Assembly Language Flashcards
What is assembly language?
A low-level programming language that uses simple symbols instead of complex codes to make it easier for people to write computer instructions
What are the two main CPU architectures discussed?
Von Neumann Architecture and Harvard Architecture.
What are the key features of the Von Neumann Architecture?
It uses the same memory for both data and instructions, with one system (bus) to handle both.
How does the Harvard Architecture differ from the Von Neumann Architecture?
It has separate memory for instructions and data, letting them be fetched at the same time for faster execution
What is MIPS and why is it significant?
MIPS is a simple and efficient RISC architecture that uses pipelining to make processing faster.
What is pipelining in MIPS?
A method of doing many instructions at the same time to make processing faster and more efficient
What are the eight stages of the MIPS R4000 pipeline?
IF, IS, RF, EX, DF, DS, TC, WB.
What are the key design principles of MIPS architecture?
Keep it simple, make common tasks quick, smaller is faster, and good design means smart trade-offs.
What are the three main types of MIPS instructions?
R (Register) Type, I (Immediate) Type, J (Jump) Type.
What does an R-type instruction in MIPS include?
Opcode, source registers, destination register, shift amount, and function code.
What components make up an I-type instruction?
Opcode, source register, destination register, and an immediate value.
What does a J-type instruction specify?
Opcode and the target address for jumping.
How many registers does the MIPS architecture have?
32 registers that store data, and each one is 32 bits wide
What is the purpose of the $0 and $ra registers in MIPS?
$0 always holds the value 0, and $ra keeps the address to return to after a function.
What MIPS instructions are used for memory access?
lw (load word) and sw (store word).
What are common arithmetic instructions in MIPS?
add, sub, mul, div.
What is the purpose of branching instructions like beq and bne?
They are used for jumping to different parts of the program based on conditions
What are jump instructions used for in MIPS?
They jump directly to a specified address (using j or jal) without any conditions.
What are the differences between lw and sw instructions?
lw loads data from memory to a register, while sw stores data from a register to memory.
What is an example of an immediate instruction?
addi $t0, $t1, 10 - Adds 10 to the value in $t1 and stores the result in $t0.
What is the purpose of $t0-$t9 and $s0-$s7 registers?
$t0 to $t9 are temporary and can be changed, while $s0 to $s7 are saved and keep their values between function calls.
What are assembler directives, and give an example?
Instructions for the assembler that don’t run during the program. For example, .data is used to set up the data part of the program.
How are labels used in MIPS assembly?
Labels mark spots in the code for jumps and branches (e.g., Loop:).
How do you write a MIPS program to add two numbers?
Load operands using lw
Perform addition using add
Store the result using sw
How is a loop implemented in MIPS assembly?
Using branch instructions like bne and jump instructions like j to create loops in the code.
What is the main advantage of Harvard architecture over Von Neumann?
Fetching instructions and data at the same time to make execution faster.
How does pipelining improve CPU performance?
By running multiple instructions at the same time to increase speed.
What is instruction pipelining?
A method where different parts of multiple instructions run at the same time.
What is ISA, and why is it important?
ISA is a set of instructions that a CPU can understand and run, acting as a bridge between software and hardware.
How is high-level code converted to MIPS assembly?
Through a compilation process that converts code into intermediate assembly instructions.
