Software and Hardware Interaction

Performance. How efficiently hardware and software perform tasks.

System unit is the case that contains a computer’s main system components, including the processor, memory and
motherboard.

Motherboard. The computer’s main circuit board.

Circuit board is a thin metal plate or board with an extensive electronic circuit.

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

Central processing unit (CPU). A single computer chip that contains all the electronic circuitry for performing a
personal computer’s processing tasks. Also called a processor and a microprocessor.

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

Arithmetic/logic unit (ALU). Performs arithmetic calculations and logical operations. The calculations include
addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.

Control unit. Coordinates all of the processor’s activities and manages the flow of information through the
processor.

Registers. Are memory cells for temporally storing data needed by the ALU to perform its calculations.

Mainly store the basic data the ALU needs to perform its calculations and the results of those calculations.
(The CPU also contains memory cells for temporarily storing data, including the Registers)

Machine cycles. Four basic operations

(1) fetching, (2) decoding,
(3) executing, and (4) storing.

Instruction cycle.
The fetching and decoding operations make up the instruction cycle (I-cycle). Executing carries out the
commands in the instruction, while storing, in this context, means writing the result to memory (not to a storage
medium).

- Fetching retrieves and instructions on a date item from memory.

- Decoding translate the instruction into a form the computer can execute.

Execution cycle. The executing and storing operations make up the execution cycle (E-cycle)
- Executing carries out the commands in the instruction.
- Storing writes the result to memory (not to a storage medium).

Four basic operations

A. Instruction Cycle
I. Fetch
II. Decode

B. Execution cycle
I. Store
II. Execute
Clock speed. Is the processor’s speed, which indicates the number of instructions the CPU can process
per second.
Each beat of the system clock is called a cycle.

Enter 5 + 25
Megahertz (MHz). A million cycles per second.

Gigahertz (GHz). Billion cycles per second. (A hertz is one cycle per second.)

Bit size. It is a measure which indicates how many bytes of data the CPU can retrieve from
RAM at once.

Byte of data is roughly equivalent to one character, such as X. An 8-bit CPU can process 1 byte at a time

8 bit CPU 1 byte

16 bit CPU 2 byte
32 bit CPU 4 byte
64 bit CPU 8 byte
128 bit CPU 16 byte
256 bit CPU 32 byte

Multicore processor. 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).

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

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

- With a multicore processor, the operating system can use multiprocessing, multitasking, and multithreading to
improve performance. On
- With a single-core processor, the operating system can use only multitasking and multithreading.

Single core Multi core

Multipro

Multitasking Multitasking
Multitasking
Multithreading Multithreading
Multithreading
Volatile memory.- RAM is the most common type, which loses its contents when you turn off the power to the
computer.

Nonvolatile memory.- ROM is an example, because it is permanent; it does not lose its contents when you turn off
the power to the computer.

Trashing. The operating system can even spend more time swapping data between RAM and virtual memory than
running software,

Read-only memory (ROM), which is stored on single chips on the motherboard.

Electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM) is a type of ROM that is nonvolatile, but can
be modified.

Flash memory is a type of ROM that can be updated much more quickly than EEPROM and has largely replaced
standard ROM in current computers.

Firmware. The ROM chip stores instructions permanently, the chip is often called firmware, a hybrid of hardware
and software.

cache
level 1 cache
level 2 cache
heat sink
Optional Hardware Requirements

patch
update
service pack

Updating Software
upgrade
install
automatic update

Installing means to move a copy of the software from its distribution location (such
as a Web site) to your computer. As you install software, it sends requests to the
operating system to change system settings as necessary to make sure the new software
runs with the current hardware and software on your computer.

Automatic update. System and application software often include tools for managing updates.
Most provide an automatic update feature, which automatically checks for software updates and
then downloads them when they are available.

Malware
What: Malicious Software
What happened?
 Damage your data
 People who create and send malware
 Hackers are called crackers black-hat hackers (illegal intent)

 Hackers are called white-hat or ethical hackers

(These types of hackers are called white-hat or ethical hackers, and their aim is to find and fix security
vulnerabilities before black-hat hackers can exploit them.)

Upgrade Update
 New version  Collection of file
 Original 1.0/ 2.0/ 3.0/4.0  Fix problems or enhancements
 Enhances software software.
 3 types
- Important
- Recommended
- Optional