COSC 116 Review Sheet for Test 1

Bit---smallest piece of data recognizable Byte—8 bits that form a character

Nibble-4 bits that form half a byte Kilobyte—1,000 bytes Megabyte—million bytes Gigabyte—billion bytes terabytes –trillion petabyte –quadrillion

Data—raw facts Parity—error checking bit

Information—processed data (computer processes data into information)

Alphanumeric codes(Encoding systems): ASCII—EBCIDIC—UNICODE (Universal)--ANSI

CPU and chips

Chip is a piece of semi-conducting material on which integrated circuits are etched

CPU—central processing unit (brain of the computer) divided into control and ALU (arithmetic logic unit) in which all data must pass to be processed.

Registers—memory in the CPU

Execution cycle:

Execution or machine cycle consists of i-time (fetch---decode) e-time --- execute---store

Pipelining is the simultaneous operation of the execution cycle on more than one instruction.

Time frame megahertz—one million times a second gigahertz-1 billion times a second terahertz-1trillion times a second

RAM –Random Access Memory Read/write memory

DDR RAM (double data rate RAM)

Static RAM faster and more expensive than Dynamic RAM which must be refreshed often

Volatile—data lost when computer is turned off RAM is volatile

ROM---Read Only Memory - can read from but not write to

PROM—Programmable Read Only Memory

FirmWare—instructions permanently stored in ROM

EEPROM-memory used in computer that is non-volatile used to store system information.

BIOS—memory that contains instructions to get the computer started (booted)

Flash—non-volatile memory in digital cameras, flash drives etc.

EEPROM—electrical erasable programmable read only memory

Disk cache-- memory chips that a processor uses to store frequently accessed items

Dual core processor- a single chip that contains two microprocessors

Database—collection of files related to the operation of an organization

Records—a logical division of data that consists of several fields

Fields----attributes related to a collection of information on a file

Controller---the chip that controls information and data for a peripheral device such as a disk drive.

SCSI—a popular controller for a variety of peripheral devices

Disk organization

Tracks—concentric circles where data is stored

Cylinders—tracks that align on multiple disks

Sectors—division of tracks on a disk

Transfer time—the time it takes to access data from a disk.

A hard disk transfer time involves:

Seek time—the read/write head finding the correct track (cylinder)

Rotational delay—the time it takes for the proper sector to come under the head

Access time—the time it takes to transfer the data

The letter X is used to describe speed of a device. It means 150KBps

RRL—Data compression technique (lossless type)

Know the various audio files: .acc .aif .mp3 .wav .wma

IDE Integrated Drive Electronics IDE1 IDE2

Microfiche—images stored on a film

Serial Port—transmits 1 bit at a time

Parallel Port-transmits several bits at a time

Bus—a channel that allows communication between components in a computer

Bay—an open area inside the system unit for adding equipment

Open Bus—has expansion slots for additions to the computer

Languages

Low level—must know details about the hardware

Machine code

Assembly code

Types of Computers

Notebook—portable computer

PDA---small palm computer

Workstation—expensive desktop computer designed to make graphics and do intense data processing

Server—a computer that manages the resources on a network.

NIC—card that enables the computer to communicate via a network

Sound Card—transforms bits stored in an audio file into music or other sounds.

Pixel—smallest unit of a screen that can be manipulated

Sampling Rate- Number of times per second a sound wave is measured

Shopping for a computer: Be able to know the following current attributes for home computers:

Speed RAM memory Storage amount

Binary conversion:

Be able to convert binary numbers to decimal and decimal to binary

Be able to convert decimal numbers to hex and hex to decimal

Be able to write a simple assembly program like the homework assignment.

SPREADSHEETS Know absolute and relative addressing and how coping those addresses to different locations would effect them.