Components of a computer system

Question 1

which, from the following list, are pieces of Hardware? Graphics card, Operating sytem, Optical drive, Internet Browser

Answer 1

Graphics card and Optical drive

Question 2

T/F: All hardware is found inside the computer.

Answer 2

False, mouses and keyboards are some examples of external hardware

Question 3

Is a toaster an example of an embedded or non-embedded system?

Answer 3

embedded - it is only able to perform one specific task

Question 4

What is the difference between software and hardware?

Answer 4

Software is the programs and applications that a computer runs, Hardware is the physical components that make up the computer

Question 5

Why are smartphones considered general purpose systems as opposed to dedicated systems?

Answer 5

Smartphones are designed to be flexible and reprogrammable to perform lots of different tasks

Question 6

What are advantages of embedded systems?

Answer 6

Embedded systems are genereally cheap, compact, reliable, and use a small amount of power

Question 7

What does CPU stand for?

Answer 7

Central Processing Unit

Question 8

What is the name of the register which stores the results of the ALU?

Answer 8

Accumulator

Question 9

Which of these is found in the CPU? RAM, Program Counter, Hard Disk Drive

Answer 9

Program Counter

Question 10

What is held in cache memory?

Answer 10

Cache memory holds reularly used data and instructions

Question 11

What is the purpose of the CPU?

Answer 11

The brain of the computer, processes all data and intructions that make the system work

Question 12

What is the primary function of the ALU? And what does ALU stand for?

Answer 12

1. To perform arithmetic calculations and logic operations such as AND, OR and NOT
2. Arithmetic Logic Unit

Question 13

What is the role of the control unit in the CPU?

Answer 13

The control unit is responsible for handling the fetching, decoding, and execution of program instructions. Also sends signals inside the CPU (to registers etc.) and outside the CPU (to main memory and devices) to control the flow of data

Question 14

Why is the capacity of cache memory in desktops and laptops generally quite low?

Answer 14

Cache memory is more expensive than other types of memory and there are limitations on physical space. Users also generally don’t require such high end performance

Question 15

What do MAR and MDR stand for?

Answer 15

Memory Address Register and Memory Data Register

Question 16

In which CPU register is the memory address of the next instruction stored?

Answer 16

Program Counter

Question 17

T/F: In the Von Neumann architecture, different memory units are used for data and instructions

Answer 17

false - data and instructions are stored in the same memory unit

Question 18

Give 3 examples of instructions that might be executed by the CPU

Answer 18

E.g. load/write data, perform calculations/logic operations, change address, halt program

Question 19

What is held in the MAR and MDR?

Answer 19

MAR holds any memory address that is about to be used by the CPU
MDR holds the actual data or instruction that has been fetched from memory or is about to be written to memory

Question 20

What happens during the fetch-execute cycle?

Answer 20

A Memory address is copied from the program counter to the MAR. The program counter is incremented to point to the memory address of the instruction for the next cycle. The instruction stored in the MAR addess is copied to the MDR. The control unit decodes the instruction and then controls the execution of the instruction – this could involve things like writing data to memory or performing operations with the ALU.