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AWard GCSE Computer Science > 1.2 The CPU > Flashcards

1.2 The CPU Flashcards

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1
Q

CPU stands for

A

Central
Processing
Unit

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2
Q

Importance and use of CPU

A

Process all the data and instructions that make the system work

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3
Q

CPU has three main parts those being

A

The control unit
The arithmetic logic unit
The cache

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4
Q

What is the control and what is the use of it

A

Overall control of the CPU

Executes programs by following the FDE cycle

Controls the flow of data inside the CPU (registers, ALU, cache) and outside (main memory and input/output devices)

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5
Q

What does ALU stand for

A

Arithmetic
Logic
Unit

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6
Q

What is the ALU and it’s uses

A

Preforms calculations
Completes simple addition/subtraction/multiplication/division
Compares size of numbers

Logical operations (AND, OR, NOT) and binary shifts

Contains accumulator

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7
Q

What is cache and its use

A

Very fast memory in CPU (compared to RAM)

Stores regularly used data so CPU can access quickly (CPU checks cache if not there then fetches from RAM)

Low capacity and expensive

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8
Q

The CPU contains varies registers which

A

They temporarily hold tiny bits of data needed by CPU

Super quick to read/write

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9
Q

What is the Von Neumann design

A

It describes a system where the CPU runs programs stores in memory
Programs consist of instructions and data which are stored in memory as addresses

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10
Q

What is inside a CPU

3 boxes on the Von Neumann design

A

Control unit
Registers
ALU

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11
Q

What is inside the control unit and why is this important

A

The program counter (PC)

This holds the memory address of the instruction for each cycle

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12
Q

What is inside the ALU and why is it important

A

Accumulator

Stores the results of calculations

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13
Q

What are the 4 processor registers

A

Pc (program counter)
MAR (Memory Address Register
MDR ( Memory Data Register)
CIR (Current Instruction Register)

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14
Q

What is PC

A

Hold the location of the next instruction/data address in main memory

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15
Q

What is MAR

A

Memory address register

The contents of the PC are copied here and then transferred along the address bus

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16
Q

What is MDR

A

Memory data register

Once data/ instructions are bright from the memory address in main memory they are placed here

17
Q

What is CIR

A

Current instruction register

The instructions stores in MDR are copied here

18
Q

What is a bus

A

Set of parallel wires connecting two or more independent components of a computer system in order to pass signals between them

19
Q

What are the three busses

A

Data bus
Control bus
Address bus

20
Q

What does the address bus do

A

Carries addresses from processor to main memory

One direction ( processor generates address)

21
Q

What does the data bus do

A

Carries instructions from main memory to the processor

Travel two ways

Data can be read or written

22
Q

What does the control bus do

A

Controls signals are sent along the control bus
(E.g memory read or memory write)
Instructs which data will be travelling to/from memory

23
Q

What is CU

A

Control unit
Sends control signals between the different internal components
(Memory read/write, HDD)

24
Q

CPU follows FDE cycle

What does this stand for

A

Fetch
Decode
Execute

25
Q

Explain the fetch part of the cycle

A

Copy address memory from PC to the MAR

Copy the instruction stored in the MAR address to the MDR

Increases the program counter to point to the address of the next instruction, ready for the next cycle

26
Q

Explain the decode part of the cycle

A

The instruction in MDR is decided by the CU

The CU may then prepare for the next step
E.g by loading values onto the MAR or MDR

27
Q

Explain the execute part of the cycle

A

The instruction is performed
This could be load data from memory,
writes date to memory,
do calculations or logic operation (using ALU),
change address in the PC or halt the program

28
Q

What are peripherals

A

Any device not directly connected to CPU
E.g mouse, keyboard, printer, HDD
Devices known as I/O devices (input/output devices) to

29
Q

What do I/O controllers allow

A

Allow interface between a hardware device external to the motherboard and the processor itself self

AWard GCSE Computer Science (8 decks)

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