CS - Comp Systems - Computer Structure

Question 1

Describe the role of the CPU(processor) AND name its 3 main components

Answer 1

• Handles the instructions that ensure hardware and software respond as expected.
• Main components:
  1. ALU (Aritmetic and Logic Unit)
  2. Control Unit (CU)
  3. Registers

Question 2

List the 4 things the Processor must be able to do

Answer 2

1. fetch, decode and execute instructions from RAM
2. perform arithmetic calculations
3. perform logical operations
4. control read, write, clock, interrupt and reset lines

Question 3

What does CPU stand for and how many components is it split into?

Answer 3

• Central Processing Unit
• split into 3 main components.

Question 4

Describe the role of the ALU

Answer 4

Performs all numerical calculations and comparisons and makes logical decisions (AND, OR, NOT)

Question 5

Describe the role of the Registers

Answer 5

Temporary storage locations within the processor for addreses, data or instructions.

Question 6

Describe the role of the Control Unit

Answer 6

Manages clock, read, write, reset and interrupt lines.

Question 7

Describe the purpose of the read, write, reset and inerrupt lines

Answer 7

reset line- clears all registers
interrupt line- handles interruptions to a process during execution
read line- reads data from RAM
write line- writes data to RAM

Question 8

State what RAM stands for and describe its purpose

Answer 8

Random Access Memory - where data that will be processed by the CPU is temporarily stored until it is needed by the processor.

Question 9

What happens to the data held in RAM when the program is closed?

Answer 9

data held in RAM is deleted

Question 10

What happens to RAM when the computer system shuts down?

Answer 10

RAM is cleared completely

Question 11

Describe the locations in RAM

Answer 11

Each location in RAM has its own address that has a unique value that is used by the address bus during the fetch/execute cycle.

Question 12

What is the benefit of having more RAM avaliable?

Answer 12

more RAM avaliable = more programs it is able to run concurrently without slowing system performance.

Question 13

Describe the purpose of the clock line

Answer 13

sends a signal to synchronise the fetch/execute cycle.

Question 14

What is clock speed measured in and what is it a good indication of?

Answer 14

• measured in Hertz (Hz)
• good indication of how quickly the processor can complete tasks