4.7.1.1 Internal hardware components of a computer Flashcards
What’s the function of the processor / main memory / secondary storage?
The processor executes instructions
Main memory stores programs currently in use
Secondary storage stores programs for long term use
What is a bus?
A set of parallel wires that can transmit groups of bits between registers that connects components in the CPU
What do the three buses do?
A control bus transmits control signals from the control unit to allow synchronisation of signals.
A data bus carries the data being transmitted
An address bus carries the location address / register for where the data is going
What signals does a control bus carry?
Clock Reset Interrupt Request Bus Request I/O Write I/O Read
Why is the data bus bidirectional but the address bus unidirectional?
The data bus has to transfer data to and from components but the processor only needs to send out addresses to the other components.
What does it mean for an address bus to be 64-bit?
The address bus has 64 lines, therefore there are 2^64 memory locations available
What is the data bus used to transfer?
Data and Instructions
What is the role of the I/O port and the other parts of the I/O controller?
I/O port allows exchange of data between the processor and the peripheral
Electronics that allow for sending signals to the device connected to the computer
What is the Von Neumann Architecture?
A technique used for building a processor where data and instructions are stored in the same memory and accessed via buses
used extensively in general purpose computing systems
What is the Harvard Architecture?
A technique for building a processor with separate buses and memory. Means that data and instructions can be accessed at the same time
Embedded systems such as digital signal processing (DSP) systems use Harvard architecture
What is the I/O controller?
help in the interaction of peripheral devices with the control units (CUs). The I/O controller helps in the connection and control of various peripheral devices
What is a peripheral?
A hardware component not part of the CPU and not directly under it’s control, it communicates through an I/O controller
Why shouldn’t peripherals be directly connected to the processor?
Each peripheral operates in a different way, they may operate at a different voltage and will often be slower than the CPU. A new type of peripheral would require the CPU to be completely redesigned.
