Variety of Processors Flashcards
What is Von Neumann Architecture?
The design of modern processors
Where are programs stored in modern day Von Neumann Architecture?
In memory
In modern Von Neumann Architecture how is data transferred between CPU, RAM, ROM, and other devices?
The address bus and data bus, all items are connected it.
What are some different types of processors?
Fixed Logic, Selectable Logic, Parameterized Logic Processor, Programmable Logic Processor
What does a Fixed Logic processor do?
Least powerful. Single Operation.
What does a Selectable Logic processor do?
Performs more than one operation.
What does a Paramerterized Logic processor do?
Accepts a set of parameters in the computation.
What does a Programmable Logic Processor do?
Greatest Flexibility.
Function to compute can be changed. CPU’s belong to this
type of processors.
Why type of processor is a cpu?
Programmable Logic Processor
What are the components of a cpu?
● Controller
● ALU – Arithmetic and Logical Unit
● Registers - Local Data Storage
● Internal Interconnections
● External Interface
What does the controller of a cpu do?
● Controls the execution
● Initiates the sequence of steps
● Coordinates other components
What does the ALU (Arithmetic and Logical Unit) of the cpu do?
● It provides the Arithmetic and Boolean
Operations.
● It performs one operation at a time.
● Integer Arithmetic - add, subtract, multiply, divide
● Shift - left, right, circular
● Boolean - and, or, not, exclusive or
What do registers in a cpu do?
Holds arguments and results of the operations
What do Internal Connections in a cpu do?
Transfers values across the components in the CPU.
What does the External Interface in a cpu do?
Provides connections to external memory as well as I/O devices
What are some processor categories?
Coprocessors, Microcontroller, Microsequencer, Embedded System Processor, General Purpose Processor
What do coprocessors do?
Operates in conjunction with other processor.
Example: Floating Point Accelerator.
What do Microcontrollers do?
Small programmable device. Dedicated to control
a physical system. Example: Electronic Toys.
What do Microsequencers’ do
Use to control coprocessors, memory and other components inside a larger processor board.
What do Embedded System Processors’ do?
● It is able to run sophisticated tasks
● More powerful than a microcontroller
● Example: The controller in a an MP3 player that
includes User Interface and MP3 decoding.
What does a General Purpose Processor do?
● Most powerful type of processor
● Completely Programmable
● Example: Pentium processor
What were 3 evolutionary steps of processors?
● Discrete Logic: Use TTL Gates etc used to implement processor. It could use multiple boxes and circuit boards.
● Single circuit board: Multiple chips/controllers in a single board.
● Single chip: All the components are in a single chip.
What is the Fetch-Execute cycle?
This is the basics for programmable
processors.
while (1) {
Fetch from memory the next instruction to
execute in the program.
Execute this instruction.
}
What is clock rate?
It is the rate at which gates and hardware
components are clocked to synchronize data transfer.
What is Instruction rate.
● It is the time required to execute an instruction.
● Different instructions may take different times.
● Example: Multiplication and division will take more clock cycles than addition and subtraction.
How does a processor start up?
● The CPU is initialized
● The fetch-execute cycle starts.
● The first instruction to execute will be in a known
memory location, E.g. 0x1000
● This process is called “bootstrap”.
What is bootstrap?
Starting up a cpu, includes the process of executing the first known instruction at a specific memory location
How does a processor stop?
It does not really.
● When the application finishes or it is waiting
for an event,
● The program may enter an infinite loop.
● In an OS, that infinite loop is often called
● “Null Process” or
● “System Idle Process”.
