unit 8: computer architecture operating system

Question 1

source code

Answer 1

original language that a high-level/assembly language is written in

Question 2

machine code

Answer 2

the language a computer’s CPU understands

Question 3

assemblers

Answer 3

converts assembly languages into object code, which is then linked together to form machine code

Question 4

compilers

Answer 4

translate high-level language into object code (often created in form of executable file). then linked to form machine code

Question 5

interpreters

Answer 5

takes each line of high-level language code, one at a time, and converts it into intermediate language (often assembly)

Question 6

stored program computer

Answer 6

computer that stores program instructions in memory

Question 7

Fetch-Decode-Execute cycle

Answer 7

a sequence of actions that a CPU performs to execute each machine code instruction in program

Question 8

Von Neumann architecture

Answer 8

architecture where data and program instructions are stored in the same memory location

Question 9

Von Neumann Components

Answer 9

*memory
* control unit: manages movement of instructions & data
* input/output: enables user to interact w/ machine
* bus: electrical pathway used to move data & instructions around computer
*program counter: holds address in memory of next instruction

Question 10

Von Neumann disadvantages

Answer 10

• data & instructions both have to use the same bus so CPU spends too much time waiting for instructions
• if a program is badly written, data can overwrite program instructions and vice versa

Question 11

Harvard Architecture

Answer 11

data & program instructions are stored in diff memory locations w/ dedicated buses

pipelining:- data is lined up ready to be fetched
no waiting for 1 item of data to be processed before next item is fetched