1.1 system architecture Flashcards
What does the CPU stand for and what are its 2 main functions?
Central Processing Unit
1. Process data and instructions
2. Control rest of computer system
What’s the difference between hardware and software?
Hardware is the physical components
Software is the programs, web browsers ect.
What’s the Fetch Execute Cycle?
It FETCHES the next instruction from ram and brings it back to the CPU
Then inspects instruction and DECODES what needs doing
Then carry out instruction and EXECUTE it
Whats ALU stand for and what’s its job?
Arithmetic Logic Unit
Calculates logic descicions
What’s CU stand for and what’s its job?
Control Unit
Sends signals to control how data moves around the CPU
Whats cache?
It provides fast access to frequently used instructions and data
What are registers?
They are tiny, fast pieces of onboard memory inside CPU for a specific purpose
What’s the PC?
Program Counter and holds address of next instruction to be executed in memory
What’s the MAR?
Memory Address Register and holds address of where data is to be fetched or stored
What’s the MDR?
Memory Data Register and holds data fetched from, or to be written in memory
Whats an Accumulator?
It holds results of calculations
What’s the clock speed?
It measured in Hz
It’s the number of cycles per second
What’s the cache size?
It’s the temporary storage of data and instructions being read to and written from
What are cores?
Complete copy of the CPU
Whats an embedded system?
It’s got low power consumption
It’s small in size
Rugged operating systems
Low cost per unit
Digital blocks, dish washer, heating systems
