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Computer science A Level OCR > 1.1 Processors > Flashcards

1.1 Processors Flashcards

Structure and function of processors Types of processors Input, Output and Storage Devices

1
Q

What does the Arithmetic and Logic Unit do?

A
  • Handles data processing, performs standard arithmetic operations as well as logic operations and comparisons.
  • Completes all the arithmetical and logical operations.
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2
Q

What is the Control Unit?

A
  • Controls the way the data moves around the CPU - controls buses and flow of data between CPU and other components.
  • It executes the instructions given by a program.
  • A part of the processor which directs operations inside the CPU.
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3
Q

What are registers?

A
  • Quick, small stores of data within the CPU.

- Small memory cells that operate at high speeds.

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4
Q

What does the Program Counter do?

A
  • Holds the memory address of the next instruction.

- Increments by 1 after each fetch stage.

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5
Q

Which register does all the calculations?

A

The accumulator

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6
Q

What does the MAR do?

A
  • Holds the memory address of the data needing to be accessed
  • Holds address of a location that is to be read from or written to
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7
Q

What does the MDR do?

A
  • Holds the data being transferred to or from the memory location by the CPU.
  • Temporarily stores the data that has just been read from or the data needs to be written.
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8
Q

What does the CIR do?

A
  • Contains the current instruction during processing.

- Holds the current instruction divided up into opcode and operand.

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9
Q

What is a Bus?

A
  • Parallel wires which connect 2 or more components together.
    (The width of the bus is the number of parallel wires a bus has. Directly proportional to the number of bits transferred)
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10
Q

What is the system bus?

A

The collection of the data bus, address bus, and control bus is called the system bus.

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11
Q

What is the data bus?

A
  • Bidirectional

- Transports data and instructions between components (to and from memory)

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12
Q

What is the control bus?

A
  • Bidirectional

- Carries commands from the CPU & status messages from other hardware devices.

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13
Q

What does the address bus do?

A
  • Unidirectional (only goes from memory to the CPU)

- Transmits the memory address specifying where data is to be sent from or retrieved from.

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14
Q

What does adding a wire to the address bus do to the number of addressable locations?

A
  • It doubles the amount of addressable locations
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15
Q

What does the Bus request indicate?

A
  • indicates a device is requesting access to the data bus
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16
Q

What does Bus Grant indicate?

A
  • Shows that the CPU has granted access to the data bus.
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17
Q

What does memory write do?

A
  • Data is written into addressed location from the data bus.
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18
Q

What does memory read do?

A
  • Data from the addressed location to be placed onto the data bus.
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19
Q

What does the interrupt request control signal indicate?

A
  • Shows that a device is requesting access to the CPU.
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20
Q

What is the clock control signal used for?

A
  • Used to synchronise all the operations/instructions.
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21
Q

What is Assembly Language?

A

Assembly language is a programming language where mnemonics are used to represent instructions.

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22
Q

What is opcode?

A
  • Part of the instruction code that tells the processor what to do.
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23
Q

What is the operand?

A
  • Contains the data to be acted on, or the memory location of the data in a register.
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24
Q

Describe the Fetch stage.

A
  • The address from the PC is copied to the MAR
  • Instruction held at that address is copied to the MDR by the data bus, simultaneously the contents of the PC is increased by 1
  • The value of the MDR is copied to the CIR
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25
Q

Describe the Decode stage.

A
  • The contents of the CIR is split up into opcode and operand.
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26
Q

Describe the execute stage.

A
  • The opcode is executed on the data.
27
Q

What is the clock speed?

A
  • The number of cycles completed per second.
28
Q

What is cache memory?

A
  • CPU’s onboard memory which is accessed a lot quicker than main memory. Smaller in size but quickest.
29
Q

What is pipe-lining?

A
  • Fetching an instruction whilst the prior one is being decoded and the one before is being executed.
30
Q

What is Von Neumann architecture?

