1. Chapter 7.2 Computer Architecture
(Q1)What is “Hardware”?
Chapter 7.2 Computer Architecture
AS Computing COMP2

2. Chapter 7.2 Computer Architecture
(A1) Hardware is the electronic/electrical circuits that a computer is assembled from. It is also the platform on which the software executes.
Chapter 7.2 Computer Architecture
AS Computing COMP2

3. Chapter 7.2 Computer Architecture
(Q2)What is Main Memory?
Chapter 7.2 Computer Architecture
AS Computing COMP2

4. Chapter 7.2 Computer Architecture
(A2) Main memory is the memory that is directly addressable by the processor.
Chapter 7.2 Computer Architecture
AS Computing COMP2

5. (Q3)What is a “Memory Location”?
Chapter 7.2 Computer Architecture
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6. Chapter 7.2 Computer Architecture
(A3) A “Memory Location” is a separately addressable area of main memory.
Chapter 7.2 Computer Architecture
AS Computing COMP2

7. Chapter 7.2 Computer Architecture
(Q4)What is RAM?
Chapter 7.2 Computer Architecture
AS Computing COMP2

8. Chapter 7.2 Computer Architecture
(A4) RAM = Random Access Memory; volatile main memory in which the locations can be accessed directly in any order with the same access time for all writing and reading operations.
Chapter 7.2 Computer Architecture
AS Computing COMP2

9. Chapter 7.2 Computer Architecture
(Q5)What is ROM?
Chapter 7.2 Computer Architecture
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10. Chapter 7.2 Computer Architecture
(A5) ROM = Read Only Memory; non-volatile main memory that cannot be written to once it is set up.
Chapter 7.2 Computer Architecture
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11. Chapter 7.2 Computer Architecture
(Q6)What is “EEPROM”?
Chapter 7.2 Computer Architecture
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12. Chapter 7.2 Computer Architecture
(A6) EEPROM = Electrically erasable programmable read-only memory; its contents may be altered but writing is about 100 times slower than reading.
Chapter 7.2 Computer Architecture
AS Computing COMP2

13. (Q7)What is a Computer Bus?
Chapter 7.2 Computer Architecture
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14. Chapter 7.2 Computer Architecture
(A7) A Computer Bus = a set of parallel wires connecting independent components of a computer system.
Chapter 7.2 Computer Architecture
AS Computing COMP2

15. (Q8)What is a System Bus or External Bus?
Chapter 7.2 Computer Architecture
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16. Chapter 7.2 Computer Architecture
(A8)A System Bus is the main highway connecting the processor, main memory and I/O controllers; it is made up of a data bus, an address bus and a control bus.
Chapter 7.2 Computer Architecture
AS Computing COMP2

17. Chapter 7.2 Computer Architecture
(Q9)What is I/O?
Chapter 7.2 Computer Architecture
AS Computing COMP2

18. Chapter 7.2 Computer Architecture
(A9)I/O stands for Input and Output; the I/O controllers allow the CPU to communicate with peripherals.
Chapter 7.2 Computer Architecture
AS Computing COMP2

19. (Q10)What is a Peripheral?
Chapter 7.2 Computer Architecture
AS Computing COMP2

20. Chapter 7.2 Computer Architecture
(A10)A Peripheral is a computer device that is not part of the CPU. It can be external (e.g. mouse, keyboard, printer, monitor, memory stick, or scanner) or internal, such as a CD – ROM drive.
Chapter 7.2 Computer Architecture
AS Computing COMP2

21. (Q11)What is an I/O device?
Chapter 7.2 Computer Architecture
AS Computing COMP2

22. Chapter 7.2 Computer Architecture
(A11) In I/O Device is a hardware unit that sends or receives data or stores data by communicating with the processor and main memory through an I/O controller.
Chapter 7.2 Computer Architecture
AS Computing COMP2

23. (Q12) What is an I/O controller?
Chapter 7.2 Computer Architecture
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24. Chapter 7.2 Computer Architecture
(A12) In I/O Controller is an electronic circuit that connects the system bus with an I/O device; it provides the correct voltage and current for the system bus and the I/O device.
Chapter 7.2 Computer Architecture
AS Computing COMP2

25. (Q13) What is Secondary storage?
Chapter 7.2 Computer Architecture
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26. Chapter 7.2 Computer Architecture
(A13) Secondary Storage is permanent storage memory not directly connected to the processor; also called a backing store.
Chapter 7.2 Computer Architecture
AS Computing COMP2

27. (Q14)What is a main memory address?
Chapter 7.2 Computer Architecture
AS Computing COMP2

28. Chapter 7.2 Computer Architecture
(A14) A Main Memory Address is a unique numeric code corresponding to a location in memory.
Chapter 7.2 Computer Architecture
AS Computing COMP2

29. (Q15) What is the Stored Program Concept?
Chapter 7.2 Computer Architecture
AS Computing COMP2

30. Chapter 7.2 Computer Architecture
(A15) The Stored Program Concept states that a program must be resident in main memory to be executed; it is processed by fetching machine code instructions in sequence from main memory and executing them one at a time, in the processor.
Chapter 7.2 Computer Architecture
AS Computing COMP2

31. Chapter 7.2 Computer Architecture
(Q16)What is a Register?
Chapter 7.2 Computer Architecture
AS Computing COMP2

32. Chapter 7.2 Computer Architecture
(A16) A Register is a very fast memory location inside the processor or I/O controller.
Chapter 7.2 Computer Architecture
AS Computing COMP2

33. (Q17) What is a General-Purpose Register?
Chapter 7.2 Computer Architecture
AS Computing COMP2

34. Chapter 7.2 Computer Architecture
(A17) A General-Purpose Register is a register not assigned a specific role by the processor designer. Programmers may use general purpose registers.
Chapter 7.2 Computer Architecture
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35. (Q18)What is a Dedicated Register?
Chapter 7.2 Computer Architecture
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36. Chapter 7.2 Computer Architecture
(A18)A Dedicated Register is a register assigned a specific role by the processor designer. Programmers may use some but not all dedicated registers.
Chapter 7.2 Computer Architecture
AS Computing COMP2

37. (Q19) What is meant by the Clock Speed?
Chapter 7.2 Computer Architecture
AS Computing COMP2

38. Chapter 7.2 Computer Architecture
(A19) The Clock Speed of a processor is the frequency in Megahertz or Gigahertz at which the processor executes instructions.
Chapter 7.2 Computer Architecture
AS Computing COMP2

39. Chapter 7.2 Computer Architecture
(Q20) What is Word Length?
Chapter 7.2 Computer Architecture
AS Computing COMP2

40. (A20) Word Length is the number of digits in a binary word.
Chapter 7.2 Computer Architecture
AS Computing COMP2

41. Chapter 7.2 Computer Architecture
(Q21) What is bus width?
Chapter 7.2 Computer Architecture
AS Computing COMP2

42. (A21) the number of signal wires or lines allocated to the bus.
Chapter 7.2 Computer Architecture
AS Computing COMP2