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Year 7 · Computing · Computer systems · Lesson 2

The CPU and memory

The CPU and the fetch-decode-execute cycle, RAM and ROM (volatile and non-volatile memory), and what affects computer performance.

Whiteboard video lesson: The CPU and memory

17-minute video lesson

Teaching, worked examples and 20 practice questions solved step by step.

Watch free for a month

What your child will learn

  • Describe the fetch-decode-execute cycle
  • Compare RAM and ROM
  • Explain volatile memory
  • Explain factors affecting performance

The method

  1. Component.
  2. What it does.
  3. More -> ?
  4. Link to user.

Key words: CPU, fetch-decode-execute, RAM, ROM, volatile, clock speed.

Worked examples

The first three practice questions from the lesson, with every step.

Question 1

What does CPU stand for?

  1. Step 1: C, P, U

Answer: Central Processing Unit

Question 2

What are the three stages of the CPU cycle?

  1. Step 1: F, D, E

Answer: fetch, decode, execute

Question 3

Where are instructions fetched from?

  1. Step 1: Memory

Answer: memory (RAM)