Unit-3

Hardware

3.1 Computer architecture

Describe the role of the CPU in the computer.
 To process data.
 To run the fetch–decode–execute cycle.

State what is meant by a processor.

 It can run 3.5 billion FE cycles each second.

State the purpose of a register.

 To temporarily store data.
 To allow immediate access to data during the FDE cycle.

Describe the purpose of the ALU.

 To execute instructions.
 To perform calculations
 To perform logical operations.
 To store interim results of calculations.
 Writes data to the accumulator.

Describe the purpose of the CU.

  It sends control signals.
 It manages the transfer of data and instructions within the CPU.
 It decodes an instruction.
 It uses an instruction set.

Describe how the MDR and the ALU are used in

the FDE cycle.
 Data fetched from RAM is stored in the MDR.
 Data from MDR is sent to ALU to be executed.
 ALU performs calculation and logical operations on data.
 ALU has a built-in register.
 It stores interim results of calculations.
 After calculations, ALU sends data to MDR.
 Data is sent from MDR to be written to RAM.

Describe the role of Accumulator in FDE cycle.

 It stores the interim result for a calculation.

Describe the role of MAR in the FDE cycle.

 Stores addresses.
 Addresses of the next data to be fetched.

Describe what happens at the decode stage in

the FDE cycle.
 Instruction sent from MDR to CIR.
 It uses the data bus.
 Instruction is separated into opcode and operand.
 Control unit decodes the instruction.
 It uses an instruction set.

Explain address bus.

 Carries addresses.
  Between components in the CPU.

Explain data bus.

 Transmit / carries data.
 Between components in the CPU.

Explain control bus.

 Transmits control signals.
 From the control unit to other components in the CPU.

Explain the effect of a different CPU on

performance.
 It could have more cores.
 More cores increases the number of FDE cycles it can perform at the
same time.
 It could have a higher clock speed.
 High clock speed increases the number of FDE cycles per second it can
perform.
 It could have a greater cache size.
 Greater cache means more frequently used data can be accessed faster.

State what is clock speed?

 The maximum number of FDE cycles a CPU can execute in a second.

Explain the effect of increasing clock speed.

 It can now execute more instructions/FDE per second.
 It will increase the performance of the CPU.

Explain the effect of increasing number of cores.

 More cores increases performance.
  More cores mean more FDE cycles are executed each second.
 It is because each core runs FE cycles simultaneously.

Explain the effect of changing to quad-core.

 It may increase the performance.
 because more instructions can be processed simultaneously.

State the purpose of a core in a CPU.

 To process an instruction.
 To carry out a fetch-execute cycle.

Explain the effect of increasing number of cache.

 More cache improves performance.
 Since, more cache means the processor can access more frequently used
data faster.
 Instead of having to access the data from the slower-access RAM.

State what is an embedded system?

 Computer system that is designed to perform a dedicated/single
function.
 Computer system that contains a microprocessor and dedicated
hardware.
 Computer system that is built into a larger system.

3.2 Input and output devices

Describe what is meant by a microprocessor.
 Type of integrated circuit.
  It is contained on a single chip.

Describe the role of the microprocessor in

detecting a person.
 Receive digital data continually from the sensor.
 Uses sensor data to calculate distance to person identified.
 Compares sensor data to stored data.
 If data indicates <=1m person detected, microprocessor sends signal to
display welcome message on screen.

Describe how the sensor and the microprocessor

are used in the lighting system.
 Sensor sends data/signal to microprocessor.
 Data/Signal is converted from analogue data to digital data using an ADC.
 Values are compared to stored value values.
 If value is outside range.
 The microprocessor sends signal to switch lights on.
 Actuators are used to switch light on/off.
 Timer is set for 2 minutes.
 Every time movement is detected the timer is reset.
 Process is continuous.

Describe how a robot uses sensors and a

microprocessor.
 A proximity sensor is used.
 The sensor continuously sends digitised data to the microprocessor.
 The microprocessor compares the data to a stored value.
 If the value is within the range the robot continues planting.
  If the value is outside the range, a signal is sent by the microprocessor to
stop the robot.
 An actuator is used to stop the robot.
 This process repeats until the robot is turned off.

Describe how an infrared sensor, microprocessor

and actuator are used to stop a tractor.
 Sensor continuously sends the digitised values to the microprocessor.
 Microprocessor compares the data to the stored data of a person.
 If the data is less than (or equal to) a person and within 3m.
 A signal is sent to actuator to make the tractor stop.
 If the data/signal is greater than 3m no action is taken.
 If stopped and data/signal is not a person and/or more than 3m a signal
is sent to actuator to make the tractor start.
 The whole process repeats until turned off.

