TOPIC 3 | HARDWARE
Topics from the Cambridge IGCSE (9-1) Computer Science 0984 syllabus 2023 - 2025.
TERMINOLOGY GLOSSARY
​CPU: Central Processing Unit, the main component of a computer that performs most of the processing inside the system.

Microprocessor: A silicon chip that contains the CPU, responsible for executing instructions and managing data.

Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU): A component of the CPU that performs arithmetic and logical operations.

Control Unit (CU): A component of the CPU that manages the execution of instructions and coordinates communication between different components.

Registers: Small, fast storage locations in the CPU used for temporary data storage and manipulation.

Program Counter (PC): A register that holds the address of the next instruction to be executed.

Memory Address Register (MAR): A register that holds the address of the memory location to be accessed.

Memory Data Register (MDR): A register that holds the data to be written to or read from memory.

Current Instruction Register (CIR): A register that holds the instruction currently being executed.

Accumulator (ACC): A register used for arithmetic and logic operations, storing intermediate results.

Fetch-Decode-Execute Cycle: The process by which a CPU retrieves, decodes, and executes instructions.

Buses: Sets of parallel wires that transmit data between components in a computer system.

Cache: A small, fast memory storage used to hold frequently accessed data, improving performance.

Clock Speed: The frequency at which a CPU operates, measured in hertz (Hz), affecting the number of instructions executed per second.

Embedded System: A specialized computer system designed for a specific task or function, often integrated into a larger system.

Input Device: A hardware device used to enter data or provide control signals to a computer system, e.g., a keyboard or mouse.

Output Device: A hardware device used to display or output data from a computer system, e.g., a monitor or printer.

Sensor: A device that detects or measures physical properties and converts them into signals for processing.

Actuator: A device that converts an input signal into mechanical or electrical action, e.g., a motor or a solenoid.

Primary Storage: The main memory used for temporary data storage and program execution, e.g., RAM and ROM.

Random Access Memory (RAM): A volatile memory storage used for temporary data storage and program execution.

Read Only Memory (ROM): A non-volatile memory storage that contains pre-programmed data, often used for firmware and system booting.

Secondary Storage: Non-volatile memory used for long-term data storage, e.g., hard drives and solid-state drives.

Magnetic Storage: A type of secondary storage that uses magnetic fields to store data, e.g., hard disk drives and magnetic tapes.

Optical Storage: A type of secondary storage that uses light to store and read data, e.g., CDs, DVDs, and Blu-ray discs.

Solid-State Storage: A type of secondary storage that uses flash memory to store data, e.g., solid-state drives and USB flash drives.

Flash Memory: A non-volatile memory storage technology that can be electronically erased and reprogrammed.

Virtual Memory: A memory management technique that uses both RAM and secondary storage to create the illusion of a larger memory space.

Cloud Storage: A storage service that allows users to store and access data over the internet, typically using remote data centers.

Transistors: Electronic components that act as building blocks for digital circuits, used in CPUs and other components.

Network Interface Card (NIC): A hardware component that connects a computer to a network, enabling data communication.

MAC Address: A unique identifier assigned to a network interface card, used for hardware-based network communication.

IP Address: A unique numerical address assigned to devices on a network, used for identifying and locating devices.

Router: A router is a network device that directs data packets between computer networks, typically between a local area network (LAN) and a wide area network (WAN) such as the internet.

IPv4: Internet Protocol version 4 (IPv4) is the fourth version of the Internet Protocol (IP) used to identify devices on a network and facilitate communication between them. It uses 32-bit addresses, allowing for approximately 4.3 billion unique addresses.

IPv6: Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6) is the sixth version of the Internet Protocol and is designed to replace IPv4. It uses 128-bit addresses, allowing for approximately 340 undecillion unique addresses.

Static IP address: A static IP address is a permanent IP address assigned to a device on a network. It does not change, providing a consistent address for a device to be reached from other devices on the network and the internet.

Dynamic IP address: A dynamic IP address is a temporary IP address assigned to a device on a network by a server. The IP address can change periodically, making it more difficult to track or identify a device on the network. Dynamic IP addresses are often used by internet service providers (ISPs) to conserve their limited pool of available IP addresses.
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ALSO IN THIS TOPIC
3.1.1 COMPUTER ARCHITECTURE | The role of the CPU
3.1.2 COMPUTER ARCHITECTURE | Components of the CPU
3.1.3 COMPUTER ARCHITECTURE | Core's, Cache and Clock speed
3.1.4 COMPUTER ARCHITECTURE(CIE) | The Instruction Set
3.1.5 COMPUTER ARCHITECTURE | Embedded Systems
3.2.1 INPUT AND OUTPUT DEVICES | Input Devices
3.2.2 INPUT AND OUTPUT DEVICES | Output Devices
3.2.3 INPUT AND OUTPUT DEVICES | Sensors
3.3 DATA STORAGE | Primary, Secondary, Virtual and Cloud storage
3.4 NETWORK HARDWARE | Networks, Components and Protocols
REVISION CARDS | Flip cards to help test yourself
TOPIC 3 KEY TERMINOLOGY
TOPIC 3 ANSWERS
TOPIC 3 TEACHER RESOURCES
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