Unit 1 - Systems Architecture Flashcards
What is the CPU?
The Central Processing unit is the main part of the computer, consisting of the registers, ALU and control unit. It is responsible for the fetch - decode - execute cycle.
What is the Von Neumann architecture?
It is Traditional computer architecture that forms the basis of most digital computer systems. Instructions are fetched, decoded and executed one at a time.
What is the Fetch - Decode - Execute Cycle?
The complete process of retrieving an instruction from storage, decoding it and carrying it out. Also known as the instruction cycle.
What are the two major component in the CPU called?
It is the Control Unit and the ALU ( Arithmetic-Logic Unit). It also has many registers within it as well.
What is a register?
A register is a very very fast memory location within the CPU.
What is the control unit?
The control unit decodes instructions. It sends signals to control how data moves around the CPU.
What is the ALU?
The Arithmetic-Logic Unit Performs calculations (e.g., x = 2 + 3) and logical comparisons (e.g., IF x > 3) in the CPU.
What are the registers in the CPU?
Program Counter
MAR (Memory Address Register)
MDR ( Memory Data Register)
Accumulator
What is a program counter?
The Program counter holds the address of the next instructions to be executed. It is located in the Control Unit.
What is a MAR?
The Memory Address Register holds the memory address of the current instruction, and then the data it uses, so that these can be fetched from the memory
What is an MDR?
The Memory Data Register holds the actual instruction, and then the data that has been fetched from the memory.
What is an Accumulator?
The accumulator holds the result of the instruction before it is transferred to the memory.
What affects the CPU’s performance?
. Clock Speed
. Processor cores
. Type and size of memory
What is clock speed?
Measured in hertz, the clock speed is the frequency at which the internal clock generates pulses. The higher the clock rate, the faster the computer may work.
What are Processor Cores?
Part of a multi-core processor, a single component with two or more independent CPUs that facilitate the fetch-decode-execute cycle. A dual-core processor would have twice the power as just one core processor but would not always have twice the speed.
