Lecture 1 (Computer Abstractions and Technology)

Question 1

Types of Computers

Answer 1

Desktop: general use
Server: network based w great capacity and reliability
Embedded: hidden as components of systems

Question 2

Algorithm

Answer 2

Tells you number of operations

Question 3

Program language, compiler, architecture

Answer 3

number of machine instructions per operation

Question 4

Processor and memory

Answer 4

determines speed of execution

Question 5

I/O system

Answer 5

speed of i/o execution

Question 6

Hardware systems

Answer 6

Application software (HLL)
System software: compiler converts HLL to machine code
Hardware: processer, memory, i/o controllers

Question 7

Computer components

Answer 7

User interface: keyboard, display, mouse
Storage Devices: Hard disk, DVD
Network adapters: communicates with other computers.

Question 8

Parts of a CPU

Answer 8

Datapath: performs data operations
Control: sequences datapath
Cache memory: small fast sram for immediate access

Question 9

Volatile memory

Answer 9

loses data when powered off

Question 10

Non-Volatile memory

Answer 10

does not have to be powered to store data

Question 11

Response time

Answer 11

how long it takes to do a task

Question 12

throughput

Answer 12

total work per unit time

Question 13

relative performance

Answer 13

1/execution time, x is n times faster than y

Question 14

relative performance equation

Answer 14

performance x / performance y = execution y / execution x

Question 15

Elapsed time

Answer 15

total response time

Question 16

CPU time

Answer 16

time spent processing given job

Question 17

Clock period

Answer 17

duration of clock cycle

Question 18

clock frequency

Answer 18

cycles per second

Question 19

CPU time eqn

Answer 19

clock cycles * clock cycle time OR clock cycles / frequency

Question 20

instruction count

Answer 20

number of instructions

Question 21

Clock cycle

Answer 21

instruction count * CPI

Question 22

CPU time eqn w/ instruction

Answer 22

Instruction count * CPI / frequency

Question 23

Summary of CPU time eqn

Answer 23

Instructions/program = clock cycles/instruction = seconds/clock cycle`

Question 24

Moore’s Law

Answer 24

number of transistors per chip doubles every year

Question 25

Power eqn

Answer 25

Capacitive load * Voltage^2 * frequency

Question 26

Amdal’s Law eqn

Answer 26

Time improved = time affected/improvement factor + time unaffected

Question 27

MIPS

Answer 27

Millions of instructions per second

Question 28

MIPS eqn

Answer 28

clock rate/ (CPI*10^6)