1.1.1 Architecture of the CPU

Question 1

Purpose of a computer

Answer 1

To take data, process it, then output it

Question 2

Why were computers created?

Answer 2

They can process data and complete tasks more efficiently than humans

Question 3

Hardware

Answer 3

Physical stuff that makes up a computer system

Question 4

Software

Answer 4

The programmes or applications a computer system runs

Question 5

Examples of hardware

Answer 5

-CPU
-motherboard
-monitor
-printer

Question 6

Examples of software

Answer 6

-An operating system
-A word processor
-A video game

Question 7

Components of a computer

Answer 7

-Power supply
-Case cooling fan
-CPU heat sink and cooling fan
-CPU
-Optical drive
-RAM sticks
-Hard Disk Drive
-Graphics card

Question 8

Power supply

Answer 8

Supplies power to the hardware

Question 9

Case cooling fan

Answer 9

Extracts hot air from the computer case

Question 10

CPU heat sink and cooling fan

Answer 10

Keeps the CPU at a steady temperature

Question 11

Why should the CPU be kept at a steady temperature?

Answer 11

CPUs generate alot of heat

Question 12

Motherboard

Answer 12

The main circuit board in the computer, where the hardware is connected

Question 13

What does CPU stand for

Answer 13

Central Processing Unit

Question 14

Function of the CPU

Answer 14

Processes all of the data and instructions that make the system work

Question 15

CPU architecture

Answer 15

The main components of the CPU, how they interact with each other and with other parts of the computer system.

Question 16

Main types of CPU architecture

Answer 16

Von Neumann and Harvard

Question 17

Three main parts of the CPU

Answer 17

-CU
-ALU
-The cache

Question 18

What does CU stand for

Answer 18

Control unit

Question 19

Function of the CU

Answer 19

-In overall control of the CPU
-Manages the fetch-execute cycle
-Controls the flow of data inside the CPU and to the outside of the CPU

Question 20

What does ALU stand for

Answer 20

Arithmetic Logic Unit

Question 21

Function of the ALU

Answer 21

-Completes simple arithmetic and logic calculations
-Contains the accumulator

Question 22

Which arithmetic calculations can the ALU do

Answer 22

Simple addition, subtraction, compares the size of numbers, multiplication and division.

Question 23

How does the ALU do multiplication?

Answer 23

Repeated addition

Question 24

How does the ALU do division?

Answer 24

Repeated subtraction

Question 25

Which logic calculations can the ALU do?

Answer 25

AND, OR, NOT and binary shifts

Question 26

The Cache

Answer 26

Very fast memory in the CPU

Question 27

How fast is the cache?

Answer 27

Slower than registers, faster than RAM

Question 28

Function of the cache

Answer 28

Stores regularly used data so that the CPU can access it quickly

Question 29

Capacity of the cache vs RAM

Answer 29

RAM has more capacity

Question 30

Price of RAM vs the cache

Answer 30

The cache is more expensive

Question 31

List the levels of cache memory

Answer 31

-Level 1 -Level 2 -Level 3

Question 32

Which is the fastest cache level

Answer 32

Level 1

Question 33

Which is the slowest cache level

Answer 33

Level 3

Question 34

Which cache level stores the most data

Answer 34

Level 3

Question 35

Which cache level stores the least data

Answer 35

Level 1

Question 36

Registers

Answer 36

-Temporarily hold tiny bits of data for the CPU -Quickest form of memory

Question 37

Examples of registers

Answer 37

-PC -MAR -MDR -The accumulator

Question 38

The ALU

Answer 38

Does all the calculations

Question 39

Von Neumann architecture

Answer 39

-CPU runs programs stored in memory -Uses memory for both data and instructions

Question 40

Where is the PC

Answer 40

In the CU

Question 41

Where is the accumulator

Answer 41

In the ALU

Question 42

Function of the PC

Answer 42

Holds the memory address of the instruction for the next cycle

Question 43

Function of the Accumulator

Answer 43

Stores results of calculations in the ALU

Question 44

What does PC stand for

Answer 44

Program Counter

Question 45

What does MAR stand for

Answer 45

Memory Address Register

Question 46

Function of the MAR

Answer 46

Holds a memory address about to be used by the CPU

Question 47

Programs

Answer 47

-Consist of instructions and data -Stored in memory addresses

Question 48

What does MDR stand for

Answer 48

Memory Data Register

Question 49

Function of the MDR

Answer 49

Holds the actual data or instruction that may have been fetched from memory or be waiting to be written into memory

Question 50

How does a CPU carry out instructions

Answer 50

The Fetch-Execute cycle

Question 51

Fetch Instruction

Answer 51

1: Copies memory address from the PC to the MAR 2: Copies the instruction stored in the MAR address to the MDR 3: The PC increments to get ready for the next cycle

Question 52

Increment

Answer 52

Increase

Question 53

Decode instruction

Answer 53

The instruction in MDR is decoded by the CU

Question 54

Execute instruction

Answer 54

The instruction is performed

Question 55

Examples of instructions that could be executed in the F-E cycle

Answer 55

-Load data from memory -Write data to memory -Do an arithmetic or logic operation -Change the address in the PC -Halt the program