Microprocessors
This microprocessor has two main functions, telling the rest of the computer how to carry out a program's instructions and performing arithmetic operations.
What is the Central Processing Unit (CPU)?
Also called the motherboard, this component controls communication for the entire computer.
What is the system board?
This type of memory is temporary and loses its contents when power is off.
What is RAM?
This universal port can connect devices like keyboards, mice, and storage drives.
What is USB?
Each 0 or 1 in the binary system is called this.
What is a bit?
A processor with two or more independent CPUs on a single chip is called this.
What is a multicore processor?
These small parts plug into sockets on the system board and hold electronic circuits.
What are chips?
This type of memory is built into chips by the manufacturer and cannot be altered by users.
What is ROM?
Connecting lines that provide pathways for data between components are called this.
What are bus lines?
A group of 8 bits is called this.
What is a byte?
This type of processor helps with specialized tasks like 3D graphics and encryption.
What is a graphics coprocessor (GPU)?
These cards insert into slots on the system board to expand a computer’s capabilities.
What are expansion cards?
This memory combines features of RAM and ROM and retains data even without power.
What is flash memory?
This type of port provides high-definition video and audio signals.
What is HDMI?
This number of bits a CPU can access at one time is known as its ____ size.
What is word size?
The speed of a processor is often measured in this, the number of cycles per second.
What is clock speed?
This provides a connection point for chips on the system board.
What are sockets?
A high-speed holding area that stores frequently used information from RAM.
What is cache memory?
The number of bits that can travel at the same time on a bus is called this.
What is bus width?
The speed of a microprocessor is often measured by this, the number of cycles it performs per second
What is clock speed?
The number of bits a processor can handle at one time is called this.
What is word size?
These slots allow users to insert cards to expand a computer’s capabilities.
What are expansion slots?
When there isn’t enough RAM, this type of memory uses part of the hard drive to simulate it.
What is virtual memory?
This port is used for high-speed Internet connections on most computers.
What is an Ethernet port?
This standard assigns a sequence of bits to represent characters so computers can store text.
What is character encoding?