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CS2208 > Chapter 1 > Flashcards

Chapter 1 Flashcards

1
Q

What is computer architecture?

A

a set of rules that defines the computer’s functionality, characterized by the ISA

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2
Q

What is ISA?

A

Instruction Set Architecture

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3
Q

What is the ISA concerned with?

A

Register set, instruction set, and addressing modes

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4
Q

ISA defines the…?

A

model of the computer from the programmer’s point of view

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5
Q

What embodies the computer’s ISA?

A

Its assembly language

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6
Q

What is computer organization?

A

Concerned with the implementation of a computer’s ISA

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7
Q

Computer organization is often referred to as…

A

Microarchitecture

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8
Q

“CPU” stands for what?

A

Central Processing Unit

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9
Q

What word is synonymous for the CPU?

A

Microprocessor

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10
Q

What type of memory do most modern CPUs have on-chip?

A

Cache memory

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11
Q

What is a “word”

A

A single piece of data

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12
Q

What are processor registers specified by?

A

The number of bits they contain (can be 32-bit wide or 64-bit wide typically)

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13
Q

What is the FUNDAMENTAL difference between a register and a word in memory?

A

There is no fundamental difference

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14
Q

What is the PRACTICAL difference between a register and word in memory?

A

Registers are located within the CPU

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15
Q

For a stored program computer, the CPU…

A

reads instructions from memory and carries out operations on input data and data in memory

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16
Q

For a stored program computer, both data and instructions are stored…

A

in the same memory system

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17
Q

For a stored program computer, memory is a bottleneck because

A

both instructions and data must be retrieved from the memory and then the final data is stored back in memory

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18
Q

What is the clock?

A

Essentially a series of pules (ONs and OFFs) used to sequence the events within the computer

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19
Q

A clock is defined in terms of its

A

Repetition rate (frequency) or width

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20
Q

The formula for a clock’s width is

A

WIDTH = 1 / (FREQUENCY)

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21
Q

1 us is

A

1 microsecond (1 / 1 000 000)

22
Q

1 ns is

A

1 nanosecond (1 / 1 000 000 000)

23
Q

Can a programmer determine the difference between encoded data and encoded instructions simply by looking at the bit pattern?

A

NO

24
Q

The stored program concept is:

A

a program that will continuously point to an address in memory for instructions, then point to the next instruction, decode, execute, and repeat forever

25
Q

For the stored program concept, the 3 main memory ports are:

A
  • Address port (1-way)
  • Data port (2-way)
  • Control port (1-way)
26
Q

What does RTL Notation mean?

A

Register Transfer Language Notation

27
Q

In RTL Notation, [ ] (square brackets) represent what?

A

The contents of a memory location

28
Q

In RTL Notation a backwards arrow represents

A

A data transfer

29
Q

In RTL Notation, “=” (equals sign) represent what?

A

The contents of a memory location is equal to the RHS. Can be used as a variable assignment

30
Q

Three Address Instructions take on the form of what?

A

Operation, Address1 (BOLDED), Address2, Address3

31
Q

“Operation, Address1 (BOLDED), Address2, Address3” is the form of what kind of instructions?

A

Three Address Instructions

32
Q

Two Address Instructions take on the form of what?

A

Operation, Address1 (BOLDED), Address2

33
Q

“Operation, Address1 (BOLDED), Address2” is the form of what kind of instructions?

A

Two Address Instructions

34
Q

What kind of instructions erase one of the original data elements?

A

Two Address Instructions

35
Q

What is the Memory Hierarchy?

A

• Registers > Cache > DRAM > Hard Disk

36
Q

What is the fastest memory type?

A

Registers

37
Q

What is faster: registers or cache?

A

Registers

38
Q

What is faster: cache or DRAM?

A

Cache

39
Q

What is the Memory Hierarchy ratio?

A

1 : 2^18 : 2^28 : 2^35

40
Q

What is a Bus in essence?

A

A link between two or more functional parts of a computer

41
Q

What is the difference between an Internal Bus and an External Bus?

A

An Internal Bus is located within the CPU or the motherboard while an External Bus can be a USB or FireWire

42
Q

A USB is an example of what kind of bus?

A

External Bus

43
Q

What is Bus Width?

A

the number of parallel data paths OR the number of wires that make up a bus

44
Q

What is Bus Bandwidth?

A

the rate in which data can be transferred across the bus (bytes or bits per second)

45
Q

What is Bus Latency?

A

the waiting period between a data transfer request and its completion

46
Q

What is a constant?

A

a value that DOES NOT change during execution

47
Q

What is a variable?

A

a value that CAN change during execution

48
Q

what is a symbolic name?

A

a name given to a constant or a variable

49
Q

What is a pointer?

A

a variable whose value is an address

50
Q

What is an address?

A

a specific value that corresponds to a location in memory

CS2208 (12 decks)

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