Architecture Flashcards
Define a Processor
The processing unit executes instructions and carries out low-level operations
What are factors that affect CPU performance
Number of cores, Speed and Cache size
Define RAM
Primary memory, allows you to have more data/more extensive programs in use at the same time
What are factors that affect RAM performance
Size and Speed
Define Storage
Secondary memory
What are the factors that affect Storage performance
Size, Speed, Type
What are Metric Value Prefixes used for
To describe very large or very small magnitude numbers
How do we represent things
Binary representation
How is stored-program computers different
There is no difference between the program and the data
How is stored information (binary) represented
A large table of uniquely addressed locations
How is information retrieved
We go to the memory address and read the value
What is the problem with retrieving information with a stored-program computer
There is no way to know if the value at a location is an instruction or data by looking at it
What are key details in the Von Neumann architecture
Arithmetic Logic Unit, Control Unit, Memory, Input and Output devices, Buses
Define an Arithmetic Logic Unit
A unit which performs basic operations on values, such as arithmetic operations and logical operations
Define a Control Unit
A unit to provide control signals which direct the flow of data
What does a bus do
Connects components and allows communication
What is special about the bus in the Von Neumann Architecture
The bus is shared
What is a limitation of the Von Neumann Architecture
Von Neumann bottleneck, this is when you wait for the “fetch cycle” where we periodically fetch information along the bus
What are the two registers in the Control Unit
Instruction register and Program counter
What is the Instruction register
A register which contains the instruction that is currently being executed
What is the Program counter
A register which contains the address of the next instruction to be executed
What is a Front-side Bus
A dedicated Bus which connects the CPU, main memory and other internal components
What happens in the Fetch cycle
Fetch instructions from the location pointed to by the program counter and place the instruction into the instruction register while updating the program counter to the next memory location
What happens in the Decode cycle
The instruction within the instruction register is interpreted into an operation to peform
What happens in the Read Memory Cycle
IF REQUIRED, auxiliary data is fetched from the main memory to be processed, and then into data registers
What happens in the Execute cycle
The CPU’s Control Unit passes the decoded instruction to functional units of the CPU, performing the actions required by the instruction
