C952 WGU
# Term Definition
1 register file A state element that consists of a set of
registers that can be read and written by
supplying a register number to be accessed.
provides 1024 scalar 32-bit registers for up to 64
threads.
2 machine language The language made up of binary-coded
instructions that is used directly by the
computer
3 system software The set of programs that enables a computer's
hardware devices and application software to
work together; it includes the operating system
and utility programs.
4 operating system computer science) software that controls the
execution of computer programs and may
provide various services
5 assembly language Programming language that has the same
structure and set of commands as machine
languages but allows programmers to use
symbolic representations of numeric machine
code.
6 IBM 360/91 Introduced many new concepts, including
dynamic detection of memory hazards,
generalized forwarding, and reservation
stations. Tomasulo's algorithmThe internal
organization of the 360/91 shares many
features with the Pentium III and Pentium 4, as
well as with several other microprocessors. One
major difference was that there was no branch
prediction in the 360/91 and hence no
speculation. Another major difference was that
there was no commit unit, so once the
instructions finished execution, they updated
the registers.
,C952 WGU
# Term Definition
7 dynamic random access memory Memory built as an integrated circuit; it
provides random access to any location. Access
times are 50 nanoseconds and cost per gigabyte
in 2012 was $5 to $10.Multiple DRAMs are used
together to contain the instructions and data of
a program. In contrast to sequential access
memories, such as magnetic tapes, the RAM
portion of the term DRAM means that memory
accesses take basically the same amount of time
no matter what portion of the memory is
read.Modern DRAMS consist of rows in each
bank
8 frame buffering A portion of RAM containing a bitmap that
drives a video display. It is a memory buffer
containing a complete frame of data.The image
to be represented onscreen is stored in the
frame buffer, and the bit pattern per pixel is
read out to the graphics display at the refresh
rate. The animation below shows a frame buffer
with a simplified design of just 4 bits per pixel.
9 datapath The component of the processor that performs
arithmetic operations
10 control The component of the processor that
commands the datapath, memory, and I/O
devices according to the instructions of the
program.
11 integrated circuit Also called a chip. A device combining dozens to
millions of transistors.
12 central processing unit Also called processor. The active part of the
computer, which contains the datapath and
control and which adds numbers, tests
numbers, signals I/O devices to activate, and so
on.
13 static RAM Also memory built as an integrated circuit, but
faster and less dense than DRAM.
, C952 WGU
# Term Definition
14 instruction set architecture Also called architecture. An abstract interface
between the hardware and the lowest-level
software that encompasses all the information
necessary to write a machine language program
that will run correctly, including instructions,
registers, memory access, I/O, and so on.
15 application binary interface The user portion of the instruction set plus the
operating system interfaces used by application
programmers. It defines a standard for binary
portability across computers.
16 volatile memory Storage, such as DRAM, that retains data only if
it is receiving power.
17 nonvolatile memory A form of memory that retains data even in the
absence of a power source and that is used to
store programs between runs. A DVD disk is
nonvolatile.
18 magnetic disk Also called hard disk. A form of nonvolatile
secondary memory composed of rotating
platters coated with a magnetic recording
material. Because they are rotating mechanical
devices, access times are about 5 to 20
milliseconds and cost per gigabyte in 2012 was
$0.05 to $0.10
19 main memory Also called primary memory. Memory used to
hold programs while they are running; typically
consists of DRAM in today's computers.
20 secondary memory Nonvolatile memory used to store programs
and data between runs; typically consists of
flash memory in PMDs and magnetic disks in
servers.
21 flash memory A nonvolatile semiconductor memory. It is
cheaper and slower than DRAM but more
expensive per bit and faster than magnetic
disks. Access times are about 5 to 50
microseconds and cost per gigabyte in 2012 was
$0.75 to $1.00.
22 single instruction single data A uniprocessor
# Term Definition
1 register file A state element that consists of a set of
registers that can be read and written by
supplying a register number to be accessed.
provides 1024 scalar 32-bit registers for up to 64
threads.
2 machine language The language made up of binary-coded
instructions that is used directly by the
computer
3 system software The set of programs that enables a computer's
hardware devices and application software to
work together; it includes the operating system
and utility programs.
4 operating system computer science) software that controls the
execution of computer programs and may
provide various services
5 assembly language Programming language that has the same
structure and set of commands as machine
languages but allows programmers to use
symbolic representations of numeric machine
code.
6 IBM 360/91 Introduced many new concepts, including
dynamic detection of memory hazards,
generalized forwarding, and reservation
stations. Tomasulo's algorithmThe internal
organization of the 360/91 shares many
features with the Pentium III and Pentium 4, as
well as with several other microprocessors. One
major difference was that there was no branch
prediction in the 360/91 and hence no
speculation. Another major difference was that
there was no commit unit, so once the
instructions finished execution, they updated
the registers.
,C952 WGU
# Term Definition
7 dynamic random access memory Memory built as an integrated circuit; it
provides random access to any location. Access
times are 50 nanoseconds and cost per gigabyte
in 2012 was $5 to $10.Multiple DRAMs are used
together to contain the instructions and data of
a program. In contrast to sequential access
memories, such as magnetic tapes, the RAM
portion of the term DRAM means that memory
accesses take basically the same amount of time
no matter what portion of the memory is
read.Modern DRAMS consist of rows in each
bank
8 frame buffering A portion of RAM containing a bitmap that
drives a video display. It is a memory buffer
containing a complete frame of data.The image
to be represented onscreen is stored in the
frame buffer, and the bit pattern per pixel is
read out to the graphics display at the refresh
rate. The animation below shows a frame buffer
with a simplified design of just 4 bits per pixel.
9 datapath The component of the processor that performs
arithmetic operations
10 control The component of the processor that
commands the datapath, memory, and I/O
devices according to the instructions of the
program.
11 integrated circuit Also called a chip. A device combining dozens to
millions of transistors.
12 central processing unit Also called processor. The active part of the
computer, which contains the datapath and
control and which adds numbers, tests
numbers, signals I/O devices to activate, and so
on.
13 static RAM Also memory built as an integrated circuit, but
faster and less dense than DRAM.
, C952 WGU
# Term Definition
14 instruction set architecture Also called architecture. An abstract interface
between the hardware and the lowest-level
software that encompasses all the information
necessary to write a machine language program
that will run correctly, including instructions,
registers, memory access, I/O, and so on.
15 application binary interface The user portion of the instruction set plus the
operating system interfaces used by application
programmers. It defines a standard for binary
portability across computers.
16 volatile memory Storage, such as DRAM, that retains data only if
it is receiving power.
17 nonvolatile memory A form of memory that retains data even in the
absence of a power source and that is used to
store programs between runs. A DVD disk is
nonvolatile.
18 magnetic disk Also called hard disk. A form of nonvolatile
secondary memory composed of rotating
platters coated with a magnetic recording
material. Because they are rotating mechanical
devices, access times are about 5 to 20
milliseconds and cost per gigabyte in 2012 was
$0.05 to $0.10
19 main memory Also called primary memory. Memory used to
hold programs while they are running; typically
consists of DRAM in today's computers.
20 secondary memory Nonvolatile memory used to store programs
and data between runs; typically consists of
flash memory in PMDs and magnetic disks in
servers.
21 flash memory A nonvolatile semiconductor memory. It is
cheaper and slower than DRAM but more
expensive per bit and faster than magnetic
disks. Access times are about 5 to 50
microseconds and cost per gigabyte in 2012 was
$0.75 to $1.00.
22 single instruction single data A uniprocessor
