Computer Fundamentals Chapter 2

Front 1

arithmetic logic unit (ALU)

Back 1

The section of the CPU that performs arithmetic calculations and logical operations.

Front 2

automatic update

Back 2

An update that automatically checks for software updates and then downloads them when they are available.

Front 3

bit size

Back 3

A measure of CPU performance that indicates how many bytes of data the CPU can retrieve from RAM at once.

Front 4

byte

Back 4

An amount of data roughly equivalent to one character.

Front 5

cache

Back 5

Memory available to the CPU to speed processing.

Front 6

central processing unit (CPU)

Back 6

A single computer chip that contains all the electronic circuitry for performing a personal computer's processing tasks.

Front 7

chip

Back 7

A small, thin piece of silicon containing electronic circuits. Also called an integrated circuit (IC).

Front 8

circuit board

Back 8

A thin metal plate or board with an extensive electronic circuit.

Front 9

clock speed

Back 9

The processor's speed indicated as the number of instructions the CPU can process per second.

Front 10

Control Panel

Back 10

A window containing specialized tools that you use to change the way Windows looks and behaves.

Front 11

control unit

Back 11

The section of the CPU that coordinates all of the processor's activities and manages the flow of information through the processor.

Front 12

electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM)

Back 12

A type of ROM that is nonvolatile, but can be modified.

Front 13

execution cycle (E-cycle)

Back 13

The executing and storing operations in the machine cycle.

Front 14

firmware

Back 14

A chip that stores data or instructions permanently.

Front 15

flash memory

Back 15

A type of EEPROM that can be updated much more quickly than EEPROM.

Front 16

gigahertz (GHz)

Back 16

One billion hertz.

Front 17

heat sink

Back 17

Hardware that collects heat from an electronic component so a fan can cool it quickly.

Front 18

install

Back 18

To move a copy of the software from its distribution location to your computer.

Front 19

instruction cycle (I-cycle)

Back 19

The fetching and decoding operations in the machine cycle.

Front 20

level 1 cache memory

Back 20

Cache memory stored closest to the CPU, often on the CPU itself.

Front 21

level 2 cache memory

Back 21

A larger amount of memory than level 1 cache memory that can reside on the CPU itself or on a chip that has a direct connection to the CPU.

Front 22

machine cycle

Back 22

The four basic operations the CPU performs to carry out an instruction: fetching, decoding, executing, and storing.

Front 23

manual update

Back 23

An update you download and install yourself.

Front 24

megahertz (MHz)

Back 24

One million hertz.

Front 25

motherboard

Back 25

A computer's main circuit board.

Front 26

Mouse Mode

Back 26

The default mode in Microsoft Word and other Office applications that places buttons close together on the Ribbon.

Front 27

multicore processor

Back 27

A single chip that contains more than one processor, and includes dual-core processors (two processors on one chip) and quad-core processors (four processors on one chip).

Front 28

multiprocessing

Back 28

An operating system technique that splits tasks among processors so that each processor can work on a different task at the same time.

Front 29

multithreading

Back 29

A technique that allows the operating system to handle many parts threads of a single program.

Front 30

nonvolatile memory

Back 30

Permanent memory.

Front 31

patch

Back 31

A small program that corrects or enhances existing software.

Front 32

performance

Back 32

How efficiently hardware and software perform tasks.

Front 33

processor

Back 33

A single computer chip that contains all the electronic circuitry for performing a personal computer's processing tasks.

Front 34

read-only memory (ROM)

Back 34

Permanent memory stored on single chips on the motherboard.

Front 35

register

Back 35

A memory cell on the CPU for temporarily storing data.

Front 36

service pack

Back 36

A collection of updates, fixes, or enhancements to software delivered as a single file.

Front 37

system requirements

Back 37

Hardware specifications necessary for running software.

Front 38

system unit

Back 38

The case that contains a computer's main system components.

Front 39

thrashing

Back 39

A condition where the operating system spends more time swapping data between RAM and virtual memory than running software.

Front 40

Touch Mode

Back 40

In Microsoft Word and other Office applications, an application mode that adapts the Ribbon for users of touchscreens.

Front 41

update

Back 41

A collection of files (larger than a patch) that revise software to fix problems or provide enhancements.

Front 42

upgrade

Back 42

A new version of software in which the developers make major improvements, add new features, or change the software design.

Front 43

volatile memory

Back 43

Temporary memory.

Front 44

Windows Update

Back 44

A Control Panel tool you use to check for the latest updates to Windows and to review your update settings.