Ch-1 Introduction to Computer Systems Hardware Architecture

Question 1

How is Data stored

Answer 1

In terms of bits

Question 2

RAM

Answer 2

Random Access Memory (temporary storage of the running program)

Question 3

ROM

Answer 3

Read Only Memory; Non-volatile memory to contain important information of a computer

Question 4

EPROM

Answer 4

Erasable programmable read only memory

Question 5

EEPROM

Answer 5

Electrically Erasable programmable ROM

Question 6

Flash

Answer 6

Electrically Erasable but can simultaneously erase block of data instead of individual words

Question 7

One feature of ROM, EPROM, EEPROM, Flash

Answer 7

Erase then write

Question 8

BIOS

Answer 8

Basic input output system

Question 9

What is one disadvantage of RAM

Answer 9

The content is lost when the PC turns off

Question 10

Where is the BIOS stored

Answer 10

In flash

Question 11

What is a computer consisted of

Answer 11

CPU, Memory, input/output devices

Question 12

For an address bus having x wires, how many locations can be accessed?

Answer 12

2^x

Question 13

Address Bus

Answer 13

Unidirectional
Its value is always issued by the processor

Question 14

Data Bus

Answer 14

Bidirectional

Question 15

Definition of bus

Answer 15

set of wires that carry bytes of information back and forth between the components

Question 16

VonNeumann Architecture

Answer 16

Both Data and Programs are stored in the same memory (Case of Intel Processors)

Question 17

Harvard Architecture

Answer 17

Data and programs are stored in separate memories

Question 18

Is it possible to run a system with only CPU and RAM?

Answer 18

No, the RAM storage is temporary.

Question 19

A program initially stored in ______ is first transferred to ________ and then to __________

Answer 19

Hard Disk, Main Memory, Memory Cache

Question 20

What instructions does the CPU execute

Answer 20

The instructions located in the cache

Question 21

How to calculate the total number of bytes available in a memory

Answer 21

last address - first address + 1

Question 22

Steps of executing an instruction

Answer 22

fetching an instruction from memory, decoding the fetched instruction, reading the address from memory, and finally, instruction execution.

Question 23

ALU

Answer 23

Arithmetic Logic Unit; is a combinational digital circuit that performs arithmetic and bitwise operations on integer binary numbers.

Question 24

IR

Answer 24

Instruction register; holds the instruction currently being executed or decoded

Question 25

Main memory

Answer 25

a temporary storage device that holds both a program and the data it manipulates while the processor is executing the program

Question 26

cache

Answer 26

temporary staging areas for information that the processor might need in the near future

Question 27

What trend happens in the memory hierarchy as you move from the bottom to top

Answer 27

the devices become faster, smaller and more costly