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Comp. Org. > Test 2 - Sheet1 > Flashcards

Test 2 - Sheet1 Flashcards

1
Q

Most computers follow the same general organization.

A

T

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2
Q

What approach does the Von Neumann architecture use?

A

Stored program.

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3
Q

List the four categories to explain whether a processor can be adapted to new computers.

A

Fixed logic, selectable logic, parameterized logic, programmable logic.

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4
Q

No single description adequately captures all the properties of processors.

A

T

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5
Q

What does a processor refer to for an architect?

A

A digital device that can perform a computation involving multiple steps.

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6
Q

A fixed logic processor offers the most flexibility

A

F

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7
Q

A large processor, such as a modern, general-purpose CPU, is so complex that no human can understand the entire processor as a single unit.

A

T

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8
Q

Name two different types of logic processors

A

Fixed logic, selectable logic, parameterized logic, programmable logic.

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9
Q

The programmable logic processor is the most flexible of all processors because it allows the sequence of steps to be changed each time the processor is invoked.

A

T

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10
Q

What is a parameterized logic processor?

A

It computes a predetermined function, the processor accepts a set of parameters that control the computation.

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11
Q

How do we describe a subpiece of a large, complex processor that acts independently and performs a computation?

A

With computational engines.

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12
Q

List two of the conceptual units?

A

Controller, Computational engine (ALU), local data storage, internal interconnection, external interface.

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13
Q

Most processors do not contain many engines.

A

T

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14
Q

What does the controller form?

A

The heart of a processor.

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15
Q

What is a controller?

A

It steps through the program and coordinates the actions of all other hardware units to perform the specified operations.

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16
Q

A computational engine handles all communication between the processor and the rest of the computer system.

A

F

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17
Q

The computational engine in a conventional processor is known as the arithmetic logic unit.

A

T

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18
Q

The external interface unit handles all communication between the processor and the rest of the computer system

A

T

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19
Q

What does a microcontroller test?

A

It tests sensors and sends signals to control devices.

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20
Q

Although some processors have the series of steps built into the hardware, most do.

A

F

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21
Q

An embedded system processor runs sophisticated electronic devices such as a DVD player or a television.

A

T

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22
Q

How are processors created?

A

Traditionally, from digital logic circuits.

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23
Q

Briefly describe how the fetch execute cycle works

A

The programmable processor executes the two basic functions repeatedly.

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24
Q

What underlying mechanism does a programmable processor use to access and perform the steps of a program?

A

fetch-execute

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25
Q

The time required for the execute portion of a clock cycle depends on the instruction being executed.

A

T

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26
Q

Processor hardware is not designed to stop.

A

T

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27
Q

A soft power switch does not actually turn the power on or off

A

T

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28
Q

In theory as long as a processor offer a few basic operations, the processor has sufficient power to compute any computable function.

A

T

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29
Q

What does the set of available operations determine for a programmer?

A

Convenience rather than functionality.

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30
Q

What operation should a processor offer?

A

A wide variety of computational models provide equivalent computing power.

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31
Q

Instruction set is used to refer to the set of operations.

A

T

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32
Q

On each iteration of the fetch-execute cycle, the processor executes one instruction.

A

T

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33
Q

What is an instruction format?

A

The binary representation that the hardware uses for instructions.

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34
Q

What two key decision must an architect make when designing a programmable processor?

A

The set of operations the hardware recognizes. The representation that the hardware uses for each operation.

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35
Q

The opcode at the beginning of the general processor instructions on most processors determines how many operands will follow.

A

F

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36
Q

The operand refers to a value that is needed to perform an operation.

A

T

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37
Q

The term opcode refers to the exact operation to be performed.

A

T

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38
Q

What is an operand?

A

Operands refer to a value that is needed to perform an operation.

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39
Q

What is the Opcode?

A

The exact operation to be performed.

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40
Q

What is variable-length?

A

An instruction set that includes multiple instruction sizes.

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41
Q

What are the two basic operations a register uses?

A

Fetch and store.

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42
Q

What is a register?

A

A high-speed hardware device that has a fixed size and supports two basic operations.

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43
Q

Most high level languages implement programming with registers

A

???

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44
Q

Moving a value between memory and a register is relatively inexpensive.

A

F

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45
Q

The process of choosing which value the registers contain is known as register allocation.

A

T

46
Q

Register banks have an interesting consequence for programmers: It may not be possible to permanently assign data value to registers.

A

T

47
Q

Some architectures divide registers into multiple banks

A

T

48
Q

A CISC processor usually includes many instructions and each instruction can perform an arbitrarily complex computation.

A

T

49
Q

A RISC processor is constrained

A

T

50
Q

A RISC Processor usually includes only the minimum number of instruction need to perform all operations required of the processor.

A

???

51
Q

List the two broad categories that are used to classify processors?

A

Complex instruction set computer and Reduced instruction set computer

52
Q

What is a multistage pipeline?

A

The results from one hardware unit are passed to the next hardware unit.

53
Q

What does it mean for an instruction pipeline to be transparent?

A

The instruction set does not contain any explicit references to the pipeline.

54
Q

Why are multistage processors faster?

