BTE 210 Midterm 1 Exam Questions And Correct Answers
Supercomputer
Faster, high cost, used by large organizations to run computationally intensive jobs that
require huge datasets: military, scientific research, National Weather Service, etc.
Mainframe Computer
High-end of the performance and reliability scales, Operate at teraflop (trillions of
floating point operations/second) speeds, can process millions of transactions/day
Midrange or Minicomputer
Larger midrange computers are comparatively small, low-cost, compact computers that
perform the same functions as mainframe computers but to a more limited extent.
Microcomputers
also known as PCS, the smallest and least expensive class of general-purpose
computers
Desktop PC
familiar microcomputer system that has become a standard tool for business and the
home. generally includes a CPU and a separate but connected monitor and keyboard
Thin-client systems
desktop computers that do not provide full functionality of a PC. Compared to PCs, or fat
clients, thin clients are less complicated, partly because they do not have locally
attached software. When they execute an application, they obtain it from a server over a
network instead of from a local disk drive
Laptop or Notebook
,small, easily transportable, lightweight microcomputers that fit into an attaché case.
power efficient. Netbooks are primarily optimized for Internet-centric services such as
browsing and e-mail capability
Central Processing Unit (CPU)
-brain of computer that executes instructions specified by software
-executes data manipulations and controls actions of other components
-comprised of an ALU, CU and cache memory
-executes arithmetic operations, data processing and data transfers, makes decisions
Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU)
performs simple arithmetic and logical (comparative)
Control Unit (CU)
controls all computer parts-reads from memory and transfers info around
Cache memory
High-speed memory that allows the computer to temporarily store blocks of data that
are accessed more frequently and that a processor can retrieve quicker than in main
memory, or RAM. Cache memory is located physically closer to the CPU than RAM.
Primary Storage
temporary holding area for data and program instructions while being processed
-registers: part of the CPU, has the smallest capacity, holds very limited number of
instructions and data only just before and immediately after processing
-store all or part of active program software
-store operating system software
-store data being used by the program
, Random Access Memory (RAM)
part of primary storage that temporarily holds a software program and small quantity of
data for processing
Read Only Memory (ROM)
Chip type where some necessary instructions are safeguarded. ROM is non-volatile,
meaning it remembers these instructions while this is a computer and the power is off.
Secondary Storage
-store data and programs until needed later
-magnetic tape, magnetic discs
-solid state drive (SSD): is a data storage device, functions like a hard drive but in
memory chips. while hard drives have moving parts, SSDs do not
-optical storage devices
-flash drive/ memory cards: no moving parts and 30% less use of battery, nonvolatile
electronic storage devices Bit
-on/off signal switch (1= On; 0=Off)
-smallest unit of data Byte
-smallest addressable unit of data-8 bits in a byte Input Devices
-smallest addressable unit of data-8 bits in a byte Output Devices
-accept data and instructions from computer and convert to form that human will be
able to understand
-Monitor
-Printer
-Speaker Software
series of statements or instructions to the computer
Two major types of software
system software and application software
Supercomputer
Faster, high cost, used by large organizations to run computationally intensive jobs that
require huge datasets: military, scientific research, National Weather Service, etc.
Mainframe Computer
High-end of the performance and reliability scales, Operate at teraflop (trillions of
floating point operations/second) speeds, can process millions of transactions/day
Midrange or Minicomputer
Larger midrange computers are comparatively small, low-cost, compact computers that
perform the same functions as mainframe computers but to a more limited extent.
Microcomputers
also known as PCS, the smallest and least expensive class of general-purpose
computers
Desktop PC
familiar microcomputer system that has become a standard tool for business and the
home. generally includes a CPU and a separate but connected monitor and keyboard
Thin-client systems
desktop computers that do not provide full functionality of a PC. Compared to PCs, or fat
clients, thin clients are less complicated, partly because they do not have locally
attached software. When they execute an application, they obtain it from a server over a
network instead of from a local disk drive
Laptop or Notebook
,small, easily transportable, lightweight microcomputers that fit into an attaché case.
power efficient. Netbooks are primarily optimized for Internet-centric services such as
browsing and e-mail capability
Central Processing Unit (CPU)
-brain of computer that executes instructions specified by software
-executes data manipulations and controls actions of other components
-comprised of an ALU, CU and cache memory
-executes arithmetic operations, data processing and data transfers, makes decisions
Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU)
performs simple arithmetic and logical (comparative)
Control Unit (CU)
controls all computer parts-reads from memory and transfers info around
Cache memory
High-speed memory that allows the computer to temporarily store blocks of data that
are accessed more frequently and that a processor can retrieve quicker than in main
memory, or RAM. Cache memory is located physically closer to the CPU than RAM.
Primary Storage
temporary holding area for data and program instructions while being processed
-registers: part of the CPU, has the smallest capacity, holds very limited number of
instructions and data only just before and immediately after processing
-store all or part of active program software
-store operating system software
-store data being used by the program
, Random Access Memory (RAM)
part of primary storage that temporarily holds a software program and small quantity of
data for processing
Read Only Memory (ROM)
Chip type where some necessary instructions are safeguarded. ROM is non-volatile,
meaning it remembers these instructions while this is a computer and the power is off.
Secondary Storage
-store data and programs until needed later
-magnetic tape, magnetic discs
-solid state drive (SSD): is a data storage device, functions like a hard drive but in
memory chips. while hard drives have moving parts, SSDs do not
-optical storage devices
-flash drive/ memory cards: no moving parts and 30% less use of battery, nonvolatile
electronic storage devices Bit
-on/off signal switch (1= On; 0=Off)
-smallest unit of data Byte
-smallest addressable unit of data-8 bits in a byte Input Devices
-smallest addressable unit of data-8 bits in a byte Output Devices
-accept data and instructions from computer and convert to form that human will be
able to understand
-Monitor
-Printer
-Speaker Software
series of statements or instructions to the computer
Two major types of software
system software and application software
