Dauletbai Gulzat CSSE 1 1 1 Review materials unit 1-2

1. A. With regard to computing, define the term benchmark.

Benchmarking is the process of starting the standardized tests on different configurations to determine speed of components or software. Comparison of various systems and components using a standard set of instructions or a number of problems.

b. What tasks does benchmarking software perform in order to measure the system being tested?

Testing your system performance (CPU, hard disk, CD/DVD ROM) and compare it with other systems.

c. How can consumers use benchmarks to help them purchase a computer system?

Consumers can run benchmarks on different machines. The comparison is measured by the time it takes to execute these instructions, the faster the better.

d. How do benchmarks help identify slow points (bottlenecks) in the system?

We can run many kinds of benchmarks.

2. a. Define bit.

Computer systems are made up of electrical components that are either on, or off, representing 1s and 0s, also called binary numbers

b. Define byte.

8b = 1B

c.

Amount	Prefix
220	M
230	G
240	T

e.

Binary	Decimal
1010	10
10111	23
1001110	78
10111101	189
1 1011	27
1111 1100	252
11 0011	51
1010 0101	165

g .Although in sales literature 1000 bytes and 1024 bytes are both commonly referred to as a kilobyte, in computing the only correct number of bytes in a kilobyte is 1024. Explain why 1024 is correct.

Since the data stored on computer are binary sequence as 1s and 0s, the capacity of memory is the exponent of 2, so a kilobyte is 1024 bytes.

h. How can the differences in measuring bytes presented in part e impact a consumer when they are purchasing a hard disk drive?

For instance, a consumer purchased a 40G hard disk , but the actual capacity of it is only about 37G .The reason is that the capacity of memory is the exponent of 2

3. Component Identification

a. Label A is Power supply.

b. Label B is Cooling fan.

c. Label C is Expansion slot.

d. Label D is Expansion card.

e. Label E is Motherboard.

f. Label F is Disk drives.

g. Label G is IDE cable.

Describe the functionality of each of the following components (in 2 sentences or less):

h. A microprocessor incorporates the functions of a computer's central processing unit (CPU) on a single integrated circuit, or at most a few integrated circuits. It is a multipurpose, programmable device that accepts digital data as input, processes it according to instructions stored in its memory, and provides results as output. It is an example of sequential digital logic, as it has internal memory. Microprocessors operate on numbers and symbols represented in the binary numeral system.

i. RAM:

Random access memory (RAM) is a form of computer data storage. It takes the form of integrated circuits that allow stored data to be accessed in any order with a worst case performance of constant time.

j. Bus: A bus is a pathway through which data is transferred from one part of a computer to another. It consists of the data bus and the address bus.

k. Expansion card:

Enables a computer to control peripheral devices such as the monitor and the microphone

l. Disk drive computer hardware that holds and spins a magnetic or optical disk and reads and writes information on it.

m. IDE cable:

Transfers data from storage devices to the motherboard