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CS > System Architecture > Flashcards

System Architecture Flashcards

1
Q

What does the CPU do?

A

Responsible for fetching and executing instructions given to it in a program. Relies on other devices to input instructions, store instructions, transfer instructions and carry out instructions

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2
Q

What is the Memory Data Register?

A

Holds information fetched from the main memory and can be written from or be sent to the memory

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3
Q

What is the Memory Address Register?

A

Stores either the memory address from which data will be fetched, or the address of where data will be sent/stored in the memory

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4
Q

What is the Control Unit

A

Manages a computers operations and the flow of data around the computer

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5
Q

What is the Program Counter

A

Holds the memory address of the next instruction which needs to be fetched from the primary storage

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6
Q

What is the Accumulator?

A

A register or memory address which is used to store the results of the calculations made in the Arithmetic Logic Unit

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7
Q

What is the Arithmetic Logic Unit?

A

Performs arithmetic and logical operations

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8
Q

What is the Cache?

A

Provides fast access to frequently used instructions or data without having to go to the RAM

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9
Q

What is the Register?

A

A small piece of memory inside the processor that can hold one instruction or process

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10
Q

What is the term called for the retrieval of data?

A

Fetching data

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11
Q

What is a Memory Address?

A

A specific location in the computers memory where data can be stored or retrieved

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12
Q

What is the order for fetching the instruction?

A

Pc holds the address of next instruction
The stored address is sent to the MAR
The address is sent along the address bus to the main memory where it will get a signal from control
The CU sends a read signal along the control bus to the main memory
The contents stored in the memory address are sent to the MDR to be stored
Data in the MDR gets copied to the CIR
The PC is incremented

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13
Q

What is the order for decoding the instruction?

A

The instruction held in the CIR is decoded
Decoded instruction is sent to the ALU
The PC is incremented

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14
Q

What is the order for executing the instruction?

A

The instruction is executed in the ALU
Post calculations are stored in the ACC
The cycle starts again

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15
Q

What affects the performance of the CPU?

A

The number of cores, clock speed, parallel processing and cache size

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16
Q

What is a core?

A

A complete processing unit inside the CPU

17
Q

When did it become possible to have more than one core?

A

2006 it became possible to have a dual core processor which could run 2 processes at the same time

18
Q

What is parallel processing?

A

Each processor can execute a separate instruction at the same time, enabling multitasking

19
Q

What is the clock in the CPU?

A

The clock is a tiny quartz crystal inside the CPU chip that ticks at a steady speed

20
Q

What is clock speed?

A

How fast the clock ticks per second in the CPU

21
Q

What is the average clockspeed?

A

4gHz - can carry out 4 billion instructions per second

22
Q

What is a cache?

A

Cache holds frequently used instructions/data that can be accessed faster than accessing them from RAM

23
Q

What are the properties of the cache?

A

Larger cache will speed up processing
CPU can access data and instructions faster than getting from RAM
Faster to transfer to and from cache
Makes the CPU more efficient
Too much cache can be slower because it can take longer to find the instructions in the cache

24
Q

What are the properties of the cache?

A

Larger cache will speed up processing
CPU can access data and instructions faster than getting from RAM
Faster to transfer to and from cache
Makes the CPU more efficient
Too much cache can be slower because it can take longer to find the instructions in the cache

25
Q

What is an embedded system?

A

A computer which is built into a single printed circuit board which is then embedded into a larger piece of equipment

26
Q

What are some examples of embedded systems?

A

Washing machines
Mobile phones
Digital thermostats
Electrical locks

27
Q

What are some advantages of embedded systems?

A

They are cheap because of limited functionality
Require less power
Don’t need much processing power and can be built using cheap, less powerful processors
Adaptable to most applications

28
Q

What are some disadvantages of embedded systems?

A

Limited processing power
Difficult programming requirements
Limited upgradability and flexibility

29
Q

What are some examples of embedded systems in cars?

A

Radar
Indicators
AC
Automatic lights
Automatic windscreen wipers
Cruise control
Automatic parking
Engine management
Sat Nav / GPS

CS (6 decks)

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