Central Processing Unit (CPU) - ANSWER-Main Processor
Memory - ANSWER-Dynamic data storage unit
Input/Output devices - ANSWER-devices that are used to input to a computer
(keyboard, mouse) or output (monitor)
Ease of Use - ANSWER-how convenient it is for a user to use a PC
Resource Utilization - ANSWER-how various hardware and software resources are
shared
Mainframe - ANSWER-large and powerful data processing system
Minicomputer - ANSWER-Middle range of computing systems, between mainframes
and PCs
Workstation - ANSWER-a work PC
resource allocator - ANSWER-job of the operating system, allocates and manages
hardware resources
bit - ANSWER-basic unit of computer storage (0 or 1)
byte - ANSWER-8 bits, smallest convenient chunk of storage
Word - ANSWER-a given computer architectures native storage unit (made up of one or
more bytes)
Kernel - ANSWER-the one program running at all times; the core of the operating
system
Systems program - ANSWER-associated with the OS but not part of the kernel
Bootstrap program - ANSWER-automatic procedure whereby basic OS is reloaded
following a complete shutdown or loss of memory
Read-only memory (ROM) - ANSWER-read only memory
EEPROM - ANSWER-electrically erasable programable read only memory
, firmware - ANSWER-same thing as EEPROM
Interrupt - ANSWER-signal sent from hardware or software to CPU to transfer execution
to some other instructions
Random Access Memory (RAM) - ANSWER-main memory, called random access
memory
Von Neumann Architecture - ANSWER-Typical instruction-execution cycle where
instructions are fetched from memory and stored in the instruction register
Instruction Register - ANSWER-Used to hold the current instruction that is being
executed
secondary storage - ANSWER-extension of main memory where large quantities of data
can be held permanently
Magnetic Disk - ANSWER-provides storage for both programs and data
Volatile storage - ANSWER-loses its contents when power to the device is removed
Nonvolatile storage - ANSWER-storage that does not lose its contents when power is
removed
Electronic Disk - ANSWER-can be either volatile or nonvolatile, it stores data in large
DRAM array
NVRAM - ANSWER-nonvolatile storage which is DRAM with battery backup power
Small computer-Systems Interface (SCSI) - ANSWER-a controller that can provide
connection to 7 or more devices to move data between peripheral devices and local
buffer storage
Direct Memory Access (DMA) - ANSWER-When a device controller transfers an entire
block of data from its own buffer storage to memory without CPU intervention
Single-Processor System - ANSWER-systems that have only one main CPU
Multi-processor system - ANSWER-parallel systems that have more than one processor
in close communication
Memory - ANSWER-Dynamic data storage unit
Input/Output devices - ANSWER-devices that are used to input to a computer
(keyboard, mouse) or output (monitor)
Ease of Use - ANSWER-how convenient it is for a user to use a PC
Resource Utilization - ANSWER-how various hardware and software resources are
shared
Mainframe - ANSWER-large and powerful data processing system
Minicomputer - ANSWER-Middle range of computing systems, between mainframes
and PCs
Workstation - ANSWER-a work PC
resource allocator - ANSWER-job of the operating system, allocates and manages
hardware resources
bit - ANSWER-basic unit of computer storage (0 or 1)
byte - ANSWER-8 bits, smallest convenient chunk of storage
Word - ANSWER-a given computer architectures native storage unit (made up of one or
more bytes)
Kernel - ANSWER-the one program running at all times; the core of the operating
system
Systems program - ANSWER-associated with the OS but not part of the kernel
Bootstrap program - ANSWER-automatic procedure whereby basic OS is reloaded
following a complete shutdown or loss of memory
Read-only memory (ROM) - ANSWER-read only memory
EEPROM - ANSWER-electrically erasable programable read only memory
, firmware - ANSWER-same thing as EEPROM
Interrupt - ANSWER-signal sent from hardware or software to CPU to transfer execution
to some other instructions
Random Access Memory (RAM) - ANSWER-main memory, called random access
memory
Von Neumann Architecture - ANSWER-Typical instruction-execution cycle where
instructions are fetched from memory and stored in the instruction register
Instruction Register - ANSWER-Used to hold the current instruction that is being
executed
secondary storage - ANSWER-extension of main memory where large quantities of data
can be held permanently
Magnetic Disk - ANSWER-provides storage for both programs and data
Volatile storage - ANSWER-loses its contents when power to the device is removed
Nonvolatile storage - ANSWER-storage that does not lose its contents when power is
removed
Electronic Disk - ANSWER-can be either volatile or nonvolatile, it stores data in large
DRAM array
NVRAM - ANSWER-nonvolatile storage which is DRAM with battery backup power
Small computer-Systems Interface (SCSI) - ANSWER-a controller that can provide
connection to 7 or more devices to move data between peripheral devices and local
buffer storage
Direct Memory Access (DMA) - ANSWER-When a device controller transfers an entire
block of data from its own buffer storage to memory without CPU intervention
Single-Processor System - ANSWER-systems that have only one main CPU
Multi-processor system - ANSWER-parallel systems that have more than one processor
in close communication
