CPU, Memory & Program Execution Flashcards
What are the fundamental components of a computer system?
Hardware and software, including data representation, CPU, memory, program execution, assembly language, compilation, interpretation, and subroutines.
What are the five basic parts of a computer system?
Memory, Control Unit, Arithmetic/Logic Unit (ALU), Input Unit, Output Unit.
What are the three key properties of computer memory?
Discrete locations, addresses, and values.
How is memory organized in a computer system?
As a sequence of discrete locations, each holding 1 byte (8 bits).
What is a memory address?
A unique number identifying a specific memory location.
Why is memory capacity considered finite?
Memory locations have limited size, and data may not fit entirely within one location.
What is a memory word, and how is it structured?
A group of four (32 bits) or eight (64 bits) bytes used as a single unit.
What does ‘random access’ mean in RAM?
The ability to access any memory location in any order.
What does the control unit do?
Manages the Fetch/Execute cycle and decodes instructions.
What are the steps of the Fetch/Execute Cycle?
Instruction Fetch (IF), Instruction Decode (ID), Data Fetch (DF), Instruction Execution (EX), Result Return (RR).
What happens during the Instruction Fetch step?
The control unit retrieves the next instruction from memory using the Program Counter (PC).
What is the purpose of the Instruction Decode step?
The control unit interprets the fetched instruction to determine the operation to be performed.
What is retrieved during the Data Fetch step?
The data required for the operation is fetched from memory and loaded into the ALU.
What happens during the Instruction Execution step?
The ALU performs the specified operation (e.g., addition or subtraction).
Where is the result stored after execution?
The result is stored back in the specified memory location.
What operations can the ALU perform?
Arithmetic operations (add, subtract) and logical operations (AND, OR, NOT).
What is the function of the input unit?
To receive data from external sources and deliver it to the computer system.
What is the purpose of the output unit?
To send processed data from the computer to external devices.
What are peripherals, and how do they interact with the computer?
External devices (like printers and keyboards) that connect through input/output ports.
How does a computer execute a program?
The program is loaded into memory, and the address of the first instruction is placed in the Program Counter (PC). The Fetch/Execute Cycle is then followed.
How does a computer see software?
As a long sequence of binary instructions (0’s and 1’s) stored in memory.
What does clock speed measure?
The number of instructions executed per second, measured in MHz or GHz.
What does an ADD instruction in assembly language do?
Adds the values found in specified memory locations and stores the result in another location.
