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IGCSEs > Computers πŸ’» | Computer Architecture | 3.1 > Flashcards

Computers πŸ’» | Computer Architecture | 3.1 Flashcards

1
Q

What does CPU stand for?

A

Central Processing Unit

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2
Q

Define CPU

A

The part of a computer that is responsible for the execution or processing of all the instructions and data in a computer

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3
Q

Define microprocessor

A

A type of integrated circuit on a single chip.

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4
Q

What is Von Neumann architecture?

A

A form of computer architecture developed that introduced the idea of a β€˜stored program’, allowing computer memories to store programs as well as data

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5
Q

What are the three components of a CPU?

A
  • Units
  • Registers
  • Buses
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6
Q

What are the units in a CPU?

A

Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU) and Control Unit (CU)

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7
Q

What are the registers in a CPU?

A
  • Program Counter (PC)
  • Memory Address Register (MAR)
  • Memory Data Register (MDR)
  • Current Instruction Register (CIR)
  • Accumulator (ACC)
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8
Q

What are the three buses in a CPU?

A

Address bus, data bus, control bus

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9
Q

What is the function of the ALU?

A

It allows the required arithmetic and logical operations to be carried while a program is being run.

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10
Q

What is the function of the control unit?

A

It ensures synchronisation of data flow and program instructions throughout a computer.

It also decodes instructions.

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11
Q

What is the purpose of the CIR?

A

Stores the current instruction being decoded and executed

Current Instruction Register

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12
Q

What is the purpose of the ACC?

A

Used when carrying out ALU calculations to store data temporarily during calculations

Accumulator

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13
Q

What is the purpose of the MAR?

A

Stores the address of the memory location currently being read from or written to

Memory Address Register

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14
Q

What is the purpose of the MDR?

A

Stores data which has just been read from memory or data which is about to be written to memory

Memory Data Register

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15
Q

What is the purpose of the PC (Program Counter)?

A

Stores the address where the next instruction to be read can be found

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16
Q

Each partition of memory contains …

A

An address and its contents

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17
Q

What are registers?

A

A part of the CPU that temporarily stores data for different reasons

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18
Q

What is a system bus?

A

A connection between major components in a computer that can carry data, addresses, or control signals

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19
Q

Define address bus

A

The system bus that carries the addresses throughout the computer system

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20
Q

Define data bus

A

The system bus that allows data to be carried from CPU to memory (and vice versa), or to and from I/O decvices

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21
Q

Define control bus

A

The system bus that carries signals from control unit to all other computer components

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22
Q

Which part of the CPU is responsible for decoding instructions?

A

The CU

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23
Q

Which data buses are unidirectional, and which are bidirectional?

A

Unidirectional: address bus
Bidirectional: data bus and control bus

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24
Q

What is the bus width?

A

The number of bits in a system bus

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25
Q

How does bus width impact address buses?

A

The wider the bus, the more memories that can be simultaneously addressed

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26
Q

How does bus width impact data buses?

A

The wider the bus, the larger the word length that can be transferred (word - group of bits which can be regarded as a single unit). The larger the word length the better the performance.

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27
Q

How does bus width impact control buses?

A

There is no need to widen the bus width of a control bus as it only is used to carry around control signals

28
Q

What is the purpose of the system clock?

A

It produces timing signals on the control bus to ensure synchronisation takes place

29
Q

What does IAS stand for?

A

Immediate Access Store

30
Q

Define IAS

A

Memory that holds all data and programs neded to be accessed by the control unit (the RAM)

31
Q

Define Fetch-Decode-Execute

A

A cycle in which instructions and data are fetched from memory, decoded, and finally executed

32
Q

How is an instruction fetched?

fetch-execute cycle

A
  1. The address of the instruction, held in PC is sent using address bus to MAR
  2. Using the data bus, the next instruction is fetched from the memory address stored in the MAR, and stored in the MDR
  3. Contents of the MDR are copied to the CIR
  4. PC is incremented so that the next instruction can be processed

*PC = Program Counter

33
Q

What does CIR stand for?

A

Current Instruction Register

34
Q

Define increment

A

Increase by one

35
Q

Why should an instruction be decoded?

fetch-execute cycle

A

The instruction is decoded so it can be interpreted in the next (execute) part of the cycle

36
Q

How is an instruction executed?

fetch-execute cycle

A
  • The CPU passes the decoded instruction as a set of control signals to the appropriate components within the computer system
  • Allows each instruction to be carried out in its logical sequence
37
Q

What is the clock cycle?

A

The vibrational frequency of the system clock which sends out pulses along the control bus

38
Q

In what units is clock speed measured?

A

GHz

39
Q

How does clock speed affect computer performance?

