6-2e The System Clock

The ____ of the system clock has no effect on peripheral devices, such as a printer or hard drive.

• speed

• type

The processor relies on a small quartz crystal circuit called the _______ to control the timing of all computer operations.

• system clock

• superscalar

The processor relies on a small quartz crystal circuit called the system clock to control the timing of all computer operations. Just as your heart beats at a regular rate to keep your body functioning, the system clock generates regular electronic pulses, or ticks, that set the operating pace of components of the system unit.

Each tick equates to a what?

• clock cycle

• sick dog

• heart rate

The pace of the system clock, called the clock speed, is measured by the number of ____ per second.

• ticks

• tocks

• tacs

One cycle per second.

• hertz

• hurts

• hounds

One billion ticks.

• gigahertz

• sick dog

• friends of fleas

• megahertz