Architecture

Question 1

Define a Processor

Answer 1

The processing unit executes instructions and carries out low-level operations

Question 2

What are factors that affect CPU performance

Answer 2

Number of cores, Speed and Cache size

Question 3

Define RAM

Answer 3

Primary memory, allows you to have more data/more extensive programs in use at the same time

Question 4

What are factors that affect RAM performance

Answer 4

Size and Speed

Question 5

Define Storage

Answer 5

Secondary memory

Question 6

What are the factors that affect Storage performance

Answer 6

Size, Speed, Type

Question 7

What are Metric Value Prefixes used for

Answer 7

To describe very large or very small magnitude numbers

Question 8

How do we represent things

Answer 8

Binary representation

Question 9

How is stored-program computers different

Answer 9

There is no difference between the program and the data

Question 10

How is stored information (binary) represented

Answer 10

A large table of uniquely addressed locations

Question 11

How is information retrieved

Answer 11

We go to the memory address and read the value

Question 12

What is the problem with retrieving information with a stored-program computer

Answer 12

There is no way to know if the value at a location is an instruction or data by looking at it

Question 13

What are key details in the Von Neumann architecture

Answer 13

Arithmetic Logic Unit, Control Unit, Memory, Input and Output devices, Buses

Question 14

Define an Arithmetic Logic Unit

Answer 14

A unit which performs basic operations on values, such as arithmetic operations and logical operations

Question 15

Define a Control Unit

Answer 15

A unit to provide control signals which direct the flow of data

Question 16

What does a bus do

Answer 16

Connects components and allows communication

Question 17

What is special about the bus in the Von Neumann Architecture

Answer 17

The bus is shared

Question 18

What is a limitation of the Von Neumann Architecture

Answer 18

Von Neumann bottleneck, this is when you wait for the “fetch cycle” where we periodically fetch information along the bus

Question 19

What are the two registers in the Control Unit

Answer 19

Instruction register and Program counter

Question 20

What is the Instruction register

Answer 20

A register which contains the instruction that is currently being executed

Question 21

What is the Program counter

Answer 21

A register which contains the address of the next instruction to be executed

Question 22

What is a Front-side Bus

Answer 22

A dedicated Bus which connects the CPU, main memory and other internal components

Question 23

What happens in the Fetch cycle

Answer 23

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

Question 24

What happens in the Decode cycle

Answer 24

The instruction within the instruction register is interpreted into an operation to peform

Question 25

What happens in the Read Memory Cycle

Answer 25

IF REQUIRED, auxiliary data is fetched from the main memory to be processed, and then into data registers

Question 26

What happens in the Execute cycle

Answer 26

The CPU’s Control Unit passes the decoded instruction to functional units of the CPU, performing the actions required by the instruction