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Introduction to computer science > Hardware and Computer Architectures > Flashcards

Hardware and Computer Architectures Flashcards

1
Q

What does a computer consist of at its most basic level?

A

A processor and memory storage.

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2
Q

What are the two categories of bits (0s and 1s) stored in memory?

A

Data and instructions.

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3
Q

How does a CPU-based system work?

A
  1. Checks the memory address for the next instruction.
  2. Reads the instruction.
  3. If data is needed, fetches the data from memory.
  4. Processes the data.
  5. Sends the result to the output memory address.
  6. Repeats millions or billions of times per second.
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4
Q

What is the function of the Arithmetic and Logic Unit (ALU)?

A

The ALU performs arithmetic operations (addition, subtraction) and logic operations (AND, OR) on data.

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5
Q

What does the Control Unit do in a CPU?

A

The Control Unit controls the ALU, manages communication with input/output devices, and interprets and executes processor instructions.

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6
Q

What are CPU registers, and what are they used for?

A

CPU registers are small memory storage units built into the processor, used for temporary data storage. They are measured in bits (e.g., 8-bit, 32-bit, 64-bit).

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7
Q

What are the five registers in the Von Neumann architecture?

A
  1. Program Counter (PC) – Holds the memory address of the next instruction.
  2. Memory Address Register (MAR) – Stores the address of the current instruction or next data transfer.
  3. Memory Data Register (MDR) – Holds the data from the memory address in MAR.
  4. Accumulator (AC) – Stores processed data or arithmetic/logic results.
  5. Current Instruction Register (CIR) – Contains the binary instruction being executed.
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8
Q

What is a bus in a CPU system?

A

A bus is a connection used for data transfer between components in a computer.

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9
Q

What are the three types of buses in the Von Neumann architecture?

A
  1. Address Bus – Sends memory addresses.
  2. Control Bus – Carries instructions and device status signals.
  3. Data Bus – Sends and receives data.
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10
Q

Why does the CPU need a control bus?

A

The control bus allows the CPU to send instructions and receive status updates from devices to ensure they are ready for new tasks.

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11
Q

How is memory addressed in Von Neumann architecture?

A

Each byte of memory has a unique binary address, like a mailbox storing a binary number.

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12
Q

How does the number of address bits affect memory size?

A

The number of bits used for addressing determines the total addressable memory. For example, 16-bit addressing can access 216 = 65, 536 216 = 65,536 bytes (64K).

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13
Q

What do registers do in memory addressing?

A

Some registers store memory addresses to track the last accessed byte and point to the next byte for sequential reading.

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14
Q

How is memory used in the Von Neumann architecture?

A

Memory is used for both data and instructions, allowing flexibility in how it is allocated.

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15
Q

What is an advantage of Von Neumann memory usage?

A

The programmer and program can dynamically allocate memory between data and instructions as needed.

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16
Q

What is a disadvantage of Von Neumann memory usage?

A

Since data and instructions share the same memory bus, high data loads can delay instruction execution (Von Neumann bottleneck).

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17
Q

Why was cache memory added to the CPU?

A

Cache memory was added to reduce delays in accessing RAM by storing frequently used data directly on the CPU for faster access.

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18
Q

How does data flow from storage to the CPU?

A

Data moves from the hard drive → RAM → L3 cache → L2 cache → L1 cache → CPU, with each step being faster but smaller in storage.

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19
Q

Why is cache memory faster than RAM?

A

Cache is built directly into the CPU, reducing the distance data travels and speeding up access time.

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20
Q

How does the CPU decide what data to store in cache?

A

The CPU uses algorithms to predict and store the most relevant data in its cache for quick access.

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21
Q

What is the main weakness of the Von Neumann architecture that cache memory helps solve?

A

The Von Neumann bottleneck—where data and instructions share a single memory bus—slows down processing, which cache helps mitigate.

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22
Q

What happens to the operating system when a computer starts up?

A

The operating system (e.g., Windows 10) is loaded into RAM to run the computer.

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23
Q

How much RAM does Windows 10 require?

A

Windows 10 requires at least 2GB of RAM, reducing the available memory for applications and data.

24
Q

What is the purpose of RAM in a personal computer?

A

RAM temporarily holds active programs and data, allowing quick access while working.

