Review C1 Components of a Computer System

Can you…?   
1.1 Computer Systems and the CPU
Know what a computer is.
Define hardware and software.
Know what an embedded system is.
Know what a control system is.      
Explain the role of the control unit in a CPU.
Know the names of the registers in a CPU.
Know what ALU stands for and what it does.
Know what a cache is and what it is used for.
Remember a sketch of a Von Neumann computer.
Describe what happens at each stage of a CPU’s fetch-decode-execute cycle.
1.2 Memory and Computer Performance
Explain the difference between volatile and non-volatile memory.
Know what RAM stands for and how it is used in a computer system.
Know if changing the amount of RAM affects the performance of a computer.      
Explain when and how virtual memory is used.
Explain why ROM is required by a computer system.
Name three characteristics of a processor that may affect a computer systems performance.
State three components that could be upgraded to speed up a computer system.
1.3 Secondary Storage
Define primary, secondary and tertiary storage and give an example for each.
List four uses of flash memory.
Know what HDD and SSD stand for and what they do.
Know why some people choose magnetic tape as a form of storage.
Know the pros and cons of optical discs.
Draw a diagram to summarise cost, speed and capacity for different types of secondary storage.
1.4 Types of Software
List five functions of an operating system.
Explain how device drivers are used in a computer system.
Describe a GUI and a Command-line interface.
Describe how the OS manages resources to allow multi-tasking.
Know what a multi-user OS is and be able to give an example of where one might be used.
List four types of utility software.
Explain how defragmentation software works.
Know what incremental backups are and how they would be used.
Know the advantages and disadvantages of open-source and proprietary software.