Computer Performance& Storage Devices

Computer Technology

Computer Performance

Boot Process

Sequence of events that occurs between the time you turn on a computer and the time that it becomes ready to accept commands.Purposes

• Runs a diagnostic test to make sure everything is working.

• Loading the operating system, so the computer can carry out basic operations.

6 events of the boot process:

Power up Start boot program Power-on self-test Identify peripheral devices Load operation system Check configuration and

customization

Circuits

The path from one component of a computer to another that data uses to travel.

Circuits run between RAM and the

microprocessor RAM and various

storage devices

Silicon Chip

Silicon is melted sand.

What the circuits are embedded into to keep them together.

Megahertz (mHz)

A measurement used to describe the speed of the system clock.

A megahertz is equal to one million cycles (or pulses) per second.

1.3 GHz means that the microprocessor’s clock operates at a speed of 1.3 BILLION cycles per second.

Pentium

Name of the CPU. Pentium is the 5th

generation of the Intel processor. Other generations

were called• 80-88• 286• 386• 486

RAM vs. ROM

RAM “Random Access

Memory” The ability of a storage

device to go directly to a specific storage location without having to search sequentially from a beginning location.

Very volatile• Cannot hold data when

the power is off.• Looses all data when

power is lost.

ROM “Read only memory” Drives can read data

from disks, but cannot store new data on them.

One or more integrated circuits that contain permanent instructions that the computer uses during the boot process.

Binary Number System

A method for representing letters or numbers using only two digits, 0 and 1. Bit

• Each 0 or 1 Byte

• 8 bits

Also referred to as Base 2 Binary Code.

Memory Measurements

Bit Each 0 or 1

Byte 8 bits

Kilobyte Approximately 1,000 bytes Exactly 1,024 bytes

Megabyte Approximately 1 million

bytes Exactly 1,048,576 bytes

Gigabyte Approximately 1 billion

bytes Terabyte

Approximately 1 trillion bytes

Storage Devices

Used to keep data when the power to the computer is turned off.

Medium/media Location where data is stored.

Hard Disk

Usually mounted inside the computer’s system unit.

Can store billions of characters of data. Stated in forms of

bytes:• Megabytes or

Gigabytes

Magnetic Storage

Recording of data onto disks or tape by magnetizing particles of an oxide based surface coating.

A fairly permanent type of storage that can be modified.

Floppy Disk

Round piece of flexible Mylar plastic covered with a thin layer of magnetic oxide and sealed inside a protective covering.

May be referred to as a “floppy”

3½ disk capacity is 1.44 MB or 1,440,000 bytes

Floppy Disk Options

FormattedPreparing the disk for use by the

computer. Write-protected

Setting the disk so that it can not be written to by the computer.

Zip Disk

Floppy disk technology manufactured by Iomega. Available in 100 MB and 250 MB versions

Digital Audio Tape

Method of storing large amounts of data on tape using helical scan technology to write data at high densities across the tape at an angle.

Optical Storage

Means of recording data as light and dark spots on CD or DVD.

Reading is done through a low-power laser light.Pits

• Dark spots

Lands• Lighter, non-spotted surface areas

CD-ROM

“CD – Read Only Memory” Also called CD-R

CD-Read Storage device that uses

laser technology to read data that is permanently stored on compact disks, cannot be used to write data to a disk.

CD-RW

“CD-Read Write” A storage device that reads data from CD’s and also

can write data to CD’s. Similar to a CD-ROM, but has the ability to write to

CD.

DVD-ROM

“Digital Video Disks – Read Only Memory”

Reads data from CD’s (audio and data) and DVD’s (data or movie)

Cannot be used to write data to a disk.