3.

4 Network hardware

Key terms used throughout this chapter address – a label for a memory location used by the CPU to
central processing unit (CPU) – responsible for the track data
execution or processing of all the instructions and data in a memory location – a numbered place in memory where
computer values can be stored
integrated circuit – usually a chip made from a semi-
conductor material which carries out the same tasks as a system buses – a connection between major components
larger circuit made from individual components in a computer that can carry data, addresses or control
signals
von Neumann architecture – a type of computer
architecture which introduced the concept of the stored address bus – the system bus that carries the addresses
program in the 1940s throughout the computer system

Arithmetic & Logic Unit (ALU) – the component of the CPU data bus – the system bus that allows data to be carried
that carries out all arithmetic and logical operations from CPU to memory (and vice versa) or to and from input/
output devices
accumulator (ACC) – temporary general-purpose register
that stores numerical values at any part of a given control bus – the system bus that carries signals from
operation control unit to all other computer components

memory address register (MAR) – a register that stores unidirectional – can travel in one direction only; used to
the address of the memory location currently being read describe data
from or written to bidirectional – can travel in both directions; used to
current instruction register (CIR) – a register that stores describe data
the current instruction being decoded and executed word – a group of bits used by a computer to represent a
memory data register (MDR) – a register that stores data single unit; for example, modern computers often use
that has just been read from memory or data that is about 64-bit word lengths
to be written to memory overclocking – changing the clock speed of a system clock
program counter (PC) – a register that stores the address to a value higher than the factory/recommended setting
where the next instruction to be read can be found core – a unit on a CPU made up of an ALU, control unit and
control unit – the component of a computer’s CPU that registers; a CPU may contain a number of cores
ensures synchronisation of data flow and programs dual core – a CPU containing two cores
throughout the computer by sending out control signals
along the control bus quad core – a CPU containing four cores

system clock – produces timing signals on the control bus Fetch–Execute–Decode – a cycle in which instructions
to ensure synchronisation takes place and data are fetched from memory, decoded and finally
executed
clock cycle – clock speeds are measured in terms of GHz;
this is the vibrational frequency of the system clock which Basic Input/Output System (BIOS) – a suite of programs
sends out pulses along the control bus; for example, a on firmware that are used to perform the initialisation of a
3.5 GHZ clock cycle means 3.5 billion clock cycles a second computer system during the boot-up process

immediate access store (IAS) – memory that holds all data opcode – part of a machine code instruction that identifies
and programs needed to be accessed by the control unit what action the CPU has to perform

backing store – a secondary storage device (such as HDD operand – part of a machine code instruction that identifies
or SSD) used to store data permanently even when the what data is to be used
computer is powered down instruction set – the complete set of machine code
cache – is temporary memory using static RAM to hold instructions used a particular microprocessor
frequently used data/instructions by the CPU thereby embedded system – a combination of hardware and
increasing CPU performance. More generally, cache means software designed to carry out a specific set of functions
any area of storage used to quickly access frequently-used
data - other examples include web cache, database cache, barcode – a series of dark and light lines of varying
DNS cache thickness used to represent data; the code has to be
scanned using laser or LED light source
register – a temporary component in the CPU which can be
general or specific in its use; it holds data or instructions as key field – the field that uniquely identifies a record in
part of the Fetch–Decode–Execute cycle a file

