Mastering Computer Studies: Unleash Your Potential in Computer Science and Hardware
PROCESSING DEVICES
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Read only memory (ROM)
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​Types of ROM
Random Access Memory (RAM)
RAM (random access memory)
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However, the data in RAM stays there only as long as your computer is running. When you turn the computer off, RAM loses its data. When you turn your computer on again, your operating system and other files are once again loaded into RAM, usually from your hard disk
​Type of RAM
- Static RAM (SRAM) - SRAM (Static RAM) is random access memory (RAM) that retains data bits in its memory as long as power is being supplied. Static RAM provides faster access to data and is more expensive than DRAM. SRAM is used for a computer's cache memory and as part of the random access memory digital-to-analog converter on a video card.
- Dynamic RAM (DRAM) - Dynamic random access memory (DRAM) is the most common kind of random access memory (RAM) for personal computers and workstations. It needs to have its storage cells refreshed or given a new electronic charge every few milliseconds. DRAM stores each bit in a storage cell consisting of a capacitor and a transistor. Capacitors tend to lose their charge rather
​Static RAM vs. Dynamic
​RAM vs. ROM
​Special purpose memories
- ​These are types of memories housed in the CPU, system board, input and output devices to enhance performance.
- Cache memory- A CPU cache is a cache used by the central processing unit of a computer to reduce the average time to access memory. The cache is a smaller, faster memory which stores copies of the data from the most frequently used main memory locations. As the microprocessor processes data, it looks first in the cache memory and if it finds the data there (from a previous reading of data), it does not have to do the more time-consuming reading of data from larger memory. Cache memory is sometimes described in levels of closeness and accessibility to the microprocessor. An L1 cache is on the same chip as the microprocessor.
- Buffers- a buffer is a region of physical memory storage used to temporarily hold data while it is being moved from one place to another. Typically, the data is stored in a buffer as it is retrieved from an input device (such as a mouse) or just before it is sent to an output device (such as speakers). However, a buffer may be used when moving data between processes within a computer. Like a cache, a buffer is a "midpoint holding place" but exist not so much to accelerate the speed of an activity as to support the coordination of separate activities.
- Registers- a processor register is a small amount of storage available as part of a CPU or other digital processor. Such registers are (typically) addressed by mechanisms other than main memory and can be accessed more quickly. Almost all computers, load-store architecture or not, load data from a larger memory into registers where it is used for arithmetic, manipulated, or tested, by some machine instruction. Manipulated data is then often stored back in main memory, either by the same instruction or a subsequent one.
​Types of registers
Memory capacities
Hierarchy of storage
​Primary storage (or main memory or internal memory), often referred to simply as memory, is the only one directly accessible to the CPU. Examples include: RAM, ROM, Cache memory, Registers and buffers.
Secondary storage (also known as external memory or auxiliary storage), these memory permanently store data for future reference. |
- Off-line storage is computer data storage on a medium or a device that is not under the control of a processing unit. The medium is recorded, usually in a secondary or tertiary storage device, and then physically removed or disconnected.
- Example: CD, DVD, Tapes, Floppy disk, Zip and Jazz disks etc.
​Secondary storage devices
The Hard Disk/HDD -A hard disk is part of a unit, often called a "disk drive," "hard drive," or "hard disk drive," that store and provides relatively quick access to large amounts of data on an electromagnetically charged surface or set of surfaces. A hard disk is really a set of stacked "disks," each of which, like phonograph/gramophone records, has data recorded electromagnetically in concentric circles or "tracks" on the disk. A "head" (something like a phonograph arm but in a relatively fixed position) records (writes) or reads the information on the tracks. Two heads, one on each side of a disk, read or write the data as the disk spins. Each read or write operation requires that data be located, which is an operation called a "seek." (Data already in a disk cache, however, will be located more quickly.)
