Computing Hardware (H1)

Computing Hardware (H1)

1. Binary Logic

   • Computers use electrical signals that are on/off, so they have to see everything as a series of Binary numbers.

2. CPU

   • The CPU is commonly known as the "brains" of a computer system. The CPU is responsible for executing a sequence of stored instructions
   • The CPU can only perform a few basic actions: Mathematical operations like ADDITION and SUBTRACTION.
     • The CPU can also move data from one memory location to the other
       • Making decisions and jumps to a new set of instructions based on those decisions
   • A CPU typically contains one or more processing unit: CORE'S But adding to the number of cores means that it will have more power to run multiple programs at the same time.
     • Clock speed indicates how fast the CPU can run. You can add to the CPU, but there are limits to how fast a CPU can run and its circuitry cannot always keep up with an overclocked speed.
       • Cache memory temporarily stores instructions that the CPU will most likely need later. The more cache there is, the more data can be stored closer to the CPU

3. Memory

   • ROM
     • Memory that cannot be changed by a program or user
       • Retains memory even after the computer has been shut down. EG: It stores instructions for the computer to use when starting up.
   • RAM
     • Temporary storage for a computer system.
     • Having a lot of RAM in a computer can cause the program to lag
   • VIRTUAL MEMORY is a volatile type of memory; once the computer is turned off, the data stored within it no longer exists.
     • This is created on the storage drive for when the computer is running on many processors at once, and RAM is running low.
   • FLASH MEMORY is a kind of memory that retains data n the absence of a power supply