Unit 3.1 - Computer Architecture (Hardware)

Question 1

CPU function?

Answer 1

responsible for processing and executing all instructions and data in a computer

Question 2

what is a microprocessor?

Answer 2

type of integrated circuit on a single chip

Question 3

what does the CPU consist of?

Answer 3

Units: ALU, CU
Registers: PC, MAR, MDR, CIR, ACC
Buses: address, data, control

Question 4

4 features of Von Neumann Architecture

Answer 4

-has concept of CPU / processor
-processor can access memory directly
-computer memories can store programs & data
-stored programs consists of instructions that can be executed in sequential order

Question 5

Order (components) of the fetch-decode-execute cycle?

Answer 5

PC –> MAR –> address bus –> RAM –> data bus –> MDR –> CIR –> MAR –> address bus –> RAM –> data bus –> MDR –> ALU –> MDR –> data bus –> RAM

Question 6

PC stands for? role of PC?

Answer 6

-program counter
-contains address of the memory location of the next instruction to be fetched from the memory

Question 7

MAR stands for? Role?

Answer 7

-memory address register
-stores address of memory location currently being read / copied from PC
-stores address of memory location currently being written to MDR

Question 8

MDR stands for? role?

Answer 8

-memory data register
-copies contents in it to CIR and later, ALU
-stores data which has just been read from RAM
-stores data which is just about to be written to RAM

Question 9

CIR stands for? role?

Answer 9

-current instruction register
-stores current instruction being decoded and executed

Question 10

ALU stands for? role?

Answer 10

-Arithmetic and Logical Unit
-performs arithmetic and logical equation
–> actually starts to execute the instruction

Question 11

ACC stands for? Role?

Answer 11

-accumulator
-stores data temporarily while ALU does calculations

Question 12

4 factors that affect the CPU’s performance

Answer 12

-clock cycle
-width of address and data bus
-cache memory
-CPU cores

Question 13

instruction set definition

Answer 13

list of all the commands that can be run by the CPU (commands are machine code)

Question 14

embedded system definition

Answer 14

combination of hardware and software that carries out a specific task

Question 15

Embedded system is based on what 3 types? what’s in each of them?

Answer 15

-microcontroller –> CPU with peripherals
-microprocessor –> CPU without peripherals
-system on a chip –> CPU, memory, secondary storage all in one chip

Question 16

where are embedded systems used?

Answer 16

-security systems
-lighting applications
-vending machines
-washing machines
-motor vehicles

Question 17

role of registers?

Answer 17

holds data, instruction, or address

Question 18

role of buses? (address, data, control)

Answer 18

carries addresses, data, signals to synchronize operations