A

All stages of a pipeline can operate in parallel.

55
Q

What word describes the delay between a stall and the time an output stops in a pipeline?

A

A bubble.

56
Q

The two ways a pipeline can stall are waiting for operands that that are not passed with the right timing or an operation that delays further processing is passed.

A

???

57
Q

What is a no-op instruction?

A

Instruction that does absolutely nothing except occupy time.

58
Q

What is forwarding?

A

Arranging the hardware to detect the dependency.

59
Q

A program counter register is used to assist the register in the fetch-execute cycle.

A

T

60
Q

When computer architects discuss instruction set, they divide the instructions into a few basic categories. Lest one of them?

A

Arithmetic instructions.

61
Q

A relative branch instruction does not specify an exact memory address.

A

T

62
Q

An absolute branch instruction is commonly known as what?

A

jump

63
Q

A jsr subroutine operates like a branch instruction except it saves the value of the register before the branch occurs.

A

T

64
Q

What is orthogonality?

A

Each instruction should perform a unique task without duplicating or overlapping the functionality of other instructions.

65
Q

An architecture in which instructions have no operands is known as a 0-address architecture.

A

T

66
Q

An architecture in which instructions have no operands is known as a multiple address architecture

A

F

67
Q

How can an architecture allow instructions that do not specify any operands?

A

The operands are kept on a stack.

68
Q

1-address design allows instructions to specify two values.

A

T

69
Q

A one address design works well for arithmetic and logic but not for anything that specifies two or more values.

A

T

70
Q

What is an accumulator?

A

A special register used for 1-address designs.

71
Q

What type of architecture limits each instruction to a single operand

A

1-address

72
Q

The third operand can specify a destination

A

T

73
Q

What is the purpose of a 3-address architecture?

A

It provides a operand that can specify a destination.

74
Q

Bottlenecking occurs within memory access and negatively affects overall performance

A

T

75
Q

We said that conventional computers that store both programs and data in memory are known as Von Neumann computers.

A

T

76
Q

What is a constant value that appears in an operand called?

A

immediate

77
Q

What is an immediate value?

A

When a constant value appears in an operand.

78
Q

What is the central weakness of a Von Neumann architecture?

A

Memory access can become a bottleneck.

79
Q

An implicit operand encoding says that the opcode specifies the types of operands.

A

T

80
Q

What are the two possibilities for specifying the interpretation of operands?

A

Implicit and explicit operand encoding.

81
Q

What is the chief disadvantage of implicit encoding?

A

Multiple opcodes are needed for a given operation.

82
Q

In explicit encoding, what are the two fields each operand is represented by?

A

One is the type of operand and the other specifies a value.

83
Q

Register offset is when each operand contains three fields that specify a type, register, and an offset.

A

T

84
Q

What are the three fields in a register-offset mechanism?

A

A type, a register, and an offset

85
Q

There are several potential design goals in choice of operands. Name two

A

Ease of programming and fewer instructions.

86
Q

Decreased hardware size is a potential design goal in choice of operands

A

T

87
Q

Memory lookup uses much more memory than accessing a register.

A

T

88
Q

No single form of operand style is optimal for all processors.

A

T

89
Q

One extreme form of indirection permits indirection through a memory address

A

T

90
Q

There is one single form of operand style that is optimal for all processors.

A

F

91
Q

A processor usually contains a special register called an instruction register

A

T

92
Q

The Instruction register is used to hold an instruction that is being decoded.

A

T

93
Q

What is the name of the register that holds instructions that are being decoded?

A

instruction register.

94
Q

Name two things a designer takes into account when creating a processor

A

The number and possible types of operands for each instruction.

95
Q

In contrast to early designs, a modern computer system follows a decentralized approach.

A

T

96
Q

Modern computer systems incorporate a system of protection.

A

T

97
Q

What does generality mean for a CPU?

A

A CPU is designed to work with as many applications as possible.

98
Q

Describe the concept of backward compatability

A

Allows customers to use the CPU to run old software.

99
Q

How does a CPU achieve highest performance?

A

The functional units in a CPU must be replicated.

100
Q

In most CPUs, the hardware uses a set of parameters to handle the complexity and control operation

A

T

101
Q

List two of the features usually associated with a CPU mode of execution.

A

size of data and amount of privilege.

102
Q

Some CPUs have a mode that provides backward compatibility with a previous model.

A

T

103
Q

A CPU uses an execution mode to determine the current operational characteristics.

A

T

104
Q

How does a CPU change modes?

A

Atuomatic and manual

105
Q

The two ways a CPU can change modes are known as automatic and manual.

A

T

106
Q

What is the idea of protection?

A

A CPU can detect attempts to permorm unauthorized operations.

107
Q

A small processor is referred to as a

A

microcontroller

108
Q

How many levels of protection does a CPU that runs applications need?

A

2

109
Q

What is a fast but very small processor?

A

microcontroller

110
Q

What is the code used to program a microprocessor?

A

???

111
Q

A design that uses microcode is less prone to errors and can be updated faster than one that does not use microcode.

A

T

112
Q

Name an advantage of microcode

A

less prone to errors.

Comp. Org. (3 decks)

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