Chapter 7 - Fundamentals of computer organisation and architecture - Key Words

Question 1

Processor

Answer 1

A device that carries out computation on data by following instructions, in order to produce an output

Question 2

Main Memory

Answer 2

Stores data and instructions that will be used by the processor

Question 3

Fetch-execute cycle

Answer 3

The continuous process carried out by the processor when running programs

Question 4

Random Access Memory (RAM)

Answer 4

Stores data and can be read to and written from

Question 5

Chip

Answer 5

An electronic component contained within a thin slice of silicon

Question 6

Read Only Memory (ROM)

Answer 6

Stores data and can be read from, but not written to (unless programmable ROM)

Question 7

Bus

Answer 7

Microscopic parallel wires that transmit data between internal components

Question 8

Data bus

Answer 8

transfers data between the processor and memory

Question 9

Input/Output (I/O) controller

Answer 9

Controls the flow of information between the processor and the input an output devices

Question 10

Word Length

Answer 10

The number of bits that can be addressed, transferred or manipulated as one unit

Question 11

Address Bus

Answer 11

Used to specify a physical address in memory so that the data bus can access it

Question 12

Addressable Memory

Answer 12

The concept that data and instructions are stored in memory using discrete addresses

Question 13

Control Bus

Answer 13

Controls the flow of data between the processor and other parts of the computer

Question 14

Von Neumann Architecture

Answer 14

A technique for building a processor where data and instructions are stored in the same memory and accessed via buses

Question 15

Harvard Architecture

Answer 15

A technique for building a processor that uses separate buses and memory for data and instruction

Question 16

Stored Program Concept

Answer 16

The idea that instructions and data are stored together in memory

Question 17

Fetch - Execute Cycle

Answer 17

The continuous process carried out by the processor when running programs

Question 18

Control Unit

Answer 18

Part of the processor that manages the execution of instructions

Question 19

Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU)

Answer 19

Part of the processor that processes and manipulates data

Question 20

Clock

Answer 20

A device that generates a signal used to synchronise the components of a computer

Question 21

Register

Answer 21

A small section of temporary storage that is part of the processor. Stores data or control instructions during the fetch - decode - excuse cycle

Question 22

Status Register

Answer 22

Keeps track of the various functions of the computer such as if the result of the last calculation was positive or negative

Question 23

Interrupt register

Answer 23

Stores details of incoming interrupts

Question 24

Current Instruction Register (CIR)

Answer 24

Register that stores the instructions that the CPU is currently decoding/executing

Question 25

Program Counter (PC)

Answer 25

Register that stores the address of the next instruction to be taken from main memory into the processor

Question 26

Memory Buffer Register (MBR)

Answer 26

Register that holds data that is either written to or copied from the CPU (MDR)

Question 27

Memory Data Register (MDR)

Answer 27

Register that holds data that is either written to or copied from the CPU (MBR)

Question 28

Memory Address Register (MAR)

Answer 28

Register that stores the location of the address that data is either written to or copied form by the processor

Question 29

Bus Width

Answer 29

The number of bits that can be sent down a bus in one go

Question 30

Vectored Interrupt Mechanism

Answer 30

A method of handling interrupts by pointing to the first memory address of the instructions needed

Question 31

Instruction Set

Answer 31

The patterns of 0s and 1s that a particular processor recognises as commands, along with their associated meanings

Question 32

Opcode

Answer 32

An operation code or instructions used in assembly language

Question 33

Operand

Answer 33

A value or memory address that forms part of an assembly language instruction

Question 34

Addressing Mode

Answer 34

The way in which the operand is interpreted

Question 35

Assembly Language

Answer 35

A way of programming using mnemonics

Question 36

Mnemonics

Answer 36

Short codes that are used as instructions when programming e.g. LDR, ADD

Question 37

Direct Address

Answer 37

The operand is the value

Question 38

Immediate Address

Answer 38

The operand is the memory address or register

Question 39

Data Transfer Operations

Answer 39

Operations that move data around between the registers and memory

Question 40

Arithmetic Operations

Answer 40

Operations within an instruction set that perform basic maths, such as add and subtract

Question 41

Shift Instructions

Answer 41

Operations within an instruction set that move bits within a register

Question 42

Logical Operations

Answer 42

Operations within an instruction set that move the bits around within the operand

Question 43

Branch Operations

Answer 43

Operations within an instruction set that allow you to move from one part of the program to another