Flashcards - Computer Systems Week 6_ Hardware Basics
What does the fetch-execute cycle in CPU operations entail?
It involves fetching an instruction from memory, decoding it, and then executing it accordingly.
What is one key difference between Von Neumann and Harvard architecture?
Harvard architecture has separate memory and buses for instructions and data, while Von Neumann uses a single bus for both.
What is the von Neumann bottleneck?
It refers to the limitation caused by having a single address/data bus, leading to inefficiencies in memory access during instruction execution.
In Von Neumann architecture, what is the purpose of registers R0-R12?
They store values during the execution of instructions.
What is pipelining in the context of computer architecture?
Pipelining is a technique where multiple stages of instruction execution operate simultaneously to improve throughput.
What is the main advantage of a multi-core processor?
It can execute multiple threads simultaneously by assigning different threads to different cores, improving processing power.
What process simulates simultaneous execution in multi-threading?
Time division between different threads to manage their execution effectively.
What are hazards in pipelining?
Resource conflicts and drawbacks that can occur during execution stages, requiring careful hardware design to avoid them.
What is an instruction buffer register?
It holds the current instruction being executed in a CPU’s control unit.
What does the program counter do in a CPU?
It keeps track of the address of the next instruction to be executed.
What effect does pipelining have on instruction timing?
It significantly reduces the time required to complete a sequence of instructions.
What is the role of the control unit in CPU architecture?
It directs the operation of the processor and coordinates how instructions are executed.
What are the limitations of a single-core processor compared to multi-core processors?
Single-core processors must handle all threads through time-slicing, which can lead to inefficiency.
What technique is used in multi-core processors to assign threads?
Each core can handle multiple threads using multithreading techniques, distributing tasks based on workload.
What happens in the ‘Execute’ phase of the fetch-execute cycle?
The CPU carries out the instruction that has been decoded.
What is the purpose of the memory address register?
It holds the address of the memory location from which data is to be read or written.
How do multi-core processors improve energy efficiency?
By running at lower clock speeds while still processing instructions effectively compared to single-core processors.
What are the steps in the fetch-execute cycle?
Fetch the instruction, decode it, execute it, memory access, store the result.
What does overlapping execution mean in Harvard architecture?
It allows multiple instructions to be executed simultaneously by managing separate instruction and data paths.
What is the primary disadvantage of the von Neumann architecture?
It leads to inefficient CPU cycles, where parts of the CPU may remain idle while waiting for memory access.
What does the term ‘throughput’ refer to in relation to pipelining?
The number of instructions that can be executed in a given amount of time due to the overlapping of instruction stages.
Why is it advantageous to market multi-core processors?
The terminology like ‘dual-core’ or ‘quad-core’ appeals to consumers and emphasizes performance gains.
What is the overarching goal of multi-threading?
To improve the utilization of CPU time by allowing several threads to execute concurrently or in an overlapping manner.
