Processors
64-bit processing - answer A type of processing that can run a compatible 64-bit
operating system and 64-bit applications. 64-bit PCs have a 64-bit wide address bus,
enabling them to use more than 4GB of RAM.
Address bus - answer Set of wires leading from the CPU to the MCC that enables the
CPU to address RAM.
arithmetic logic unit (ALU) – answer CPU logic circuits that perform basic arithmetic.
backside bus - answer Set of wires that connects the CPU to level 2 cache.
binary - answer Number system with a base of 2.
bit - answer Single binary digit.
byte - answerUnit of 8 bits; fundamental data unit of personal computers. Basic unit of
measurement for computer storage.
cache - answerSpecial area of RAM that stores the data most frequently accessed from
the hard drive.
central processing unit (CPU) - answer"Brain" of the computer. Microprocessor that
handles primary calculations for the computer.
clock cycle - answerSingle charge to the clock wire of a CPU
clock speed - answerSpeed at which a CPU executes instructions, measured in MHz or
GHz.
clock wire - answerA special wire that, when charges, tells the CPU that another piece
of information is waiting to be processed.
code name - answerNames that keep track of different variations within CPU models.
dual-core - answerCPUs that have two execution units on the same physical chip but
share caches and RAM.
external data bus (EDB) - answerPrimary data highway of all computers. Everything in
your computer is tied either directly or indirectly to it.
FPU (floating point unit) - answerSpecial CPU circuitry that handles complex numbers.
64-bit processing - answer A type of processing that can run a compatible 64-bit
operating system and 64-bit applications. 64-bit PCs have a 64-bit wide address bus,
enabling them to use more than 4GB of RAM.
Address bus - answer Set of wires leading from the CPU to the MCC that enables the
CPU to address RAM.
arithmetic logic unit (ALU) – answer CPU logic circuits that perform basic arithmetic.
backside bus - answer Set of wires that connects the CPU to level 2 cache.
binary - answer Number system with a base of 2.
bit - answer Single binary digit.
byte - answerUnit of 8 bits; fundamental data unit of personal computers. Basic unit of
measurement for computer storage.
cache - answerSpecial area of RAM that stores the data most frequently accessed from
the hard drive.
central processing unit (CPU) - answer"Brain" of the computer. Microprocessor that
handles primary calculations for the computer.
clock cycle - answerSingle charge to the clock wire of a CPU
clock speed - answerSpeed at which a CPU executes instructions, measured in MHz or
GHz.
clock wire - answerA special wire that, when charges, tells the CPU that another piece
of information is waiting to be processed.
code name - answerNames that keep track of different variations within CPU models.
dual-core - answerCPUs that have two execution units on the same physical chip but
share caches and RAM.
external data bus (EDB) - answerPrimary data highway of all computers. Everything in
your computer is tied either directly or indirectly to it.
FPU (floating point unit) - answerSpecial CPU circuitry that handles complex numbers.
