Von Neumann Architecture

Question 1

What is the Von Neumann architecture? (2 marks)

Answer 1

1. Design of the CPU built upon by most general-purpose computers
2. Outlines how the computer memory, input / output devices and processor all work together

Question 2

What are the names of the four main registers? (4 marks)

Answer 2

1. The Program Counter (PC)
2. Memory Address Register (MAR)
3. Memory Data Register (MDR)
4. Accumulator (ACC)

Question 3

Which register does the acronym PC represent and what is its purpose? (3 marks)

Answer 3

1. The Program Counter
2. Holds the memory address of the next instructions to be executed
3. Increments by 1 as the fetch-decode-execute cycle runs

Question 4

Which register does the acronym MAR represent and what is its purpose? (2 marks)

Answer 4

1. Memory Address Register
2. Holds the memory address of where data or instructions are to be fetched from

Question 5

Which register does the acronym MDR represent and what is its purpose? (2 marks)

Answer 5

1. Memory Data Register
2. Stores the data or instruction which has been fetched from memory

Question 6

Which register does the acronym ACC represent and what is its purpose? (2 marks)

Answer 6

1. Accumulator
2. Stores the results of any calculations that have taken place in the Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU)