CPU architecture Flashcards
what is the accumulator
(3)
- a register
- holds results of calculations
- holds the data currently being processed by the central processing unit (CPU)
what is the ALU (4)
- arithemtic logic unit
- does calculations
- part of CPU where data is processed
- does bit shifting
what is cache
- part of the CPU
- sends and recieves control signals to and from other devices within the computer
what are 4 input devices
keyboard, mouse, scanner, digital camera
what are 3 output devices
moniter, printer, speaker
describe the FDE cycle
fetch instruction from memory, then decode it using CU, then execute it. every operation carried out is regulated by a ‘tick’
what are embedded systems
electronic devices that don’t need a full operating system since they perform limited and specific tasks, its input normally controlled by switch or button
what program controls an embedded system
4 examples of embedded systems
ROM read only memory
air conditioning, washing machines, digital cameras, fridges
why does clock speed affect CPU performance, what is it
clock speed determines number of FDE cycles per second. the quicker it is the more instructions get executed
why does cache size affect CPU performance, what does it do
data is transferred in and out of cache memory quickly and its faster than main memory RAM. Making CPU performance speed more efficient since less time is between the data getting transferred
why does the number of cores affect CPU performance, what do they do
a core can process one operation per clock cycle and a processor may contain more than one core. the more the better since it can then perform multiple operations simultaneously
name 3 types of cores
dual core, quad core, octa core
3 characteristics of embedded systems
software typically embedded in ROM
snormally have slower clockspeed since they don’t process many inctructions
use less power than normal computer systems
