Operating Systems 1st Week Quiz

Computer System Components

• The Central Processing Unit (CPU) is responsible for controlling the operation and performing the data processing functions.
• The CPU is also the component that performs the data processing functions and controls the operation of the computer.

Memory

• Volatile memory loses its contents when the computer is shut down.
• The contents of main memory that are lost when the computer is shut down are referred to as volatile memory.

Operating System

• The feature of the operating system that allows it to exploit the hardware resources of one or more processors is multiprocessing.

Input/Output (I/O) Components

• The component that moves data between the computer and external environments, such as storage and I/O devices, is the Input/Output (I/O) component.

Bus

• The main function of the System Bus in a computer is to move data between the computer and external environments.

Microprocessors

• The microprocessor that revolutionized desktop and handheld computing by integrating the processor on a single chip is the Microprocessor.
• System on a Chip (SoC) is the primary component in modern handheld devices, integrating the processor on a single chip.

Co-Processors

• The primary purpose of Graphical Processing Units (GPUs) in computing is to accelerate graphics processing.
• Digital Signal Processors (DSPs) were traditionally embedded in devices such as sound cards and modems.
• The primary purpose of System on a Chip (SoC) in modern handheld devices is to integrate the processor, memory, and input/output functions on a single chip.

Instruction Execution

• During the Fetch stage of instruction execution in a computer processor, the processor retrieves an instruction from memory.
• The Instruction Register (IR) holds the current instruction being executed by the processor.
• Interrupts alter the normal sequencing of a computer processor by interrupting the current instruction and executing a new one.
• An arithmetic overflow falls under the class of synchronous interrupts.