EoY (chapter 3: VN Architecture, Data Storage, Sensors, Control&Monitoring Systems) Flashcards
1
Q
What is a CPU
A
- CPU = central processing unit (AKA microprocesser/processor)
- central to all modern computer systems (including tablets and smartphones)
- executes and processes all the instructions and data in a computer application
2
Q
What does the CPU consist of
A
- control unit (CU)
- arithmetic and logic unit (ALU)
- registers and buses
3
Q
VN Architecture? (4 points)
A
- John Von Neumann developed the ‘stored program computer’ in mid-1940s
- with VN, programs themselves could be stored in memory, not just data
- in VN architecture, instructions are stored in memory and are retrieved and processed by the CPU one by one.
- VN is based on the principle of fetch-decode-execute (fetch, decode, and execute the instruction)
4
Q
Main features of VN architecture? (4 points)
A
- the concept of a central processing unit (CPU)
- CPU being able to access the memory directly
- computer memory storing programs as well as data
- stored programs made of instructions that could be executed in sequential order
5
Q
fetch-decode-execute?
A
there is a diagram, check this
6
Q
registers?
A
table in the ppt, check this
7
Q
what are buses?
A
- buses are used in computers as parallel transmission components
- each wire in the bus transmits one bit of data
8
Q
what are the 3 types of buses?
A
address bus
data bus
control bus
9
Q
address bus?
A
- carries addresses throughout the computer system between the CPU and memory
- the address bus is unidirectional (bits can travel in ONE DIRECTION ONLY)
- the wider the bus, the more memory locations that can be accessed! width of bus = very important!
10
Q
data bus?
A
- data bus is bidirectional (can go both directions, data can be sent both ways)
- data can be carried from CPU to memory, + to-and-from IO devices
- the wider the bus, the more memory locations that can be accessed! width of bus = very important! (like the address bus ^^)
- larger word lengths can improve the computer’s performance
11
Q
control bus?
A
- control bus is bidirectional (can go both directions, data can be sent both ways)
- carries signals from the CU (control unit) to all the other computer components
- usually 8 bits wide (since it only carries signals, it doesn’t need to be all that big)
12
Q
sensors?
A
see tables in ppt 3.4
13
Q
Data storage can be split up into?
A
primary memory
secondary storage
offline storage
14
Q
primary memory?
A
- it is the part of the computer memory which can be accessed directly from the CPU
- includes RAM and ROM memory chips
- allows the CPU to access applications and services temporarily stored in memory locations
15
Q
RAM?
A
- RAM = random access memory
- can be both written and read
- data can be changed by the user or the computer
- used to store data, files, parts of applications, etc
- it is volatile (volatile = memory is lost when computer is powered off)
