BTE 210 – Final Exam – Professor Korogodsky – Study
Guide and Key Concepts
Types of Computers - correct answer ✔✔ supercomputers, mainframe computers,
minicomputers (midrange computers), Desktop PC, thin client systems, and Laptop + Notebook
What is a supercomputer? - correct answer ✔✔ It is the fastest computer available at any given
time; high costs so normally used by large organization for big data sets, ex: military, weather,
science
What is a mainframe computer? - correct answer ✔✔ At the high end of performance and
reliability; can handle millions of transactions per day
What is a midrange (minicomputer)? - correct answer ✔✔ Larger midrange computer that are
relatively small, inexpensive, and compact; perform the same function as mainframe, but to a
more limited extent
What is a desktop PC? - correct answer ✔✔ Microcomputer system for business and home,
includes a CPU and a separate but connected monitor and keyboard
What is a thin-client system? - correct answer ✔✔ don't offer full functionality of a PC, don't
have locally installed software, cheaper, physically they are very similar to a laptop
What is a laptop/notebook? - correct answer ✔✔ small, easily transportable, lightweight
microcomputers that fit comfortably into a briefcase. Lightweight, energy-efficient, portable.
Netbooks are generally optimized for Internet-based services such as Web browsing and e-mail.
What is a microcomputer? - correct answer ✔✔ PCs, smallest and least expensive
,What are information systems? - correct answer ✔✔ Can be divided into three phases - input
(input devices), process (processor), and output (output devices) INPUT —> PROCESS —>
OUTPUT
What does an information system consist of? - correct answer ✔✔ CPU, Communications
Devices, Secondary Storage (Magnetic Disk, Optical Disk, and Magnetic Tape), Primary Storage,
Output Devices, Input Devices, Buses (wires that connect components of the motherboard)
What are examples of input devices? - correct answer ✔✔ Keyboard, Mouse, Webcam,
Microphone, Scanner, Numeric Pad
What are examples of output devices? - correct answer ✔✔ Printers, Video display, audio
output, plotter (large-format printer)
What are the main components of a computer? - correct answer ✔✔ System Fan, Power Supply,
Motherboard, CPU, Ram Modules, Optical Drive, Hard Drive, Heat Sink, Floppy
What is the CPU (Central Processing Unit)? - correct answer ✔✔ -Manipulates the data and
control the tasks performed by the other components
-The "brain" of the computer system is called the "central processing unit
What does the CPU consist of? - correct answer ✔✔ Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU)-simple math
and logic: comparison
Control Unit (CU)- controls all computer parts
Cache Memory- registers on cache are where computation takes place
,What is the primary storage? - correct answer ✔✔ It temporarily stores data and program
instructions during processing; RAM, ROM software operates here
Types of primary memory (main memory) - correct answer ✔✔ register memory - part of the
CPU. Has the least capacity and stores data only immediately before and after processing.
located closer to CPU than the RAM
cache memory - High speed memory that enables the computer to temporarily store blocks of
data that are used more frequently
random access memory (RAM) - holds a software program and small amounts of data for
processing
read only memory (ROM) - type of chip where certain critical instructions are held and retains
these instructions even when the computer is off MANUFACTURER INSTALLS THIS
Types of secondary storage - correct answer ✔✔ Magnetic tape - on a large open reel or in a
smaller cartridge or cassette
magnetic discs - most widely used
solid state drives (SSD) - serve the same purpose as a hard drive and store data in memory
chips, but do not have moving parts
Optical storage devices - laser reads the surface of a reflective plastic platter
Flash memory (memory cards) - nonvolatile electronic storage devices with no moving parts and
use 30x less battery power than hard drives
, SSD vs. HDD - correct answer ✔✔ SSD no moving parts (less likely to break ) - Faster than HDD -
more expensive - lighter - run cooler than HDD , lower power consumption than HDD.
What are communication devices? - correct answer ✔✔ Bluetooth, etc.
What is a heat sink? - correct answer ✔✔ A specially designed piece of metal that draws heat
away from the CPU.