Describe how a microprocessor is used to check

parking costs.
 Compares the ticket number received to stored data.
 That is a database of ticket numbers.
 Checks the ticket number is listed as paid.
 If the data matches it sends a signal to raise the barrier.
 If the data does not match the barrier remains down.

Describe how sensor and microprocessor is used

in a train.
 Proximity/infrared/pressure sensor used.
 Sensor continually sends digitised data to microprocessor.
 Microprocessor compares data to stored values.
 If in rang, microprocessor sends signal to close the door.
 Actuator used to close door.
 If not in range door will not close.
  This process repeats until the door can close.

3.3 Data storage

Explain why a computer needs RAM.
 To store data temporarily.
 To store data currently in use.
 To store software currently in use.
 Data can be accessed faster.
 To speed up the fetch stage.

Explain why a device needs ROM.

 To store the BIOS.
 To store the bootstrap.
 To store start-up instructions.
 To store the firmware.
 To store data permanently.
 To store data that should not change.

Explain why a computer needs secondary

storage.
 To store data permanently.
 Else, programs would need to be downloaded every time the computer
was used.
 To allow software to be installed on the computer.
 For the creation of virtual memory.

State the features of magnetic storage.

  Data is stored on platters.
 Platters are divided into tracks and sectors.
 It has components that are spun.
 Data is read/written using a read/write arm.
 Data is read/written using electromagnets.
 Magnetic field determines the binary value.
 It is non-volatile.

State the features of solid-state storage.

 Flashes data onto chips.
 Uses transistors.
 Uses NAND/NOR technology.
 Uses control gates.
 Uses flow gates.
 Controls the flow of electrons.
 It can be volatile or non-volatile.

Describe solid-state storage.

 Solid-state has no moving parts.
 Solid-state is faster to access data.
 Solid-state uses less power to operate.
 Solid-state runs quietly.
 Solid state is more durable.
 Solid state storage has a large storage capacity.
 Solid-state is more expensive per GB of data.
 Solid-state stores data onto transistors using logic gates such as NAND or
NOR to control the movement of electrons.

Describe optical storage.

 Optical does have moving parts.
 Optical is slower to access data.
 Optical uses more power to operate.
 Optical makes more noise.
 Optical is less durable.
  Optical has a much smaller limit to its storage capacity.
 Optical is cheaper per GB of data.
 Optical stores data by using lasers to burning pits and lands onto a disk.

State the purpose of virtual memory.

 To run programs when there is insufficient RAM to run them.
 To allow RAM to store more data when required.

Describe how virtual memory is created and

used.
 The hard drive is partitioned to create virtual memory.
 When RAM is full.
 Pages of data which is not required.
 The pages are transferred from RAM to virtual memory.
 When the data is required again the pages are transferred back to RAM.

Explain why virtual memory is needed for

processes.
 To extend the RAM capacity.
 To stop the software from crashing when the physical RAM is full.
 To allow the computer to process the large amount of data required for
the process.

Describe cloud storage.

 A collection of servers.
 Stores data in a remote location.
 Hardware can be owned/managed by a third party.
 Data storage that is stored/accessed using the internet.

Describe the advantages of using cloud storage.

  No need to maintain the hardware.
 Instead, the third party is responsible for maintaining the hardware.

 Can have unlimited storage capacity

 No need to worry about running out of storage space

 Need less storage space.

 The device can remain/is small in size.

 Can access the data from other/any devices.

 If the device breaks/is lost data is still available.

3.4 Network Hardware

What is NIC?
 This is a component in a device that enables it to connect to a network.

Describe the purposes of the NIC.

 Receive data from the network.
 Convert data to be understood by the computer.
 Convert data from the computer to a form to be transmitted over the
network.
 To allow a physical connection between a computer and a network.

State the characteristics of a MAC address.

  Represented in hexadecimal.
 Numbers are separated by colons.
 Six groups of digits.
 Sets of 2-digit hex numbers.

Describe what is meant by a MAC address.

 It is used to identify a device.
 It is a unique address.
 It is a static address.
 It is set by the manufacturer.
 The first part is the manufacturer ID.
 The second part is the serial number.

State the characteristics of an IP address.

 It consists of values between 0–255.
 Values are separated by full stops / colons.
 It is a unique address.
 Can be static or dynamic.
 Can be public or private.
 Can be IPv4.
 Can be IPv6.
 In IPv6, :: can replace groups of zeros.

State the characteristics of the IPv6 format.

 128-bit.
 Hexadecimal.
 Separated by colons.
 Characters in groups of 4.
 Has 8 groups of characters.

Describe what is dynamic IP address?

 It can be used to uniquely identify a device on a network.
 It can change.
 It changes each time the device is connected to the network.