​Off-line/removable storage devices
​Magnetic disks
Floppy disk- The term usually refers to the magnetic medium housed in a rigid plastic cartridge measuring 3.5 inches square and about 2millimeters thick. Also called a "3.5-inch diskette," it can store up to 1.44 megabytes (MB) of data. Although many personal computers today come with a 3.5-inch diskette drive pre-installed, some notebooks and centrally-administered desktop computers omit them.
Floppy disk requires floppy drives (shown below) to read and write.
Floppy disk requires floppy drives (shown below) to read and write.
Disk platter - A hard-disk platter (or disk) is a component of a hard-disk drive: it is the circular disk on which the magnetic data is stored. The rigid nature of the platters in a hard drive is what gives them their name (as opposed to the flexible materials which are used to make floppy disk). Hard drives typically have several platters which are mounted on the same spindle. A platter can store information on both sides, requiring two heads per platter.
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- Compact Discs (VCD), Super Video Compact Discs (SVCD), PhotoCD, PictureCD, CD-i, and Enhanced CD. Audio CDs and audio players have been commercially available since October 1982. Have a storage capacity of 700MB or 80 minutes of continuous play.
​DVD/Digital Versatile/Video Disk
- The modern DVDs are called a Blu-Ray Disk and HD DVD- In 2006; two new formats called HD DVD and Blu-ray Disc were released as the successor to DVD. HD DVD competed unsuccessfully with Blu-ray Disc in the format war of 2006–2008. A dual layer HD (high definition) DVD can store up to 30GB and a dual layer Blu-ray disc can hold up to 50GB
Optical tape
- Is a medium for optical storage generally consisting of a long and narrow strip of plastic on to which patterns can be written and from which the patterns can be read back. It can host at least 100 MB of data.
- Mostly used by cameras to store images, sounds and data.
- Optical memory cards use a technology similar to the one used for music CDs or CD ROMs. A panel of the "gold colored" laser sensitive material is laminated in the card and is used to store the information. Can store from 4 - 6.6 MB
- As of September 2011 drives of 256 gigabytes (GB) are available. Storage capacities as large as 2 terabytes are planned, with steady improvements in size and price per capacity expected.
Memory card- A memory card or flash card is an electronic flash memory data storage device used for storing digital information. They are commonly used in many electronic devices, including digital cameras, mobile phones, laptop computers, MP3 players and video game consoles. They are small, re-recordable, and able to retain data without power.
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- Their storage capacities range from 32MB up to 2TB (terabytes). Memory cards are classified according to physical sizes, storage capacity and speed classes called SD- Secure Digital this is a non-volatile memory card format for use in portable devices. There is the Full SD, Mini SD and Micro SD.
​The CPU Speed, Links, History, Speed and Types
The speed of the CPU is measured in HERTZ (HZ). i.e., number of operations that can be done per second. Heat is released when CPUs run.
High temperature, however, decrease the performance of CPU. You, therefore, need a fan to cool down the CPU. You can change the speed of CPU in BIOS of your computer. Some people change the speed of their CPU to a very high MHz. |
- This can increase the speed of the computer but would make the CPU overload and overheat. Finally, the whole computer may break down. Therefore, it is not recommend doing so.
​History of the CPU
​Types of the CPU
There aren't really different types of CPU, but there are some major differences between CPUs. Like Bus Sizes - we have 32 & 64 bits. But there are different processor architectures namely:
- CISC: Complex Instruction Set Computers
- RISC: Reduced instruction Set Computers
- MISC: Minimal Instruction Set Computers
- This is a computer where single instructions can execute several low-level operations. Examples of
- CISC instruction set architectures are System/360 through z/Architecture, PDP-11, VAX, Motorola 68k, and x86.
- This is a CPU design strategy that uses fewer instructions set compared to CISC. Well known RISC families include DEC Alpha, AMD 29k, ARC, ARM, Atmel AVR, Blackfin, MIPS, PARISC,
- Power (including PowerPC), SuperH, and SPARC.
- This is processor architecture with a very small number of basic operations and corresponding opcodes.
- Probably the most commercially successful MISC was the INMOS transputer.
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