Computer Systems - AQA Computer Science Cheat Sheet

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Hardware and Software Truth Tables for Logic Gates (cont)

Hard​ware is the physical components of a computer system, OR x y z

whereas soft​ware is the programs that are run using the hardware. 0 0 0
Generally, one is useless without the other. 1 0 1
0 1 1
Software Classi​fic​ation 1 1 1

Keyw​ord Defi​nit​ion Exam​ple​‐ NOT x z

(s) 1 0
0 1
Oper​‐ Software loaded by the computer Windows
ating following the initial boot-up which controls 10, Here, 'x' and 'y' are the inputs, while 'z' is the output.
Systems both the hardware and software, incuding macOS
the processor, memory, I/O devices, and Logic Circuits
security.

Systems Software that controls the operation of hardware in a

software computer.
Appl​‐ Programs designed for the user to use to Internet
ication perform a specific task(s). Explorer,
software Microsoft
Word
Utility A type of systems software that Defrag​‐
Programs manages the computer's resources men​tation,
file
encryption
https:​//w​ww.b​bc.co​m/e​duc​ati​on/​gui​des​/zc​4bb​9q/​rev​ision/3
Truth Tables for Logic Gates
Truth Tables for Logic Circuits
Logic Gate Truth Table
AND x y z A ​ ​ ​B C D​ ​ ​ ​E Z
0 0 0 0 0 0​ ​ ​ ​1 0 1
1 0 0 0 0 1​ ​ ​ ​1 0 1
0 1 0 0 1 0​ ​ ​ ​1 0 1
1 1 1 0 1 1​ ​ ​ ​1 1 1
1 0 0​ ​ ​ ​0 0 0
1 0 1​ ​ ​ ​0 0 0
1 1 0​ ​ ​ ​0 0 0
1 1 1​ ​ ​ ​0 1 1

This is an example of a truth table for the logic circuit above.

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Embedded Systems Systems Archit​ecture (cont)

An embedded system is normally built into a larger device. It has a Cache Small, fast memory that is close to the CPU. Stores data
small number of specific functions. An example could be a satnav in that is used freque​ntly.
a car. Non-​emb​edded systems, on the other hand, carry out
The AQA specif​ication is only interested in the Von Neumann
multiple functions and are not built into anything else
Archit​ect​ure, which is also called the Prin​ceton Archit​ect​ure.
Unlike in Harvard archit​ect​ure, Von Neumann stores data and
Systems Archit​ecture
instru​ctions together.
Comp​onent Purp​ose
Central Processes data and instru​ctions and make decisions. Von Neumann Archit​ecture
Processing It is composed of many components (e.g. the CU,
Unit (or the ALU).
CPU)

Control Unit Controls the operation of the ALU, memory and I/O
(or CU) devices; tells them how to respond to instru​ctions it
has fetched and decoded.
Arit​hmetic Carries out arithmetic and logical operat​ions. Results
Logic Unit are stored in a regi​ster.
(or ALU) https:​//e​n.w​iki​ped​ia.o​rg​/wi​ki/​Von​_Ne​uma​nn_​arc​hit​ecture

Clock A crystal that vibrates at high speeds, dictating how

many times a second the fetch-​dec​ode​-ex​ecute Fetch-​Dec​ode​-Ex​ecute Cycle

cycle can be carried out.

Bus Transports data and instru​ctions around the CPU.
Regi​ster Storage areas in the CPU.
Main Any form of memory directly accessible by the CPU
Memory (excl. cache, regist​ers). The fetch-​dec​ode​-ex​ecute cycle is a process carried out by the CPU
to process an instru​ction. In the 'fetch' stage, the instru​ction is loaded
into the main memory. The computer then decodes and 'under​‐
stands' the instru​ction and executes the instru​ction. This final stage
may include calcul​ation being carries out by the ALU.

Secondary Storage

What is seco​ndary storage?

Any storage that isn't under the direct control of the CPU. It stores
data and inform​ation when the computer is off.

What is RAM?
Random acess me​mory. Is volatile, so all data is lost once the
power supply is switched off. Stores programs and data currently
in use. Can be written to and read from.

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Secondary Storage (cont) Types of Storage (cont)

What is ROM? Cloud

Read only me​mory. Stores programs needed to boot up the Data is stored (using normal magnet​ic/​solid state storage) at a
computer. Can only be read from. Non-vo​latile. Generally smaller remote location and is accessed via the Internet. Popular
in memory capacity. examples are Google Drive and Dropbox.
Advant​ages: 1. Can be accessed from anywhere in the world,
Types of Storage granting increased flexib​ility
2. Can be accessed by multiple users at once
Magnetic
3. Users don't need to buy additional hardware
Magnetic storage uses magnets to record data on rotating metal
Disadv​ant​ages:
plates. The most common example is a hard drive.
1. Requires an Internet connection
Advant​ages:
2. No control over the data in terms of security
1. Large storage capacity
2. Decent read/write access
Factors Affecting CPU Perfor​mance
3. Cheap
Disadv​ant​ages: Clock Dictates the number of fetch-​dec​ode​-ex​ecute cycles
1. Moving parts result in wear and tear Speed (Hz) run per second.
2. Data can be lost/a​ltered by magnets Number of Having multiple cores allows a CPU to process
Processor multiple instru​ctions simult​ane​ously.
Optical
Cores
Optical storage uses a lens and a light beam to read and write
Cache Size Allows the CPU to store more instru​cti​ons​/data that
data onto a disk (e.g. CD, DVD).
are regularly used, reducing the time taken to process
Advant​ages:
an instru​ction.
1. Light and portable
2. Cheap Cache L1 cache is faster than L2 and L3 cache.
3. Durable Type
4. Some formats (e.g. CD-R) mean that data cannot be overwr​‐
itten
Disadv​ant​ages:
1. Small storage capacity
2. Specific drive needed to read/write data to/from the disk

Solid State
Solid-​state uses flash memori​es/​ele​ctrical circuits to store data. It
is commonly used in USBs and SD cards.
Advant​ages:
1. Very quick read/write speed
2. Compact
3. No moving parts
3. Robust
Disadv​ant​ages:
1. Expensive
2. Limited number of times that data can be written to

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