Lecture Notes Flashcards

Ports

  • Connection points for connecting devices to extend computer functionality.

CPU (Central Processing Unit)

  • The "brain" of the computer.
  • Performs calculations and data processing.

RAM (Random Access Memory)

  • Computer's short-term memory.

Hard Drive

  • Stores all data, including music, pictures, and applications.

Motherboard

  • The "body" or circulatory system of the computer.
  • Connects all components together.

Power Supply Unit

  • Converts AC electricity from the wall outlet into DC current.
  • Provides power for the computer and its components.

Charge Cycle

  • One full charge and discharge of a battery.

Programs

  • Instructions that tell the computer what to do.

External Data Bus (EDB)

  • A row of wires that interconnects computer parts.
  • Data is sent through the EDB from the MCC to the CPU.

Memory Controller Chip (MCC)

  • Bridge between CPU and RAM.
  • Takes data instructions from RAM and sends them to the CPU via the EDB.

Address Bus

  • Connects the CPU to the MCC.
  • Sends the location of data but not the actual data.

Cache Memory

  • Small amount of recently used data.
  • Stored in hardware or software.
    • L1 Cache:
      • Smallest and fastest.
      • Stores data currently being used by the CPU.
    • L2 Cache:
      • Medium size and speed.
      • Holds a copy of the most recently accessed data not currently in use by the CPU.
    • L3 Cache:
      • Largest and slowest.
      • First location to store data after transfer from RAM.

Clock Speed

  • The maximum number of clock cycles a CPU can handle in a specified time period.

Overclocking

  • Setting CPUs to run at a higher clock frequency (GHz) than the manufacturer's specification.
  • Allows for a higher volume of instructions per nanosecond.
  • Results in faster performance.
  • Steps:
    1. Base CPU Frequency
    2. Core frequency by multiplying base frequency by CPU core multipliers
    3. Core voltage needs to be increased in small increments to meet CPU’s Overclocking power demands
    4. Have proper cooling measurements

PGA Socket

  • Has pins coming out of the processor itself.

DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory)

  • Stores each bit in microscopic capacitors and transistors.

DIMM Sticks (Dual Inline Memory Module)

  • Connect RAM chips to the Motherboard.
  • Have different sizes of pins.

DDR (Double Data Rate SDRAM)

  • Transfers data on both the rising and falling edges of a clock signal.

Northbridge

  • Interconnects RAM and video cards.

Southbridge

  • Maintains input/output (I/O) controllers.

Peripherals

  • External devices connected to the computer (e.g., mouse, keyboard, monitor).

Expansion Slots

  • Ability to increase computer functionality.

Form Factor

  • Determines the amount of components that can be installed and the amount of space available.

Data Conversion Chart

  • 8bits=1byte8 {bits} = 1 {byte}
  • 1,000bytes=1kilobyte(KB)=1031,000 {bytes} = 1 {kilobyte (KB)} = 10^3
  • 1,000kilobytes=1megabyte(MB)=1061,000 {kilobytes} = 1 {megabyte (MB)} = 10^6
  • 1,000megabytes=1gigabyte(GB)=1091,000 {megabytes} = 1 {gigabyte (GB)} = 10^9
  • 1,000gigabytes=1terabyte(TB)=10121,000 {gigabytes} = 1 {terabyte (TB)} = 10^{12}

Hard Disk Drives (HDD)

  • Spinning magnetic platters and a mechanical arm read/write information.
  • Faster platter rotation speeds allow for faster data read/write (RPM).

Solid State Drive (SSD)

  • No moving parts.
  • Data is stored on microchips.
  • Faster and safer data storage than HDDs.

ATA

  • The most common interface for hard drives to connect to a system.

SATA (Serial ATA)

  • Interface uses one cable for data transfers.
  • Commonly used for HDDs.

Advanced Technology eXtended (ATX)

  • The most common form factor for motherboards.

Information Technology eXtended (ITX)

  • Smaller form factor for motherboards compared to ATX.

Hot Swappable

  • Ability to plug in a SATA drive without turning off the machine.

NVME (Non-Volatile Memory Express)

  • Expansion slot designed for greater data transfer for new SSDs.

