Computer Technology Fundamentals: Logic Gates, CPU Architecture, and Expansion Ports

Vocabulary practice flashcards covering digital logic gates and Boolean functions, CPU components, cache hierarchy, thermal management, expansion ports, and computer architectures from NET1001.

Transistor

A tiny electronic switch that controls the flow of electricity by switching between an OFF state ($0$) and an ON state ($1$).

Logic Gate

An electronic circuit composed of several interconnected transistors that receives binary inputs, executes a defined logic rule, and produces a single binary output.

Truth Table

A tabular representation that defines the operational output of a logic function for every possible combination of inputs ($2^n$ combinations for $n$ inputs).

AND Gate

A fundamental logic gate whose output is HIGH ($1$) only when all of its inputs are HIGH ($1$), represented algebraically as $Y = AB$ or $Y = A \times B$.

OR Gate

A fundamental logic gate whose output is HIGH ($1$) whenever one or more of its inputs are HIGH ($1$), represented algebraically as $Y = A + B$.

NOT Gate

A logic gate (inverter) featuring one input and one output that converts the input to its complement or opposite logic level, represented as $Y = \overline{A}$.

NAND Gate

A logic gate created by inverting the output of an AND gate; its output is LOW ($0$) only when all inputs are HIGH ($1$), represented as $Y = \overline{A \cdot B}$.

NOR Gate

A logic gate formed by inverting the output of an OR gate; its output is HIGH ($1$) only when all inputs are LOW ($0$), represented as $Y = \overline{A + B}$.

Exclusive OR (XOR) Gate

A logic gate whose output is HIGH ($1$) when one, and only one, input is HIGH, and LOW ($0$) when both inputs are equal, represented as $Y = A \oplus B$.

Exclusive NOR (XNOR) Gate

A logic gate whose output is HIGH ($1$) when both inputs are identical (both HIGH or both LOW) and LOW ($0$) when inputs differ, represented as $Y = \overline{A \oplus B}$.

Central Processing Unit (CPU)

The primary hardware component that fetches, decodes, and executes program instructions, performs mathematical and logical operations, and coordinates computer components.

Control Unit

The internal CPU sub-unit that coordinates instruction processing, decodes operations, generates internal control signals, and manages data flow.

Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU)

The CPU component responsible for executing arithmetic calculations (such as addition and subtraction) and logical evaluations (such as AND, OR, NOT, and comparisons).

Registers

Small, extremely fast internal storage locations situated directly within a CPU core to hold data, instructions, or intermediate results currently being processed.

Program Counter

A specialized CPU register that holds the memory address of the next sequential instruction scheduled to be fetched and executed.

Instruction Cycle

The continuous four-stage operating sequence executed by a CPU while processing programs: Fetch, Decode, Execute, and Store.

Clock Speed

A measure of the CPU's internal cycle frequency in hertz ($1\,\text{Hz} = 1\,\text{cycle/s}$, $1\,\text{MHz} = 10^{6}\,\text{cycles/s}$, $1\,\text{GHz} = 10^{9}\,\text{cycles/s}$), coordinating the timing of operations.

CPU Cache

High-speed SRAM located on or adjacent to processor cores designed to store frequently used data and instructions to prevent latency caused by accessing main RAM.

Cache Hit

A condition occurring when requested instruction or memory data is successfully found within the CPU cache, enabling fast access without system RAM delays.

Cache Miss

A condition occurring when requested data is absent from CPU cache, requiring the processor to wait while retrieving the block from a lower cache level or RAM.

CPU Core

An independent, physical processing engine within a processor package that can autonomously fetch, decode, and execute instructions.

Logical Processor

A hardware execution stream (thread) made visible to the operating system, allowing a physical core using simultaneous multithreading to handle multiple instruction threads.

CPU Socket

The physical connector on a motherboard designed to seat and mechanically connect an integrated circuit processor package to the system board.

Thermal Throttling

An automated reduction in CPU clock frequency and processing throughput initiated when internal temperatures reach operating thresholds to avoid overheating damage.

CPU Cooler

A cooling assembly comprising thermal paste, heat pipes, a finned metal heatsink, and a fan, used to conduct heat away from the processor package.

Universal Serial Bus (USB)

A self-configuring, hot-pluggable connection interface standard capable of connecting up to $127$ peripheral devices to a computer without manual IRQ or DMA configuration.

USB 1.1

A legacy USB standard known as "Full Speed," featuring white port plastic and a maximum data transfer rate of $12\,\text{Mbps}$.

USB 2.0

A USB standard known as "Hi-Speed," featuring black port plastic and a maximum data throughput of $480\,\text{Mbps}$.

USB 3.0

A USB generation branded as "SuperSpeed" (also designated USB 3.1 Gen 1 or USB 3.2 Gen 1), featuring blue port plastic and speeds up to $5\,\text{Gbps}$.

Sleep-and-Charge USB Port

A USB port marked with a lightning bolt symbol (or colored red/yellow) configured to deliver electrical power to charge connected peripherals while the host computer is asleep.

USB-C

A 24-pin reversible connector that plugs interchangeably into hosts and peripherals, replacing legacy Type-A and Type-B connectors and supporting multi-lane data modes.

IEEE 1394 (FireWire)

A peer-to-peer, hot-pluggable, royalty-bearing serial bus interface developed by Apple that connects up to $63$ daisy-chained devices at $400\,\text{Mbps}$ (1394a) or $800\,\text{Mbps}$ (1394b).

Thunderbolt

A high-speed expansion interface developed by Intel that multiplexes PCIe data, DisplayPort audio/video, and DC power onto a single connection, supporting daisy-chaining of up to $6$ peripherals.

Ethernet Port

An 8-pin RJ-45 modular interface linked to an internal network adapter used to establish wired local area network connections.

Video Graphics Adapter (VGA) Port

A 15-pin D-subminiature connector interface that outputs analog video signals to external monitors and video projectors.

High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI)

A 19-pin digital audio and video connector interface supporting transfer rates of $10\,\text{Gbps}$ or higher on modern revisions.

Digital Visual Interface (DVI)

A 29-pin video connector standard providing digital video output without audio (white connector) or analog video variants (blue connector).

Smart Card Slot

A hardware slot on enterprise laptops that reads an embedded microprocessor inside an identification card, requiring both the physical card and a password for two-factor authentication.

Kensington Lock Port

A small security hole on laptops marked with a padlock icon, engineered to connect an external physical security cable to prevent device theft.

Parallel Port

A legacy interface with a 25-pin female D-sub or 36-pin male connector offering transfer rates from $115\,\text{kbps}$ to $3\,\text{MBps}$, historically used for printers, scanners, and tape backups.

von Neumann Architecture

A classic stored-program computer model in which instructions and program data share the same unified main memory and travel over a shared bus.

von Neumann Bottleneck

The throughput throughput bottleneck that occurs because instruction fetches and data transfers must contend for the same shared bus between the CPU and memory.

Harvard Architecture

A computer design featuring physically separate memory spaces and distinct buses for program instructions and variable data, allowing simultaneous access.

Motherboard

The main printed circuit board in a computer providing electrical and data interconnections between the CPU, RAM, storage, PCIe expansion slots, and external I/O ports.

Microprocessor

An integrated circuit chip that consolidates the entire central processing unit of a computer onto a single semiconductor die.

System Software

Low-level software, including operating systems, device drivers, and security utilities, that directly coordinates hardware devices and provides a platform for application software.

Application Software

End-user programs designed to execute specific tasks, including web browsers, office suites, design utilities, media tools, and games.