C4A Fundamentals of Computer System Units and I/O Components

System Unit

Chassis housing electronic components of a computer.

Input-Process-Output (IPO)

Cycle describing data flow in computing operations.

Input

Stage where external data is entered into the system.

Process

Stage where input data is transformed into output.

Output

Stage where processed results are produced.

Feedback

Control element adjusting inputs or processes as needed.

Microprocessor

Central Processing Unit contained on a single chip.

Control Unit

Component directing how to execute program instructions.

Arithmetic-Logic Unit (ALU)

Component performing arithmetic and logical operations.

Clock Speed

Measurement of CPU cycles per second, in GHz.

Word Size

Number of bits processed at once: 16, 32, or 64.

Multicore Processors

CPUs with multiple cores executing instructions simultaneously.

Coprocessors

Specialized processors enhancing specific computing tasks.

Graphics Processing Unit (GPU)

Processor designed for rendering graphics and images.

Primary Memory

Volatile storage like RAM for active data processing.

Secondary Memory

Non-volatile storage for long-term data retention.

Registers

Smallest, fastest storage units within the CPU.

System Board

Main board controlling communication among computer components.

Slots

Connection points for specialized cards on the system board.

Bus Lines

Pathways facilitating communication between electronic components.

Memory Hierarchy

Structure ranking memory types from fastest to slowest.

Input Devices

Hardware for entering data into a computer system.

Output Devices

Hardware for presenting processed data to users.

Storage Media

Physical devices for storing digital information.

Personal Computer

Widely used computer type for individual use.

Types of Computers

Includes smartphones, tablets, laptops, desktops, wearables.

Chip

Integrated circuit mounted on a carrier for processing.

Cache Memory

Supplementary memory for frequently used data.

L1 Cache

Fastest cache, small, embedded in CPU.

L2 Cache

Secondary cache, larger than L1, 128KB to 24MB.

L3 Cache

Specialised memory enhancing L1 and L2 performance.

RAM

Volatile memory for currently processed data.

ROM

Non-volatile memory storing manufacturer information.

SRAM

Static RAM, faster but more expensive than DRAM.

DRAM

Dynamic RAM, slower, requires periodic refreshing.

SDRAM

Synchronous DRAM, synchronized with CPU clock.

DDR SDRAM

Double Data Rate SDRAM, transfers data twice per cycle.

ROM Usage

Contains firmware for hardware control and booting.

HDD

Non-volatile storage using magnetic platters.

SSD

Flash-based storage, faster, no moving parts.

Internal Hard Drive

Permanently installed storage within a computer.

External Hard Drive

Portable storage connected via USB or interface.

Network Drive

Storage accessed over a network using UNC path.

IDE

Integrated Drive Electronics, parallel data transfer.

SATA

Serial connection, supports hot-swap, low power.

PCIe

High-speed interface for connecting components.

Disk Caching

Temporary high-speed storage between CPU and disk.

File Compression

A Type of method that Reduces storage space and increases transfer speed.

Rotational Latency

Time for data position to rotate to read head.

Seek Time

Time for read-write head to locate data.

Transmission Time

Time to transfer data from disk to memory.

RAID

Redundant arrays of inexpensive disks for data redundancy.

Disk Defragmentation

Reorganizing files to improve hard drive performance.

RAID-0

Striped data configuration for performance enhancement.

Flash Memory

Non-volatile storage that can be electrically erased.

NOR Flash

Type of flash memory with random access capability.

NAND Flash

Type of flash memory optimized for high-density storage.

Optical Disks

Storage media using reflected light to read data.

CD

Compact disc with a capacity of 700 MB.

DVD

Digital versatile disc with a capacity of 4.7 GB.

Blu-ray Disc

High-definition format with a capacity of 50 GB.

UHD Blu-ray

Ultra high-definition format with a capacity of 100 GB.

Cloud Storage

Data storage provided over the Internet.

Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)

Cloud computing model providing virtualized computing resources.

Expansion Slots

Interfaces for adding components to a computer.

Data Bus

Signal line for data exchange between CPU and memory.

Address Bus

Specifies memory locations for data access.

Control Bus

Indicates read/write operations for memory locations.

Universal Serial Bus (USB)

Standard interface for connecting external devices.

FireWire

High-speed interface for audio and video devices.

Power Supply

Converts AC to DC power for computer components.

Input-Process-Output (IPO) Cycle

Basic operational model of computer processing.

Secondary Storage

Long-term storage for non-volatile data retention.