comp sci

Who created the Von Neumann Architecture?

John von Neumann

What does Von Neumann Architecture use one memory for?

Both instructions and data

How is Von Neumann different from Harvard Architecture?

Harvard has separate memory for data and instructions; Von Neumann does not

Can Von Neumann architecture do one instruction to many data at once?

No, it does one thing at a time

What are the main parts of Von Neumann architecture?

CPU, memory, input/output devices, and maybe storage

What is the CPU in Von Neumann architecture?

The brain of the computer that runs instructions

What is memory used for?

Storing both instructions and data

What are input/output devices?

Things like keyboard, mouse, and screen

What is the CPU in a computer?

The brain of the computer that does all the thinking and work

What is Main Memory used for?

It holds information the CPU is using right now

What is Secondary Storage?

It's the long-term storage like a hard drive or SSD

What are Peripheral Devices?

Extra things like a keyboard, mouse, screen, or printer

What is a Bus in computer hardware?

It's like a road that lets all the parts talk to each other

Why is the CPU important?

It controls everything and makes the computer run

What is a 'cycle' in computing?

A tiny step that a computer takes to do a job

What unit is used to measure processing speed?

Hertz (Hz) - cycles per second

What does 1 GHz mean?

1 billion cycles per second

What is a bit?

The smallest piece of data - like a tiny light switch, on or off

What is a byte?

8 bits together

What is a kilobyte (kB)?

About 1,000 bytes

What is a megabyte (MB)?

About 1 million bytes

What is a gigabyte (GB)?

About 1 billion bytes

What is a terabyte (TB)?

About 1 trillion bytes

What does the Control Unit (CU) do?

It coordinates the flow of instructions and data, and activates the correct CPU components.

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

It performs arithmetic, logical, and bit manipulation operations like adders.

What are registers in the CPU used for?

They temporarily store values such as operands, operation results, and memory addresses.

Which CPU component acts as a manager, directing the flow of data?

Control Unit (CU)

Which CPU part handles mathematical and logical calculations?

Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU)

What is an 'adder' in the ALU?

A circuit that performs addition operations.

What type of data do registers store?

Operands, results, and memory addresses needed during processing.

What are the two main internal units inside the CPU shown in the diagram?

The Control Unit and the Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU)

What connects CPU components to memory and input/output devices in the diagram?

The data bus (blue) and control bus (red)

Main Memory

RAM (Random Access Memory) or DRAM (Dynamic RAM)

What does RAM store?

Instructions and data for programs running right now.

Is RAM permanent or temporary?

Temporary — it loses data when the power is off.

What does 'volatile' mean in memory?

It means the data is erased when the computer is turned off.

What is stored in the cells of RAM?

Binary data (like 10101010) that the computer can use.

What is the address of a RAM cell?

A unique label (like 11111110) that tells the computer where to find data.

Why does your computer need RAM?

To quickly access the stuff it's working on right now.

Can the computer run programs without RAM?

No — it needs RAM to run apps and do tasks.

What happens to RAM when the computer shuts down?

It forgets everything — it gets wiped clean.

What does RAM look like inside a computer?

It looks like small sticks or chips plugged into the motherboard.

What is a CPU core?

A core is one 'brain' inside the CPU that can do its own tasks.

How many cores did most CPUs have before 2005?

Just one.

What components does each core have?

Its own Control Unit (CU), ALU, and Registers.

Why do modern CPUs have multiple cores?

So they can do more things at the same time (multitask).

What does a core do with a thread?

Each core can run its own thread of a program.

Why not just make one super fast core?

Multiple modest cores use less power and still get more done.

Why can a GPU have so many cores?

Because the math it does is simple and easy to do in parallel.

What does bus width mean?

How many bits can move at the same time — wider = faster.

What does PCI-Express connect?

The CPU to other parts like graphics cards, storage, and networks.

What does non-volatile mean?

It means the data stays even when the power is off.

What is an HDD?

A hard drive with spinning magnetic disks and a moving arm to read/write data.

What is used to read/write data in an HDD?

A read/write head that moves over spinning platters.

Is the storage in an HDD removable?

No, it is fixed.

What is an optical disk?

A CD, DVD, or Blu-ray that uses lasers to read data.

How do optical disks store binary data?

Lands = 1 (light reflects), Pits = 0 (light scatters).

Are optical disks removable?

Yes.

Do SSDs have moving parts?

Nope! They're solid.

Are SSDs faster than HDDs?

Yes, way faster.

How fast is an SSD?

100 nanoseconds access time, 500 MB/s - 3.5 GB/s transfer rate.

Are SSDs more expensive than HDDs?

Yes, per GB they cost more.

Do SSDs last forever?

No, they have a write limit, but still last a long time.

How fast is an HDD?

10 milliseconds access time, 150-250 MB/s transfer speed.

Which is more shock-resistant, SSD or HDD?

SSD.

Which is cheaper, SSD or HDD?

HDD.

Which storage is commonly removable?

Optical disks (CD, DVD, Blu-Ray).