A

Potentially, a higher clock speed can lead to a better performance but there are dangers such as overclocking

40
Q

Define overclocking

A

Changing the clock speed of a system clock to a value higher than the factory/reccomended settings

41
Q

What are the possible dangers of overclocking?

A
  • Executing instructions outside design limits can lead to very unsynchronised operations, making the computer frequently crash an unstable
  • Overclocking can lead to serious overheating of the CPU leading to unreliable performance
42
Q

Define cache

A

A temporary memory using static RAM to hold frequently used data/instructions by the CPU thereby increasing CPU performance

43
Q

Why is cache memory faster than RAM?

A
  • It uses Static RAM
  • The memory is located within the CPU itself, so has faster access times
44
Q

How does cache size impact performance?

A

The larger the cache memory size, the better the CPU performance

45
Q

Define core

A

A unit on a CPU made up of an ALU, control unit, and registers. A CPU may contain a number of cores.

46
Q

How can number of cores impact performance?

A
  • Using more cores alleviates the need to continually increase clock speeds
  • However doubling the number of cores doesn’t necessarily double computer performance as it will take more time for the CPU to communicate with each core
47
Q

Define instruction set

A

The complete set of machine code instructions used on a particular microprocessor : a limited ammount of opcodes that can be used

48
Q

Define opcode

A

Part of a machine code instruction that identifies what action the CPU has to perform on data / operand

49
Q

Define operand

A

Part of a machine code instruction that identifies what data is to be used

50
Q

Why is the instruction set limited?

A

There is a limited number of opcodes that can be used

51
Q

What is the difference between the instruction set and programming code?

A

Instruction sets: The low level language instructions that instruct the CPU
Program code: The higher level language instructions that require interpreters or compilters to convert the code into the instruction set understood by a computer

52
Q

Define embedded system

A

A combination of hardware an software which is designed to carry out a specific set of functions

53
Q

What are the three things an embedded system can be based on?

A

Microcontrollers, microprocessors, or System on Chips (SoC)

54
Q

What does a microcontroller contain in an embedded system?

A
  • A CPU
  • Some RAM
  • Some ROM
  • Other peripherals
  • All on one chip

Together, carries out specific task

55
Q

What does a microcontroller contain in an embedded system?

A
  • A CPU
  • Some RAM
  • Some ROM
  • Other peripherals
  • All on one chip

Together, carries out specific task

56
Q

What does a microprocessor contain in an embedded system?

A
  • Integraded circuit with only a CPU on the chip
  • No RAM, ROM, or peripherals - those have to be added
57
Q

What does an SoC contain in an embedded system?

A
  • May have a microcontroller as one of its components
  • Almost always includes CPU, I/O ports, and secondary storage on one microchip
58
Q

What is the difference between a programmable and non-programmable embedded system?

A
  • A Non-programmable device had to be replaced if it requires a software update
  • A programmable device can be updated by connecting it to a computer, or by updates from the internet
59
Q

What are the benefits of devices being controlled via embedded systems?

A
  • Small in size; easy to fit into devices
  • Low cost compared to other systems
  • Dedicated to one task; allows for simple interfaces
  • Consume little power
  • Can be remotely controlled
  • Very fast reaction to changing input
60
Q

What are the drawbacks of devices being controlled using embedded systems?

A
  • Difficult to upgrade some
  • Troubleshooting faults in the device becomes specialist task
  • Interface can be confusing
  • If it has internet access, open to hackes and viruses
  • Devices are often thrown away rather than repair; very wasteful
61
Q

How do most embedded systems work?

A

An operator inputs data manually from a UI, or data is automatically input by a sensor - and the output is connected to related components

62
Q

What embedded systems are found in motor vehichles?

A
  • GPS system
  • In-car entertainment system
  • Aribags
  • Fuel injection system
  • ABS breaking
  • Traction control
63
Q

What embedded systems are found in vending machines?

A
  • Input pad
  • Sensors to show position of gates
  • Coin counter
  • Temperature sensor to maintain environment
  • Display showing prices
  • Actuators to control motors that dispense items
64
Q

What embedded systems are found in washing machines?

A
  • Keypad to select wash cycle
  • Dial to control cooking duration
  • Dial to control temperature
65
Q

What embedded systems are found in lighting systems?

A
  • System allowing for remote control from phone
  • Device checking time of day or day of week
  • Sensor checking whether room is occupied
  • Sensor checking brightness of natural light
66
Q

What embedded systems are found in lighting systems?

A
  • System allowing for remote control from phone
  • Device checking time of day or day of week
  • Sensor checking whether room is occupied
  • Sensor checking brightness of natural light
67
Q

What embedded systems are found in security systems?

A
  • Keypad interface
  • Temperature sensor
  • Pressure sensor
  • Acoustic sensor

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