Computer Organisation and Architecture Flashcards
What is the processor
Executes program instructions in order to run applications.
Main memory
Ram and Rom are used to store program instructions and frequently used data.
Easier for processor to access.
Busses
These are parallel wires that are used to connect multiple components to transfer signals
Address bus
Used to transfer the address of the data needed to be accesed and sent to.
One direction (uni directional)
How do you calculate the amount of data you can send on a bus
2^(number of wires)
Data bus
Sends data and instructions to and from components.
(Bidirectional) both ways
I/O Controller
Controls the input and output to the processor form keyboard, mouse, etc
Harvard archtecture
A computer system that stores the data and instructions in different locations by the processor.
Advantage of harvard
It gives each memory item different characteristics like only read so can’t be changed.
Von Neuman archtecture
Bothe instructions and data stored in same locations by processor.
Why is Von Neuman worse than Harvard
They perform worse than harvad because data of instructions and data have to be brought by busses
Fetch - decode - execute cyle
Control bus
Carries commands and signal to and from other components of computer.
What is an ALU?
Arithmetic Logic Unit: The part of the CPU where data is processed and manipulated, consisting of arithmetic operations or logical comparisons.
What is a Control Unit?
The part of the CPU that manages the execution of instructions by fetching, decoding, and synchronizing them.
What is a Clock in computing?
Measured in hertz, the clock speed is the frequency at which the internal clock generates pulses, synchronizing related components.
What is a General-purpose register?
Tiny areas of extremely fast memory located in the CPU for storing temporary data while instructions are being carried out.
What is a Program Counter?
A register in the control unit which holds the address of the next instruction to be executed.
What is a Current Instruction Register?
A register in the control unit that stores the address of the next instruction currently being executed.
What is a Memory Address Register?
A register in the CPU that stores the address of the memory location currently in use.
What is a Memory Buffer Register?
Also known as the Memory Data Register (MDR), it stores data being transferred to and from the immediate-access store.
What is a Status Register?
Contains information about the state of the processor, with bits read and written by executing machine code instructions.
What is the Fetch-decode-execute cycle?
The complete process of retrieving an instruction from the store, decoding it, and carrying it out.
What is an Opcode?
Abbreviation of operation code, specifying the operation to be performed in a machine instruction.
What is a Processor instruction set?
A group of commands for a CPU in machine language, referring to all or a subset of instructions.
What is an Operand?
The portion of a machine instruction that specifies the data to be operated on or manipulated by the opcode.
What is Immediate addressing?
Uses the data in the address field as a constant required by the program.
What is Direct addressing?
Uses the data in the address field without alteration; the simplest and most common method of addressing.
It there
What are registers?
Registers are small storage locations used to hold data temporarily.
How does a barcode reader work
How does a digital camera work
How does a lazer printer work
How does RFID work
What do hard disk drives do to store data
How do SSD’s work
How do optical disks work
