Architecture of the CPU Flashcards
What is the purpose of the CPU
The CPU is a hardware component of a computer that executes programs and manages the rest of the hardware
What are the steps of the Fetch-Decode-Execute cycle
Fetch - Fetches an instruction from the main memory
Decode - Decodes the instruction
Execute - Executes the instruction
What are the factors of the CPU that effect the performance of a computer
Clock Speed - The speed at which the processor operates is called the clock speed and is measured in hertz
Cache Memory - This is an intermediary between the main memory and the CPU. It stores data that is used very often
Number of Cores - The more cores there are the more parrallel processing can take place at a time
What is the ALU and its function
Carries out :
Logical operations - Includes AND, OR and NOT
Shift operations - number is shifted to the right or left by a couple of spaces
Arithmetic operations - includes +. -, x and divide
What is the control Unit and its function
It coordinates all the activities taking place inside the CPU
This includes:
the execution of instructions in the correct order
decodes instructions
controls processor timings
sends and receives control signals to and from other devices within the computer
What is the cache and its function
The cache contains memory that is used regularly.
This is a fast access instead of going to the Main Memory for the CPU
What are the registers
A register is a special very fast access inside the CPU used in the execution of specific instructions
What is an embedded system
A small computer buolt into a piece of equipment designed to a perform a specific function
What are the features of the Von Neumann Architecture
Structure :
……………………………Storage………………………….
………………………………..↓…………………………………
Input Devices > Processor < OutputDevice
…………………………….(CPU)…………………………….
……………………………… ^……………………………….
……………………………Cache…………………………….
……………………………….^…………………………………
……………………….Main Memory……………………..
What is the MAR and its function
Memory Address Register holds the address of the instruction or piece of data to be fetched or stored
What is the MDR and its function
Memory Data Register holds the data or a program instruction temporarily when it is fetched from memory or is to be sent to memory
What is the program counter and its function
Program Counter holds the memory address of the next instruction to be carried out
What is the accumulator and its function
Accumulator is a special- purpose, memory location in which the results of operations carried out in the ALU are temporarily stored
