Systems Architecture Flashcards

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1
Q

What is a computer? And what are the 3 things it can do?

A

An electronic device which can:
- Take input
- Process data
-Produce output

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2
Q

What/ what does the CPU do?

A

The CPU is an essential part of the computer. The CPU carries out the fetch execute cycle?

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3
Q

How does a CPU fetch information?

A

It collects the next instruction from main memory (RAM). And then brings it back to the CPU

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4
Q

What does a computer decode an instruction?

A

It inspects it and works out what to do?

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5
Q

What does a computer do to execute the instruction?

A

It carries out the instruction. This could include:
-returning to main memory and collecting more data
-Performing a calculation
-Storing information back to main memory

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6
Q

What is the purpose of the CPU?

A

To process instructions by following the fetch-decode-execute cycle

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7
Q

What are the 4 main components of the CPU?

A
  • The arithmetic and logic unit
  • The control unit
  • Cache
  • Registers
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8
Q

How big is cache?

A

Small

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9
Q

What is the purpose of the MDR?

A

The memory data register holds data or a program instruction when it is fetched from memory or waiting to be written to memory

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10
Q

What is the purpose of the accumulator?

A

To hold the results of operations done by the ALU

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11
Q

What is the purpose of the PC?

A

The program counter holds the memory address of the next instruction to be processed

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12
Q

What is the purpose of the MAR?

A

The memory address register holds the address of the current instruction or piece of data to be fetched or stored

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13
Q

What does the ALU do?

A

It carries out mathematical and logical operations e.g (AND, OR , NOT and binary shifts)

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14
Q

What does the CU do?

A

The control unit coordinates all of the CPUs actions in the fetch decode execute cycle

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15
Q

What determines the CPUs performance?

A

Clock speed
Cache size
Number of cores

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16
Q

What does the clock size indicate?

A

The number of fetch decode execute cycles per second

17
Q

What is an embedded system?

A

A system which is used to control the function of electronic devices. A full operating system is not needed as they perform limited, specific tasks.