Internal computer arvhitectures Flashcards

1
Q

summarise Von neumann architecture

A

CPU, arrow, system bus, RAM, Instructions, Data

  • shared memory space for instructions and data
  • instructions and data stored in the same format
  • a single control unit it processor follows a linear fetch, decode, execute cycle
  • one instruction at a time
  • registers are used as fast access to instructions and data
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2
Q

summarise the Harvard architecture

A
  • instructions and data stored in separate memory units
  • each has its own bus
  • reading and writing data can be done at the same time as fetching an instruction
  • used by RISC processors
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3
Q

disadvantages of harvard architecture

A
  • no adaptability
  • not appropriate for general or multi purpose machines as you can’t install and uninstall programs
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4
Q

what is the stored program concept

A

the idea that instructions are fetched one at a time from main memory and executed immediately by the processor in the sequential order
- program can be replaced by loading another program into memory
- contents in memory location can be interpreted as instruction or data

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5
Q

What happens during the Fetch stage of the Fetch-Execute cycle

A
  • contents of PC transferred to MAR
  • Address bus is used to transfer this address to main memory
  • main memory content is transferred using the data bus
  • contents of memory address location is loaded into MBR
  • contents of MBR copied into CIR
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6
Q

What happens during the Decode stage of the Fetch-Execute cycle?

A
  • The Control Unit decodes the instruction held in the CIR.
  • : The instruction is split into the opcode and operand
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7
Q

What happens during the execute stage of fetch-decode-execute

A
  • if necessary, data is fetched
  • opcode identifies type of operation to be performed
  • ALU is used to carry out the operation
  • result stored in main memory
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8
Q

what does an instruction contain

A

an opcode and an operand

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9
Q

what does the opcode do

A

Tells the CPU what to do

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10
Q

what does an operand do

A

is a value or is data that will be used in an operation

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11
Q

what can the operand be

A
  • the actual data that you’re performing the operation on
  • a memory location where the data is found
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12
Q

whats the difference between direct and immediate addressing

A
  • addressing mode 01 specifies that the data is an address, not a value (direct)
  • addressing mode 00 specifies that data is a value, not an address (immediate), represented with a hashtag before the value
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13
Q

Why are registers used as a fast access to instructions and data in the von Neumann architecture?

A

Because it’s quicker to work with data in the CPU than it is to work with directly in memory

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14
Q

Examples of alternative architecture

A
  • Parallel processing-where the processor carries out a single instruction on multiple data
  • distributor computing
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15
Q

What could the operand contain?

A

It could contain the actual data or an address where the data is found

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16
Q

How to read an instruction

A

If we are using eight bits:

  • The first four bits are the opcode, but the first three bits are the basic machine operation (ADD)
  • the last bit of the opcode is the addressing mode
  • the last four bits are the operand
17
Q

How many different opcode would be available in an 8-bit instruction

A

2^4 (four bits in opcode)

18
Q

when is the harvard architecture used

A
  • in microcontrollers
  • microprocessors
  • embedded devices, eg embedded digital signal processing, traffic lights, navigation systems
19
Q

differences between von numann and harvard

A
  • Harvard uses separate buses, Neumann uses combined buses
20
Q

why might Harvard architecture be more preferred over Von

A
  • instruction and data can be accessed simultaneously
  • avoids possibility of data being executed as code
  • program cannot be accidentally overwritten
  • different technologies can be used to implement instruction and data memory
  • instruction and data memory can have different word lengths
21
Q

difference between direct and intermediate addressing

A

direct addressing means that the operand is the address number whereas intermediate addressing means the operand is the datum

22
Q

Explain why the data bus in a computer system must be bidirectional.

A
  • When data is fetched they have to be transferred from memory to
    the processor
  • data may need to be transferred back to memory
23
Q

if the data bus is 8 bits wide, how long is each instruction

24
Q

if the address bus is 8 characters long, what is the max address it can transmit

A

255 (2^8)-1

25
what is an instruction set
all the instructions which are supported by a processors hardware
26
why might compiles code not run on a computer with a certain processor
- different processors have different instruction sets - and the program makes use of the instructions
27
what does the addressing mode do
indicates how the value in the operand should be interpreted - indicates if the value in the operand is a memory address or a data value
28
Describe what an interrupt is and explain the purpose of interrupts
- A signal sent to the processor - So that a device that needs the (immediate) attention of the processor can be serviced
29
where is the harvard architecture used
medical body signal monitoring
30
explain why desktop computers usually have secondary storage devices
- to store programs whilst computer is turned off - as the contents of RAM are lost when computer is turned off