Computer Architecture Definitions
Definitions from chapters 7.2
- Created by: john wickers
- Created on: 04-01-10 20:35
Computer Architecture (7.2)
Memory Location
A seperately addressable area of main memory
Computer Architecture (7.2)
RAM
Random Access Memory; volatile main memory on which the locations can be accessed directly in any order with the same access time for all writing and reading operations.
Computer Architecture (7.2)
ROM
Computer Architecture (7.2)
Read-Only Memory; non-volatile main memory that cannot be written to once it is set up.
Computer Architecture (7.2)
EEPROM
Electrically Erasable Programmable read-only memory; its contents may be altered but writing is 100 times slower than reading.
Computer Architecture (7.2)
Computer Bus
A set of parallel wires connecting independent components of a computer system.
Computer Architecture (7.2)
System Bus / External Bus
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.
Computer Architecture (7.2)
I/O
Allows the CPU to communicate with the peripherals.
Computer Architecture (7.2)
Peripheral
A computer device that is not part of the CPU. It can be external (eg. mouse, keyboard, printer etc.) or internal, such as a CD-ROM drive.
Computer Architecture (7.2)
I/O Device
A hardware unit that sends or recieves data or stores data by communicating with the processor and main memory through an I/O controller.
Computer Architecture (7.2)
Secondary Storage
Permanent storage memory not directly connected to the processor; also called backing store.
Computer Architecture (7.2)
Main Memory Address
A unique numeric code corresponding to a location in memory.
Computer Architecture (7.2)
Stored program concept
A program must be resident in memory to be executed; it is processed by by fetching machine code intructions in sequence from main memory and executing them, one at a time, in the processor.
Computer Architecture (7.2)
Register
A very fast memory location inside the processor or I/O controller.
Computer Architecture (7.2)
General Purpose Register
A register not assigned a specific role by the processor designer. Programmers may use these.
Computer Architecture (7.2)
Dedicated Register
A register assigned a specific role by the processor designer. Programmers may use some but not all dedicated registers.
Computer Architecture (7.2)
Clock speed
Of a processor; the frequency or megahertz/gigahertz at which the processor executes instructions.
Computer Architecture (7.2)
Word Length
The number of digits in a binary word.
Computer Architecture (7.2)
Bus Width
The number of signal wires or lines allocated to the bus.
Computer Architecture (7.2)
Hardware
Electrical circuits that a computer is assembled form. The platform on which the software executes.
Computer Architecture (7.2)
Main Memory
Memory that is directly addressable by the processor.
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