light Fidelity) transmit data wirelessly compared to Wi-Fi?

Li-Fi uses light waves from LED bulbs flickering at high speed, whereas Wi-Fi uses radio waves.

How does a Worm differ from a standard computer Virus?

A worm is self-replicating malware that spreads across networks automatically without needing a host file, whereas a virus requires an infected host file to spread.

What is a Polymorphic Virus?

A virus that changes its code or appearance every time it spreads, making it difficult for antivirus software to detect and remove.

According to this infographic, which type of virus remains active in RAM to infect other files when opened?

Resident Virus.

Identify the three motherboard form factors shown in this comparison diagram from largest to smallest.

Standard-ATX, Micro-ATX, and Mini-ITX.

Identify the rear motherboard port colored in light blue with 15 pin holes in this diagram.

VGA Port.