141

318281_C03_CAM_IGCSE CO_SCI_075_146.indd 141 3/26/21 1:16 PM

quick response (QR) code – a matrix of dark and light resistive touch screen – a type of touch screen that uses
squares which represent data; the pattern can be read and two conductive layers which make contact where the
interpreted using a smartphone camera and QR app screen has been touched
frame QR code – a type of QR code that includes a space for actuator – an output device that converts electrical energy
advertising into mechanical movement
DAC (digital to analogue converter) – device that converts digital micromirror device (DMD) – a chip that uses millions
digital data into electric currents that can drive motors, of tiny mirrors on its surface to create a video display
actuators and relays, for example
thermal bubble – inkjet printer technology whereby tiny
ADC (analogue to digital converter) – a device that converts resistors create heat and form an ink bubble which is
analogue data (for example, data read from sensors) into a ejected onto paper in an inkjet printer
form understood by a computer
piezoelectric crystal – a crystal located in an ink reservoir
charge couple device (CCD) – a light sensitive cell made up within an inkjet printer; the crystal vibrates and forces ink
of millions of tiny sensors acting as photodiodes out onto paper
virtual keyboard – an onscreen keyboard which uses the direct 3D printing – a 3D printing technique in which the
features of the touch screen to emulate a physical keyboard print head moves in the x, y and z directions
touch screen – a screen that allows the user to select or binder 3D printing – a 3D printing method that uses a two-
manipulate a screen image using the touch of a finger or stage pass; the first stage uses dry powder and second
stylus; touch screens most frequently use capacitive, infra- stage uses a binding agent
red or resistive technology
cathode – a negative electrode
repetitive strain injury (RSI) – pain felt in the muscles,
snode – a positive electrode
nerves and tendons caused by a repetitive action (for
example, excessive clicking of a mouse button over a period organic LED (OLED) – a light-emitting diode that uses the
of time) movement of electrons between a cathode and an anode to
produce an on-screen image; it generates its own light so
optical mouse – a pointing device that uses a red LED
no backlighting is required
to track the movement of the device and then relays its
coordinates to a computer loudspeaker – an output device that converts electric
current into sound
pointing device – an input device that allows the user to
control the movement of an onscreen cursor or to allow memory – the devices within the computer that are directly
onscreen selection by clicking a button on the device accessible by the CPU; there are two types of memory –
RAM and ROM; memory is different to hard disk drives, for
complementary metal oxide semi-conductor (CMOS) – a
example, which are known as storage devices
chip that generates an electric current (or pulses) when
light falls on its surface random access memory (RAM) – primary memory that can
be written to or read from
digital signal processor (DSP) – a processor that
calculates, for example, the coordinates of a pointing device read only memory (ROM) – primary memory that cannot be
based on the pulses of electricity received written to (changed) and can only be read
optical character recognition – technology that can convert dynamic RAM (DRAM) – a type of RAM chip that needs to be
hard copy text or images into a digital format to be stored in constantly refreshed
a computer memory
static RAM (SRAM) – a type of RAM chip that uses flip flops
computer sided design (CAD) – software used to create and doesn’t need to be constantly refreshed
drawings (for example, to send to a 3D printer or to produce
volatile – describes memory that loses its contents when
blue-prints of a microprocessor design)
the power is turned off
computed tomographic (CT) scanner – technology that can
refresh – recharge every few seconds in order to maintain
create a 3D image of a solid object by slicing up the object
charge; for example with a device such as a capacitor
into thin layers (tomography)
flip flop – electronic circuit with only two stable conditions
capacitive touch screen – a type of touch screen that uses
the change in the screen’s capacitance (the ability to store latency – the lag in a system; for example, the time it
an electrical charge) when it is touched by a finger or stylus takes to find a track on a hard disk, which depends on the
time it takes for the disk to rotate around to its read-
infra-red touch screen – a type of touch screen that uses
write head
infra-red beams and sensors to detect where the screen
has been touched

142

318281_C03_CAM_IGCSE CO_SCI_075_146.indd 142 30/03/21 9:57 PM

SSD endurance – the total guaranteed number of times data redundancy – the unnecessary storing of the same
data can be written to or read from a solid state drive (SSD) data on several storage devices at the same time
in its usable life cycle
cloud storage – a method of data storage where data is
optical storage – a type of storage that uses laser light to stored on offsite servers; the physical storage may be on
read and write data, and includes CDs, DVDs and Blu-ray hundreds of servers in many locations
discs
network interface card (NIC) – a hardware component
dual layering – using two recording layers in storage media (circuit board or chip) that is required to allow a device to
such as DVDs and some Blu-rays connect to a network, such as the internet
virtual memory – a memory management system that router – a device that enables data packets to be moved
makes use of secondary storage and software to enable a between different networks, for example, to join a LAN to
computer to compensate for the shortage of actual physical a WAN
RAM memory
static IP address – an IP address that doesn’t change
disk thrashing (HDD) – a problem in a hard disk drive
MAC address – a unique identifier which acts as a network
(HDD) caused by excessive swapping in and out of data
address for a device; it takes the form NN-NN-NN-DD-
causing a high rate of head movements during virtual
DD-DD, where NN is the manufacturer code and DD is the
memory operations
device code
thrash point – the point at which the execution of a program
dynamic IP address – a temporary IP address assigned to a
comes to a halt because the system is so busy moving data
device each time it logs onto a network
in and out of memory rather than actually executing the
program dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP) – a server that
automatically provides and assigns an IP address

143

318281_C03_CAM_IGCSE CO_SCI_075_146.indd 143 3/26/21 1:17 PM