Systems Architecture

Question 1

Memory Address Register

Answer 1

Stores the memory location of data that needs to be accessed

Question 2

Memory Data Register

Answer 2

Stores the data that is being transferred to and from memory

Question 3

Program Counter

Answer 3

Stores the address of the next instruction to be executed

Question 4

Accumulator

Answer 4

Stores results from calculations

Question 5

Arithmetic Logic Unit

Answer 5

Carries out arithmetic and logical operations

Question 6

Control Unit

Answer 6

Decodes instructions and send signals to other components

Question 7

Fetch cycle

Answer 7

Address generated by Program Counter
Carried to Memory Address Register using Address Bus

Question 8

Decode cycle

Answer 8

Data/ Instruction decoded to find out if it is a piece of data or an instruction to do something e.g ADD, SWITCH, REPEAT, STORE

Question 9

Execute cycle

Answer 9

CPU performs actions required by the instruction. If it is a calculation Arithmetic Logic Unit will execute instruction. Results from calculations recorded in Accumulator

Question 10

Cores

Answer 10

More power to run multiple programs at the same time

Question 11

Clock Speed

Answer 11

Describes how fast the CPU can run. How many fetch-decode- execute cycles the CPU can deal with in a second

Question 12

Cache Size

Answer 12

Store frequently used instructions and reduce the need to fetch data from main memory

Question 13

Embedded systems

Answer 13

Computer system built into another device. Device that performs specific set of instructions

Question 14

Von Neumann architecture

Answer 14

Computer where both the data and software currently being used are stored in computer memory

Question 15

Read Only Memory

Answer 15

Stored in a chip directly connected to CPU. It can be read from but it cannot be written to.

Question 16

Random Access Memory

Answer 16

Holds the data and instructions which the computer is currently using. It is volatile meaning data is lost when the power source is removed

Question 17

Purpose of Read Only Memory

Answer 17

Permanent software that is programmed into the circuitry of the ROM chip and cannot be altered easily. It is non- volatile meaning contents are not lost when power supply is switched off.

Question 18

Purpose of Random Access Memory

Answer 18

If too many applications are opened at once this causes the computer to slow down as the RAM memory has to start transferring some of the data back to the secondary memory to cope with the large amount of data it has to work with

Question 19

Secondary Storage

Answer 19

Long term storage of data, files, software and the operating system

Question 20

Virtual Memory

Answer 20

Temporary space on the secondary storage that is working as a form of RAM

Question 21

Flash Memory

Answer 21

Used for easy and fast information storage

Question 22

Hardware

Answer 22

Physical part of a computer system that you can see or touch. E.g Printer,Mouse

Question 23

Software

Answer 23

Computer program that contains set of instructions needed by the CPU in order to perform a specific task. E.g Operating system, Anti- virus Software

Question 24

How could you improve the performance of a computer system with cache?

Answer 24

CPU could be swapped for one that has more cache memory. This would make the computer faster because the cache memory can be accessed much faster than primary storage (RAM)

Question 25

How could you improve the performance of a computer system with clock speed?

Answer 25

The clock rate could be increased. This would make the whole fetch, decode, execute cycle faster.

Question 26

How could you improve the performance of a computer system with the number of cores?

Answer 26

CPU would be swapped for one that has more cores. This would mean that the computer system can carry out instructions at the same time, but only if the program had been written to make use of the extra cores.