25
What happens to RAM when you close an application?
Closing an application frees up RAM, making it available for other programs.
26
How is RAM different from a hard drive?
RAM is volatile memory, meaning data is lost when power is off, while a hard drive provides permanent storage.
27
What is Input-Output Processing (IOP)?
IOP processes input data (e.g., from a keyboard or microphone) into bytes before sending it to the processor.
28
How does the CPU communicate with RAM and external devices?
The CPU uses control, address, and data buses, which may be merged into a system bus in some designs.
29
What is a binary channel code in computer input/output?
A binary channel code identifies a device for the CPU and allows communication via status messages and control signals.
30
What role does the operating system play in computer communication?
The OS enables user interaction with hardware, allowing input, processing, and output to function smoothly.
31
What are the three main functions of an operating system?
1. Provides an interface 2. Controls the hardware 3. Runs applications
32
What is an interface in an operating system?
An interface allows users to interact with the computer through input and output methods.
33
How does the operating system control hardware?
The OS relays user commands to the CPU, which then directs the hardware to perform tasks.
34
How did early computers interact with users?
Early computers used switches and punch cards, later adding CRT monitors that displayed text in a command line interface (CLI).
35
What is the graphical user interface (GUI)?
The GUI allows users to interact with computers through icons, windows, and mouse clicks, making it easier to use compared to command line interfaces.
36
How do Windows and Mac OS interfaces compare?
Both use similar metaphors such as icons, windows, and clicks, with slight differences in design, but provide a comparable user experience.
37
How does the operating system handle user input and output?
Input is primarily through the keyboard and mouse, while output is shown on the monitor and, secondarily, through speakers.
38
What role does the "loading icon" or "throbber" play?
It provides feedback to the user that the computer is processing a task, preventing repeated clicks while waiting.
39
How have touch and gesture interfaces evolved?
Touch and gestures have advanced from the spinning wheel on iPods to smartphones and tablets, influencing how we interact with technology.
40
How has voice control evolved in computing?
Voice input, once used in specific applications, is now integral to smartphones, tablets, and smart speakers, using natural language processing for commands.
41
What are examples of advanced human-computer interfaces?
Technologies like facial recognition, iris scanning, and touch gestures create more immersive and intuitive interfaces between humans and computers.
42
What is IRQ?
This is an interrupt request line, labeled from 00 to 15 and assigned to a device to send status messages to the CPU.
43
What is the role of a driver in a computer system?
A driver allows communication between the operating system and hardware devices, translating data and commands between them
44
How did driver installation work in early Windows systems?
Users manually configured IRQs and I/O port addresses to avoid conflicts, a complex task compared to modern plug-and-play systems.
45
What is "plug and play" in modern systems?
Plug and play allows automatic configuration of devices, eliminating the need for users to manually set IRQs or I/O port addresses.
46
What are the responsibilities of a device controller?
The device controller handles binary input/output and can signal the CPU with an interrupt when it requires attention.
47
Why is it important to update device drivers?
New driver updates may fix bugs and ensure compatibility with the operating system and hardware, improving performance.
48
How do device drivers work with the operating system?
The operating system sends commands to devices via the device driver, which then communicates with the device controller to execute the task.
49
What is high-performance computing?
High-performance computing is used for tasks that exceed the capabilities of a single desktop or server. It involves clusters or supercomputers to handle large workloads.
50
What is parallel processing?
Parallel processing breaks down a task into sub-tasks and assigns each sub-task to a separate CPU, allowing multiple CPUs to work together to complete the task.
51
How do server clusters work?
Server clusters are groups of identical servers that share tasks and are geographically distributed, ensuring load balancing and fault tolerance.
52
What is the advantage of a server cluster?
Server clusters balance the workload among servers, ensuring efficient processing and fault tolerance if one server fails.
53
What is a supercomputer?
A supercomputer is a high-end machine that uses parallel processing and is much more powerful than a server cluster, often used for complex tasks like scientific research.
54
What is FLOPS, and how is it used to measure computing power?
FLOPS (floating point operations per second) measures computing power. Modern desktops handle about 100 gigaFLOPS, while supercomputers like SuperMUC-NG achieve 26 petaFLOPS (1 petaFLOP = 10^15 FLOPS).
55
How powerful is the SuperMUC-NG supercomputer?
The SuperMUC-NG supercomputer achieves 26 petaFLOPS, which is 260,000 times more powerful than an average desktop, with 300,000 high-end CPUs and 700 TB of RAM.
56
What are the challenges of supercomputers?
Supercomputers are used for complex data analysis, like weather prediction, and often face challenges related to handling and processing vast amounts of data.

Introduction to computer science (8 decks)

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