Unit 1 system architecture

Input Devices

Input Devices Definition: Hardware that sends data to a computer for processing. Examples include keyboards, mice, and scanners.

Output Devices

Hardware components that display or present information from a computer, such as monitors, printers, and speakers.

CPU

Central Processing Unit. The primary component of a computer that executes instructions, performs calculations, and manages data flow within the system.

Control Unit

Control Unit - Manages and coordinates the activities of all other computer components, instructing them on what to do based on the program's instructions.

Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU)

ALU performs arithmetic and logical operations in a CPU. It is responsible for tasks like addition, subtraction, AND, OR, and NOT operations.

Program Counter (PC)

Flashcard: Program Counter (PC) is a register in a computer processor that stores the memory address of the next instruction to be executed.

Memory Address Register (MAR)

A register that holds the memory address of the data to be fetched or stored in the main memory.

Memory Data Register (MDR)

MDR stores data temporarily during processing. It holds instructions fetched from memory before being decoded and executed by the CPU.

Accumulator

A register in a computer's CPU that stores intermediate arithmetic and logic results during processing.

What is the process where the CPU retrieves instructions from memory, decodes them, and carries out the instructions?

"Fetch Decode Execute Cycle - CPU retrieves instructions from memory, decodes them, and carries out the instructions."

FETCH

Definition: A command used in dog training to instruct a dog to retrieve an object and bring it back to the handler.

DECODE

To decode means to convert a coded message into its original form, often using a key or algorithm to decipher the hidden meaning.

EXECUTE

To carry out or accomplish a task or plan, often involving the implementation of a specific action or decision.

Factors affecting CPU performance

Factors affecting CPU performance: Clock speed, number of cores, cache size, architecture, thermal design power (TDP), and instructions per cycle (IPC).

Clock Speed

Clock Speed: Refers to the rate at which a processor can complete a processing cycle, measured in Hertz. It determines how quickly a computer can execute instructions.

Number Of Cores

Number of Cores: Refers to the individual processing units within a CPU. More cores typically result in better multitasking and overall performance.

Instructions Per Cycle

IPC measures the average number of instructions a processor can execute in a single cycle. It indicates the efficiency of a CPU in processing instructions.

Cache Memory