Components Of A Computer Flashcards
What is the function of the ALU?
A processing unit which carries out arithmetic operations and logical instructions.
What is a register?
A location in the CPU which stores a value temporarily. It allows high speed access to those values.
What is the function of the data bus?
Carries data from one register to another.
What is the function of the address bus?
Carries the address of where data is going/coming from.
What is the function of the control bus?
Transmits control signals from the control signal to the rest of the processor.
What is clock speed?
The number of fetch-execute cycles processed per second.
What is the effect of having multiple cores?
More data can be processed simultaneously (faster) but a more complex OS is needed.
What are the characteristics of Harvard processor architecture?
- Instructions and data held in separate memories
* Parallel data and instruction buses
What are the characteristics of Von Neumann architecture?
- Single processor
- Data and instructions share the same memory
- One bus to transfer data and one for addresses
What are the benefits of CISC?
- Many complex opcodes available
- Easier to program
- Shorter execution time
- Less RAM used
- More instructions can access memory directly
- Simpler software code
What are the drawbacks of CISC?
- Instructions can take more than one clock cycle
- Requires more power due to complex instruction set
- Complicated processor design
What are the benefits of RISC?
- Each instruction processed in a single cycle
- Cheaper, longer battery life, requires less cooling as chip is less powerful
- Programs run faster
- Simpler design
What are the drawbacks of RISC?
- Few opcodes
- More RAM necessary
- Complicated software code
What are input devices?
Devices which allow data to be entered into a computer.
What are output devices?
Devices which reports the result of processing.
