Ch-1 Introduction to Computer Systems Hardware Architecture Flashcards
How is Data stored
In terms of bits
RAM
Random Access Memory (temporary storage of the running program)
ROM
Read Only Memory; Non-volatile memory to contain important information of a computer
EPROM
Erasable programmable read only memory
EEPROM
Electrically Erasable programmable ROM
Flash
Electrically Erasable but can simultaneously erase block of data instead of individual words
One feature of ROM, EPROM, EEPROM, Flash
Erase then write
BIOS
Basic input output system
What is one disadvantage of RAM
The content is lost when the PC turns off
Where is the BIOS stored
In flash
What is a computer consisted of
CPU, Memory, input/output devices
For an address bus having x wires, how many locations can be accessed?
2^x
Address Bus
Unidirectional
Its value is always issued by the processor
Data Bus
Bidirectional
Definition of bus
set of wires that carry bytes of information back and forth between the components
VonNeumann Architecture
Both Data and Programs are stored in the same memory (Case of Intel Processors)
Harvard Architecture
Data and programs are stored in separate memories
Is it possible to run a system with only CPU and RAM?
No, the RAM storage is temporary.
A program initially stored in ______ is first transferred to ________ and then to __________
Hard Disk, Main Memory, Memory Cache
What instructions does the CPU execute
The instructions located in the cache
How to calculate the total number of bytes available in a memory
last address - first address + 1
Steps of executing an instruction
fetching an instruction from memory, decoding the fetched instruction, reading the address from memory, and finally, instruction execution.
ALU
Arithmetic Logic Unit; is a combinational digital circuit that performs arithmetic and bitwise operations on integer binary numbers.
IR
Instruction register; holds the instruction currently being executed or decoded
Main memory
a temporary storage device that holds both a program and the data it manipulates while the processor is executing the program
cache
temporary staging areas for information that the processor might need in the near future
What trend happens in the memory hierarchy as you move from the bottom to top
the devices become faster, smaller and more costly