A
  • There is a single shared memory and shared data bus for both data and instructions.
31
Q

What is Harvard architecture?

A
  • Separates the data and instructions into separate memories and data buses for each. The memories can be different sizes making speed a priority.
32
Q

What is contemporary processing?

A
  • Procesing style in which Von Neumann architecture is used for main memory. Cache uses Harvard architecture, divided into instruction cache and data cache.
33
Q

Advantages of Von Neumann

A
  • Cheaper to develop as the CU is easier to design.

- Programs can be optimised in size.

34
Q

Advantages of Harvard architecture

A
  • Quicker execution as data and instructions fetched in parallel
  • Memories can be different sizes, makes more efficient use of space.
35
Q

Disadvantages of Harvard architecture

A
  • More physical space is needed since there are 2 buses. Handling 2 blocks of memory is more complex.
36
Q

What does RISC mean?

A
  • Reduced Instruction Set Computer
37
Q

What does CISC mean?

A
  • Complex Instruction Set Computer
38
Q

What are the properties of RISC?

A
  • Small instruction set
  • Each instruction is one line of machine code
  • Used in everyday devices.
39
Q

What are the properties of CISC?

A
  • A large instruction set
  • Instructions are built into hardware
  • Used in embedded systems and microprocessors.
40
Q

What are the benefits of RISC processors?

A
  • Pipe-lining is possible since each instruction takes one clock cycle.
41
Q

What are the benefits of CISC processors?

A
  • Compilers have to do less work

- They require less RAM since instructions are smaller.

42
Q

What is a graphics processing unit?

A
  • A co-processor made up of lots of independent parallel processors.
43
Q

What are GPU’s used for now?

A
  • GPU’s are used for image processing and machine learning.
44
Q

What are multi-core systems?

A
  • Systems where there are multiple cores that separate FDE cycles.
45
Q

What are parallel systems?

A
  • Systems where multiple instructions can be completed at any given time, doesn’t require multiple cores. it can use threading and pipe-lining instead.
46
Q

Give two types of magnetic storage

A
  • Hard disk drive
  • Floppy disk
  • Magnetic tape
47
Q

Give three examples of input devices

A
  • Keyboard -Touchpad
  • Mouse -Barcode reader
  • Microphone
  • Webcam
48
Q

Give an example of a device that is both input and output

A
  • Touchscreen
49
Q

What name is given to the areas on a CD’s surface which have been burned into grooves by a laser?

A
  • Pits
50
Q

What does CD stand for?

A
  • Compact Disc
51
Q

Give three examples of output devices

A
  • Speaker
  • Monitor
  • Printer
  • Projector
52
Q

Order these from highest storage capacity to lowest:

DVD, CD, Blu-Ray

A

Blu-Ray, DVD, CD

53
Q

In a hard disk drive, what is mounted at the end of the actuating arm?

A

Read/write head (needle)

54
Q

Which storage device has typical capacities in the range 500GB-5TB?

A

Hard disk drive

55
Q

Give two disadvantages of SSDs

A
  • Higher cost per GB

- Limited lifespan

56
Q

What does ROM stand for?

A
  • Read only memory
57
Q

Describe the structure in which information is stored in flash memory

A
  • Information is stored in blocks, which are combined to form pages.
58
Q

What is meant by non-volatile?

A
  • Storage medium doesn’t lose its information when power is lost.
59
Q

Which two types of logic gates are used in flash storage?

A
  • NOR

- NAND

60
Q

Give two advantages of SSDs

A
  • Higher transfer speeds
  • Lightweight
  • No moving parts
61
Q

Is ROM volatile or non-volatile?

A
  • Non-volatile
62
Q

Which form of storage device uses silicon semiconductors to store information?

A
  • Flash
63
Q

Give two disadvantages of CDs

A
  • Easily damaged by scratches
  • Relatively low capacities
  • Slow transfer speeds

Computer science A Level OCR (5 decks)

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