topic 2 revision homework

topic 2 revision homework

1. secondary storage

   • Secondary storage is non-volatile disk space, and is sometimes called auxiliary memory, secondary memory or external memory. Storage devices, like an external hard drive are used to store files like photos, program files and any other information that needs to kept long term.
   • Secondary storage is additional storage facilities added to a computer system to store data and programs when the power to a system is switched off.
   • stores • The operating system. • Any programs and applications that the user installs onto the computer. • Any files and documents containing the user’s data.
   • magnetic hard drive, optical disk, solid state memory/flash memory
     • CD, DVD and Blu-ray discs are forms of optical storage. They are a useful lightweight media for transporting data and programs.
     • The magnetic hard disk is a magnetised rigid plate or stack of plates with heads to read the data as the platters spin around. They spin at around 7200rpm.
     • Solid state flash memory has much better access times than magnetic disks, has no moving parts to go wrong and uses significantly less power, making it an ideal choice for these devices.

2. rom and ram

   • ram
     • is volatile
     • stores programs currently in use
     • deletes everything when it looses power
   • rom
     • stores the bios
     • starts every time the computer is turned on

3. binary

   • Binary is a number system using only 0 and 1 to represent all numbers. Computers use binary because 1 and 0 can be represented very easily using simple electronic components set into the ON or OFF state
     • gate tyepes
       • If 0 is input then the outputs 1 and if 1 is input it outputs 0.
       • us if both of the inputs are 1, by outputting 1, otherwise it outputs 0.
       • us if one or both of the two inputs are 1 by outputting 1 otherwise it outputs 0.

4. CPU

   • 4 thing that affect the speed of a CPU
     • Clock speed
       • the higher this number the faster the computer can cycle per second
         • this means it can complete more task faster
     • number of cores
       • the number of cores is how many processing units the CPU has
     • cache memory
       • Most data is stored on the hard disk. When we use that data, it is loaded into Random Access Memory (RAM) because it is much faster to access the data from RAM than from the hard disk.
     • type of CPU