Binary Measurements of Computer Data

  • 8bits=1byte8 {bits} = 1 {byte}
  • 1,024bytes=1kibibyte(KiB)=2101,024 {bytes} = 1 {kibibyte (KiB)} = 2^{10}
  • 1,024kibibytes=1mebibytes(MiB)=2201,024 {kibibytes} = 1 {mebibytes (MiB)} = 2^{20}
  • 1,024mebibytes=1gibibytes(GiB)=2301,024 {mebibytes} = 1 {gibibytes (GiB)} = 2^{30}
  • 1,024gibibytes=1tebibyte(TiB)=2401,024 {gibibytes} = 1 {tebibyte (TiB)} = 2^{40}
  • 1,024tebibyte=1pebibyte(PiB)=2501,024 {tebibyte} = 1 {pebibyte (PiB)} = 2^{50}
  • 1,024pebibyte=1exbibyte(EiB)=2601,024 {pebibyte} = 1 {exbibyte (EiB)} = 2^{60}
  • 1,024exbibyte=1zebibyte(ZiB)=2701,024 {exbibyte} = 1 {zebibyte (ZiB)} = 2^{70}
  • 1,024zebibyte=1yobibyte(YiB)=2801,024 {zebibyte} = 1 {yobibyte (YiB)} = 2^{80}

Wattage

  • The amount of volts and amps that a device needs.
  • (P=V∗I)(P = V * I)

System on a Chip (SoC)

  • Packs the CPU, RAM, and sometimes storage onto a single chip.

BYOD

  • Bring Your Own Device

Charge Cycle

  • One full charge and discharge of a battery

OS Types

  • IOS, Android, Macs, Windows

USB Connectors

*   USB type A:
    *   USB 2.0 (black with 480 Mb/s)
    *   USB 3.0 (blue with 5 Gb/s)
    *   USB 3.1 (teal with 10 Gb/s)
*   Other Connectors:
    *   Micro USB
    *   USB-C (20 Gb/s)
    *   USB4 (40 Gb/s)
    *   Lighting Port

Communication Connectors

  • Plain Old Telephone Service (POTS):
    • Cables transmitting voice
  • Digital Subscriber Line (DSL):
    • Provides access to high-speed networks or internet
  • Cable Internet:
    • Uses a cable TV infrastructure and a modem to provide high-speed internet access
  • Fiber-optic cables:
    • Contain strands of glass fibers inside an insulated casing that send data long-distance and allow for higher bandwidth communication

Device Connectors

  • DB89:
    • connectors used for older peripherals like keyboards, mice, and joysticks
  • Molex:
    • connectors provide power to drives or devices inside the computer. Molex connectors are also used for hard drives, disc drives -(CD-ROM, DVD, Blu-ray), or video cards.

Punch Down Blocks

  • Terminal strip used to connect telephone or data lines.
  • Quick and easy way to connect or change wiring.
  • Often used in IT for telephone systems or Local Area Networks (LAN).

Drivers

  • Program instructions for the CPU to communicate and utilize external devices (e.g., mice, keyboards).

Basic Input Output Services (BIOS)

  • Software that helps initialize the hardware and gets the operating system running.
  • Stored in CMOS.

Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI)

  • Performs the same function as BIOS but is more modern.
  • Better compatibility and support for newer hardware.

Disk Image

  • Copy of an operating system.

Reimaging

  • Wiping and reinstalling an operating system, often via USB or CD-ROM.

Standoffs

  • Used to raise and attach the motherboard to the case.

Molex

  • A component connector.

Factory Reset

  • Removes all data, apps, and customizations from a device.

Liquid Crystal Display (LCD)

  • Liquid crystals with liquid and solid properties.
  • Can be aligned and manipulated with electricity.
  • Requires a backlighting unit (BLU), often LEDs, making displays larger and less flexible.

Types of LCDs

  • In-Plane Switching (IPS)
  • Twisted Nematic (TN)
  • VA-Vertical Alignment

Types of LEDs

  • Organic Light Emitting Diodes (OLED)
  • Active Matrix Organic Light Emitting Diode (AMOLED)
  • Inorganic mini-LEDs (mLEDs)
  • Inorganic micro-LEDs (μLEDs)

Power On Self Test (POST)

  • Figures out what hardware is on the computer and ensures it is running properly.