Podcast
Questions and Answers
Which law predicts that the number of transistors on a CPU will double every two years?
Which law predicts that the number of transistors on a CPU will double every two years?
Which of the following computer types is the lightest?
Which of the following computer types is the lightest?
The processor market for desktop and laptop computers is dominated by which company?
The processor market for desktop and laptop computers is dominated by which company?
Which of the following does NOT influence a CPU's processing power?
Which of the following does NOT influence a CPU's processing power?
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Which of the following activities is carried out by the Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU)?
Which of the following activities is carried out by the Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU)?
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Which of the following is not part of the machine cycle?
Which of the following is not part of the machine cycle?
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Where is the CPU located?
Where is the CPU located?
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What type of storage is RAM?
What type of storage is RAM?
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How is the amount of RAM storage typically measured on modern computing devices?
How is the amount of RAM storage typically measured on modern computing devices?
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What is the name of the memory-management technique used by Windows to monitor and preload frequently used applications?
What is the name of the memory-management technique used by Windows to monitor and preload frequently used applications?
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What is the best way to determine your RAM allocation?
What is the best way to determine your RAM allocation?
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When referring to hard drives, what is measured by access time?
When referring to hard drives, what is measured by access time?
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What is the main function of the control unit in a CPU?
What is the main function of the control unit in a CPU?
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Which component of the CPU is responsible for executing arithmetic and logical operations?
Which component of the CPU is responsible for executing arithmetic and logical operations?
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What is the purpose of cache memory in a CPU?
What is the purpose of cache memory in a CPU?
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Which technology allows a CPU to execute multiple instruction streams simultaneously?
Which technology allows a CPU to execute multiple instruction streams simultaneously?
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What is the term used for running a CPU at a higher clock speed than the manufacturer's recommended setting?
What is the term used for running a CPU at a higher clock speed than the manufacturer's recommended setting?
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Which component of a CPU is responsible for retrieving instructions from memory?
Which component of a CPU is responsible for retrieving instructions from memory?
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What is the collection of commands that a specific CPU can execute called?
What is the collection of commands that a specific CPU can execute called?
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What is the technique that allows the CPU to work on more than one instruction at the same time?
What is the technique that allows the CPU to work on more than one instruction at the same time?
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Which memory component is the fastest and most expensive in a computer?
Which memory component is the fastest and most expensive in a computer?
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What do you call the delay when your hard drive has to wait for the correct sector to spin to the read/write head?
What do you call the delay when your hard drive has to wait for the correct sector to spin to the read/write head?
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In a networked group of computers working together on a task, what is this process known as?
In a networked group of computers working together on a task, what is this process known as?
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Which aspect of a CPU design allows it to operate on multiple instructions simultaneously?
Which aspect of a CPU design allows it to operate on multiple instructions simultaneously?
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What is the purpose of a sound card?
What is the purpose of a sound card?
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Which of the following is true about 3D sound cards?
Which of the following is true about 3D sound cards?
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What is the purpose of running the Disk Defragmenter utility?
What is the purpose of running the Disk Defragmenter utility?
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Which utility can be used to quickly remove temporary Internet files?
Which utility can be used to quickly remove temporary Internet files?
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What does the Windows Reset utility do?
What does the Windows Reset utility do?
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Which statement about system reliability is true?
Which statement about system reliability is true?
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Study Notes
CPU Performance
- The collection of commands a specific CPU can execute is called the instruction set for that system.
- Pipelining is a technique that allows the CPU to work on more than one instruction at the same time.
- The CPU consists of two parts: the control unit and the arithmetic logic unit (ALU).
- The control unit is one component of the CPU.
- The arithmetic logic unit (ALU) performs arithmetic calculations.
CPU Design and Operation
- The rule of thumb that predicts the number of transistors on a CPU will double every two years is called Moore's Law.
- The processor market for desktop and laptop computers is dominated by Intel.
- Clock speed, number of cores, and amount of cache memory influence a CPU's processing power.
- The speed of the motherboard does not influence a CPU's processing power.
RAM and Memory
- RAM is an example of volatile storage.
- The amount of RAM storage on modern computing devices is usually measured in gigabytes.
- Windows uses a memory-management technique known as SuperFetch to monitor which applications you use most frequently and then preloads them into system memory.
Storage and Hard Drives
- The fastest, most expensive memory in your computer is registers.
- When a hard drive has to wait for the correct sector to spin to the read/write head, the delay is known as latency.
- Running the Disk Defragmenter utility will make the hard drive work more efficiently.
Parallel Processing and Networking
- When a large group of computers are networked to work together on a task, it is known as parallel processing.
- Hyperthreading provides high-speed information processing by enabling a new set of instructions to start before the previous set is finished.
Sound Cards and Utilities
- 3D sound cards do not produce surround sound.
- Running the Disk Cleanup utility is a quick way to clear out temporary Internet files.
- The Windows Reset utility returns your computer to the state it was in when it came from the factory.
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Description
Test your knowledge on concepts related to understanding and assessing hardware from Chapter 6 of 'Technology in Action Complete, 16th edition, Global Edition'. Questions cover topics such as Moore's Law, CPU performance changes over decades, and different types of computers.