What are RAM modules? - correct answer ✔✔ They are on the motherboard in either 8 GB or
16 GB configuration
What is RAM (Random Access Memory)? - correct answer ✔✔ The hardware in a computing
device where the operating system (OS), application programs and data in current use are kept
so they can be quickly reached by the device's processor
What is ROM (Read Only Memory)? - correct answer ✔✔ memory chips that cannot be written
to or erased and contains information supplied by the manufacturer
What is the secondary storage? - correct answer ✔✔ It stores data and programs for future use;
where data is stored (magnetic disk, optical disk, magnetic tape), spins clockwise and counter
clock wise and magnetic arms expands and contracts looking for files
What is a bit? - correct answer ✔✔ The smallest unit of information consisting of either a 1 or a
0, on/off switch
How many bits are in a byte? - correct answer ✔✔ 8
What is a byte? - correct answer ✔✔ a group of 8 bits; SMALLEST ADDRESSABLE UNIT OF DATA
Guide and Key Concepts
Types of Computers - correct answer ✔✔ supercomputers, mainframe computers,
minicomputers (midrange computers), Desktop PC, thin client systems, and Laptop + Notebook
What is a supercomputer? - correct answer ✔✔ It is the fastest computer available at any given
time; high costs so normally used by large organization for big data sets, ex: military, weather,
science
What is a mainframe computer? - correct answer ✔✔ At the high end of performance and
reliability; can handle millions of transactions per day
What is a midrange (minicomputer)? - correct answer ✔✔ Larger midrange computer that are
relatively small, inexpensive, and compact; perform the same function as mainframe, but to a
more limited extent
What is a desktop PC? - correct answer ✔✔ Microcomputer system for business and home,
includes a CPU and a separate but connected monitor and keyboard
What is a thin-client system? - correct answer ✔✔ don't offer full functionality of a PC, don't
have locally installed software, cheaper, physically they are very similar to a laptop
What is a laptop/notebook? - correct answer ✔✔ small, easily transportable, lightweight
microcomputers that fit comfortably into a briefcase. Lightweight, energy-efficient, portable.
Netbooks are generally optimized for Internet-based services such as Web browsing and e-mail.
What is a microcomputer? - correct answer ✔✔ PCs, smallest and least expensive
,What are information systems? - correct answer ✔✔ Can be divided into three phases - input
(input devices), process (processor), and output (output devices) INPUT —> PROCESS —>
OUTPUT
What does an information system consist of? - correct answer ✔✔ CPU, Communications
Devices, Secondary Storage (Magnetic Disk, Optical Disk, and Magnetic Tape), Primary Storage,
Output Devices, Input Devices, Buses (wires that connect components of the motherboard)
What are examples of input devices? - correct answer ✔✔ Keyboard, Mouse, Webcam,
Microphone, Scanner, Numeric Pad
What are examples of output devices? - correct answer ✔✔ Printers, Video display, audio
output, plotter (large-format printer)
What are the main components of a computer? - correct answer ✔✔ System Fan, Power Supply,
Motherboard, CPU, Ram Modules, Optical Drive, Hard Drive, Heat Sink, Floppy
What is the CPU (Central Processing Unit)? - correct answer ✔✔ -Manipulates the data and
control the tasks performed by the other components
-The "brain" of the computer system is called the "central processing unit
What does the CPU consist of? - correct answer ✔✔ Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU)-simple math
and logic: comparison
Control Unit (CU)- controls all computer parts
Cache Memory- registers on cache are where computation takes place
,What is the primary storage? - correct answer ✔✔ It temporarily stores data and program
instructions during processing; RAM, ROM software operates here
Types of primary memory (main memory) - correct answer ✔✔ register memory - part of the
CPU. Has the least capacity and stores data only immediately before and after processing.
located closer to CPU than the RAM
cache memory - High speed memory that enables the computer to temporarily store blocks of
data that are used more frequently
random access memory (RAM) - holds a software program and small amounts of data for
processing
read only memory (ROM) - type of chip where certain critical instructions are held and retains
these instructions even when the computer is off MANUFACTURER INSTALLS THIS
Types of secondary storage - correct answer ✔✔ Magnetic tape - on a large open reel or in a
smaller cartridge or cassette
magnetic discs - most widely used
solid state drives (SSD) - serve the same purpose as a hard drive and store data in memory
chips, but do not have moving parts
Optical storage devices - laser reads the surface of a reflective plastic platter
Flash memory (memory cards) - nonvolatile electronic storage devices with no moving parts and
use 30x less battery power than hard drives
, SSD vs. HDD - correct answer ✔✔ SSD no moving parts (less likely to break ) - Faster than HDD -
more expensive - lighter - run cooler than HDD , lower power consumption than HDD.
What are communication devices? - correct answer ✔✔ Bluetooth, etc.
What is a heat sink? - correct answer ✔✔ A specially designed piece of metal that draws heat
away from the CPU.
What are RAM modules? - correct answer ✔✔ They are on the motherboard in either 8 GB or
16 GB configuration
What is RAM (Random Access Memory)? - correct answer ✔✔ The hardware in a computing
device where the operating system (OS), application programs and data in current use are kept
so they can be quickly reached by the device's processor
What is ROM (Read Only Memory)? - correct answer ✔✔ memory chips that cannot be written
to or erased and contains information supplied by the manufacturer
What is the secondary storage? - correct answer ✔✔ It stores data and programs for future use;
where data is stored (magnetic disk, optical disk, magnetic tape), spins clockwise and counter
clock wise and magnetic arms expands and contracts looking for files
What is a bit? - correct answer ✔✔ The smallest unit of information consisting of either a 1 or a
0, on/off switch
How many bits are in a byte? - correct answer ✔✔ 8
What is a byte? - correct answer ✔✔ a group of 8 bits; SMALLEST ADDRESSABLE UNIT OF DATA
