Higher National Unit Specification: General

Information
Unit Title: Computer Systems Fundamentals

Unit code: H175 34

Superclass: CB

Publication Date:

Source: Scottish Qualifications Authority

Version: 01

Unit Purpose
This unit is designed to provide candidates with the knowledge of the various hardware and software
elements of a computer system, how to install an operating system and install and configure application
and security software. Candidates will also be introduced to the theory and practical application of
numbers systems in computing. It is not intended that the candidate will gain an in depth knowledge of
any particular operating system or applications software. The Unit provides a foundation for further
study of particular operating systems.

On completion of the Unit the candidate should be able to :

1. Explain the purpose of the elements of a computer system.

2. Manipulate and explain the uses of number and logic systems used in a computer.
3. Install a range of computer software.

Assessment task 1

This assessment has five sections. You must get three questions correct in each section. Show all of your
working in sections 3 and 4.

Section1 – Hardware elements

You must get question 1.5 correct

Q1.1 Describe how Static Random Access Memory (SRAM) is used in a computer system.

SRAM (Static RAM) is a random-access memory (RAM) that holds data bits in memory as long as
power supplied. SRAM is used as part of computer cache memory and random-access memory
digital-analog converters for video cards.

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Q1.2 Describe the operation of the control bus.
The control bus is bidirectional. It sends a command signal from the CPU and a response signal

from the hardware. This helps the CPU synchronize command signals to computer components and

slow external devices.

Q1.3 A computer manufacturer is developing a new product and proposes to double the width of the
address bus in a computer system. Describe the impact this would have on the size of the main memory
of the system.

Q1.4 Explain the use of direct memory access (DMA) in the transfer of data from a high-speed device to
memory.

Q 1.5 A student is building her own computer for a particular application and requires a hard disk with a
data transfer rate greater than 250 MBps and an average seek time faster than 6 milliseconds. From the
information given indicate on the table the disk(s) that meet the criteria.

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 Data transfer rate greater Access speed faster than 6 Meets both
than 250 MBps. milliseconds requirements

Disk 1 No No No

Disk 2 Yes No No

Disk 3 Yes No No

Disk 4 No No No

Disk 5 No No No

Disk 6 Yes Yes Yes

Disk 7 No Yes Yes

Disk 8 Yes No No

Disk 9 No No No

Disk 10 Yes No NO

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Section 2 – Software elements
Q2.1 What is the purpose of a file extension?
The purpose of the file extension is to identify the type of file. The computer uses this
information to open the file with the correct software application.

Q2.2 Describe how the memory management layer of an operating system functions in the computer
system.

Memory management is a function of the operating system that processes or management

primary memory and moves processes back and forth between main memory and disk while it is
running. Memory management keep track of all memory locations, whether they are all allocated or
free for a process. And then, check the amount of memory allocated to the process. Determines which
process gets memory when. It tracks each some memory is freed or deallocated and updates its status
accordingly.

Q2.3 When thrashing occurs in a computer system the performance of the system is seriously degraded.
What measures could you use to resolve this problem and improve performance?

Add RAM to reduce virtual memory usage on your hard drive. Also, adding new and larger SSDS to your
system may help after a RAM upgrade.

Q2.4 Describe how pre-emptive multitasking is used in a computer system.

Preemptive multitasking is task in which a computer operating system uses some criteria to
decide how long to allocate to any one task before giving another task a turn to use the operating
system.

Q2.5 What is the purpose of the Application Programming Interface (API)?

The basic purpose of the Application Programming Interface (API) is always the same. That is,
allowing one piece of software to communicate with another.

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Section 3 - Conversions between number bases

Show all of your working

Q3.1 Convert 1011 01112 to decimal (base 10)

= 1*27 + 0*26 +1*25 +1*24 +0*23 +1*22 +1*21 +1*20

= 128+ 0 + 32 + 16 + 0 + 4 + 2 + 1
= (183)10

Q3.2 Convert B69F16 to binary (base 2)

= B69F 16
=11*163 + 6*162 + 9*161 + 15*160
=45056+ 1536 +144 + 15
=(46751)2

Q3.3 Convert A9DC16 to decimal (base 10)

= A9DC 16
= 10*163 + 9*162 + 13*161 + 12*160
= 40960+ 2304 + 208 + 12
= (43484)10

Q3.4 Convert 0100 1011 1001 11102 to hexadecimal (base 16)

= 0100 1011 1001 1110 2

=(4B9E)16
Bec: 0100=4
1011=B
1001=9
1110=E

Q3.5 Convert 63,57210 to hexadecimal (base 16)

=6357210

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 16 63572

16 3973 4

16 248 5

15 8
16

0 15=F
=(F854)16

Section 4 – Addition and subtraction in base 2 and base 16

Show all of your working

Q4.1 Add 3ABF16

B20A16

E C C 916

Q4.2 Subtract 783B16

5A2F16

1 E 0 C16

Q4.3 Add 1110 01012

0111 11002

1
0110 0001

carry bit

Q4.4 Subtract 1000 11002

0111 00012

1
0001 1011

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 Carry bit

Q4.5 Add 0111 10112

1010 01112

1
0010 0010

Carry Bit

Section 5 - Logic operations

Apply the logic operator to the input(s)

Q5.1 11010010 AND 10110101

A 1 1 0 1 0 0 1 0
B 1 0 1 1 0 1 0 1
A*B 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0

Q5.2 01101101 OR 10100100

A 0 1 1 0 1 1 0 1
B 1 0 1 0 0 1 0 0
A OR B 1 1 1 0 1 1 0 1

Q5.3 NOT 00101101

A 0 0 1 0 1 1 0 1
NOT A 1 1 0 1 0 0 1 0

Q5.4 01011110 XOR 11001100

A 0 1 0 1 1 1 1 0

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B 1 1 0 0 1 1 0 0
A XOR B 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 0

Q5.5 00111011 AND 01101101

A 0 0 1 1 1 0 1 1
B 0 1 1 0 1 1 0 1
A AND B 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 1

Name- Myat Shwe Sin Hmue

Sign-MYAT

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