Computer Science - 4CP0 PearsonEdexcel

Hardware

Overview

Underneath every app, game and website sits the same handful of physical components doing the same handful of jobs: something that carries out instructions, something that holds them while they are used, something that stores them long-term, and something that gets data in and results out. Understanding how these pieces of hardware fit together, and what makes some computers faster than others, is the foundation for everything else in this course.

In this lesson you will learn how the CPU, memory, storage and input/output devices work together, the differences between RAM, ROM, cache and virtual memory, how the fetch-decode-execute cycle carries out a stored program, what makes one CPU faster than another, how data is physically stored on different types of media, and why some devices use embedded systems instead of a general-purpose computer.

Objectives

Understand the function of the hardware components of a computer system (central processing unit (CPU), main memory, secondary storage, input and output devices) and how they work together
Understand the function of different types of memory (random-access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), cache, virtual memory)
Understand the concept of a stored program and the role of components of the CPU (control unit (CU), arithmetic/logic unit (ALU), registers, clock, address bus, data bus, control bus) in the fetch-decode-execute cycle (the Von Neumann model)
Understand factors that affect the performance of the CPU (clock speed, number of processor cores, size of cache, type of cache)
Understand how data is stored on physical devices (magnetic, optical, solid state)
Understand the concept of storing data in the cloud and other contemporary secondary storage
Understand the need for embedded systems and their functions

Lesson Note

Every computer system, from a smartphone to a supercomputer, is built from the same categories of hardware working together.

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Lesson Evaluation

Congratulations on completing the lesson on Hardware. Now that youve explored the key concepts and ideas, its time to put your knowledge to the test. This section offers a variety of practice questions designed to reinforce your understanding and help you gauge your grasp of the material.

You will encounter a mix of question types, including multiple-choice questions, short answer questions, and essay questions. Each question is thoughtfully crafted to assess different aspects of your knowledge and critical thinking skills.

Use this evaluation section as an opportunity to reinforce your understanding of the topic and to identify any areas where you may need additional study. Don't be discouraged by any challenges you encounter; instead, view them as opportunities for growth and improvement.

Which type of memory is volatile and holds the programs and data currently in use? A) ROM B) RAM C) Cache D) Optical storage Answer: B
Which CPU component performs arithmetic and logical operations? A) Control unit B) Arithmetic/logic unit C) Clock D) Address bus Answer: B
Which bus carries the address of the memory location the CPU wants to access? A) Data bus B) Control bus C) Address bus D) System bus Answer: C
Which factor allows a CPU to process more than one instruction at exactly the same time? A) A higher clock speed alone B) A larger ROM C) Having multiple processor cores D) A smaller cache Answer: C
Which storage technology stores data using transistors that are switched on or off, with no moving parts? A) Magnetic B) Optical C) Solid state D) Cloud Answer: C