1.3 Northbridge Components

Question 1

Function of CPU (4)

Answer 1

Carry out machine cycles
FETCH instructions from memory
DECODE : understand the instruction
EXECUTE the instruction using data
STORE the result in memory

Question 2

Parts of CPU (3)

Answer 2

Control Unit (CU)
- sends read and write signals to memory
- sends address of instruction to be fetched
Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU)
- calculations and comparisons
Registers
- Stores current instructions (registers for CU and ALU)
- Accumulator stores results of each execution

Question 3

Cache: What is it and functions?

Answer 3

Between CPU, RAM
Made out of SRAM
Function: stores blocks of instructions pre-fetched form RAM

Question 4

Cache: Levels of Cache

Answer 4

1: small amount, with internal circuitry of CPU
2: On the CPU, larger than 1
3: On motherboard: closer to CPU than RAM

Question 5

RAM: Functions

Answer 5

Main primary memory

Stores programs currently in use and relevant data

Question 6

RAM: Types

Answer 6

DRAM: Dynamic RAM
- needs to be refreshed
SDRAM: Synchronized
- Synchronized refreshing with CPU
DDR: Double Date Rate
- data transferred twice per clock pulse

Question 7

Latency

Answer 7

How much time memory delays in giving info to CPU