4.7 Fundamentals of computer organisation and Architecture so far Flashcards
What is the role of processor
primary role is to execute instructions stored in the computer’s memory
What is the role of the main memory
Main memory holds the data and instructions that the processor needs to access quickly during program execution
Role of the io controllers
facilitating communication between the CPU and various input/output devices, such as peripherals.
What are the three types of bus found within the cpu?
address buss, data bus, control bus
What is the role of the address bus(3)
A pathway specifically for transmitting memory addresses.
When the CPU wants to read from or write to a specific location in memory
it sends the address of that location via the address bus.
What is the role of the data bus
What determines its load capacity
the pathway through which data travels within a computer system
The width of the data bus determines how much data can be transferred at once.
For example, a computer might have a 32-bit or 64-bit data bus, meaning it can transfer 32 or 64 bits of data simultaneously
What is the function of the control bus
Responsible for coordinating and controlling the various activities within the computer system.
It carries signals that indicate the type of operation being performed
It also carries timing signals to synchronize the activities of different components.
Explain the von neumann architecure
- shared memory space for data and instructions in same format
- a single processor unit follows a linear fetch decode execute cycle one instruction at a time.
- registers are used for fast access to instructions and data.
Explain the harvard architecture system
- instructions and data are stored in separate memory units
- each has its own bus
- reading and writing data can be done at the same time as fetching.
What is addressable memory
Addressable memory enables the processor to read from or write to specific memory locations as needed during program execution.
What is the stored program concept (3)
The idea that:
machine code instructions and data are stored in
main memory
instructions are fetched from memory and executed serially
by a processor that performs arithmetic and
logical operations.
What is cache memory
Memory that can be accessed very quickly located near the processor
How does increasing amount of cache memory improve performance of a processor.
- More instructions/data can be stored in the cache
- Instructions/data stored in cache can be accessed more quickly than instructions/data in main memory
Describe the role of the control unit (3)
- Controls fetch execute cycle
- Synchronise operation of processor
- Control Transfer of data between registers
What are registers (2)
small, high-speed storage locations within the CPU
used for storing and processing data and instructions during computation.
