HardWare

HardWare

1. Secondary Storage

   • Is non-volatile storage needed in a computer system to store programs, operating system or files.

2. RAM

   • Stores the programs, parts of the operating system and the files currently being used.

3. Hard Drive

   • Stores all the programs, operating systems and files needed for the computer system to run.

4. CPU

   • Fetches, decodes and executes data and/or instructions.

5. Cores

   • The number of independent processors in the CPU which run the fetch decode execute cycle simultaneously.

6. Clock Speed

   • The number of fetch decode execute cycles a CPU can perform per second. This is measured in hertz (Hz).

7. Optical Drive

   • Is any storage method in which data is written and read with a laser. CDs, DVDs and Blu-Ray are examples of this type of storage.

8. Magnetic Storage

   • Data is stored by magnetising the surface of flat, circular plates called platters. These platters rotate at a very high speed.

9. Solid State Storage

   • Uses microchips to store data instead of magnetised disks and do not contain any moving parts.

10. Capacity

    • The amount of data a component can hold (measured in bytes).

11. Durability

    • How robust/hard wearing the storage device is.

12. Portability

    • How easy the storage device can be used on other devices.

13. Read/Write Speed

    • How fast a component can read or write data to another component (such as the RAM and hard drive).

14. Cost Effective

    • Good value for money.

15. Volatile

    • Data is not stored on the component when the computer system is switched off.

16. Non-Volatile

    • Data is stored on the component even when the computer system is switched off.