1.1 Systems Architecture

Question 1

What are the components of a computer?

Answer 1

CPU, memory and storage

Question 2

What is the function of the CPU?

Answer 2

Fetch-decode-execute cycle of instructions in a step-by-step manner

Question 3

What is the function of memory?

Answer 3

Stores program operations and data during the execution cycle of a program

Question 4

What is the function of storage?

Answer 4

Stores program files and data even when not in use

Question 5

List a few examples of memory.

Answer 5

Registers, cache, RAM and virtual memory

Question 6

List a few examples of storage.

Answer 6

Hard drives, SD cards, USB memory disk and CD

Question 7

The speed of a computer depends on what factors?

Answer 7

Speeds of CPU, memory and bus

Question 8

What is benchmarking?

Answer 8

A test to access the performance of a computer

Question 9

What factors affect the performance of a CPU?

Answer 9

Cores, clock rate, cache size and processor type

Question 10

True or False: Increasing the number of cores 5 times, increases the speed of computer 5 times.

Answer 10

False, because communication channels use up some speed.

Question 11

What is clock rate?

Answer 11

Clock rate indicates the number of instructions processed by a CPU in a second.

Question 12

What is over-clocking?

Answer 12

Increasing the speed of the computer by increasing the CPU clock speed is called over-clocking

Question 13

What is cache?

Answer 13

Cache is a small memory part located closer to CPU when compared to RAM to hold temporary data and instructions that the CPU is expected to use frequently.

Question 14

True or False: Accessing cache is faster than accessing RAM.

Answer 14

True

Question 15

How is cache classified?

Answer 15

Cache is classified into three levels as Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3(L3).

Question 16

Which of these caches are shared between cores: L1, L2 or L3?

Answer 16

L3 cache

Question 17

What are the types of processors?

Answer 17

Complex Instruction Set Computing (CISC) and Reduced Instruction Set Computing (RISC)

Question 18

Which of the two processors offer a higher clock speed: CISC or RISC?

Answer 18

CISC

Question 19

What are embedded computers?

Answer 19

Embedded computers are designed to perform a dedicated function within a large mechanical or electrical system.

Question 20

What is the function of the address bus?

Answer 20

Transmits the address between the processor and memory

Question 21

What is the function of a data bus?

Answer 21

Transmits data between the processor, memory and input-output devices

Question 22

What is the function of a control bus?

Answer 22

Transmits signals of the processor to control the memory and peripheral devices

Question 23

List the registers used in von Neumann architecture

Answer 23

MAR, MDR, ACC, PC and CIR

Question 24

What are the steps involved in a READ operation?

Answer 24

Address→MAR
Read signal is sent by processor
Data→MDR

Question 25

What are the steps involved in a WRITE operation?

Answer 25

Data→MDR
Address→MAR
Write signal is sent by processor

Question 26

What does a processor consist of?

Answer 26

ALU (Arithmetic and Logic unit) and Control Unit (CU)

Question 27

What is the function of an ALU?

Answer 27

Performs arithmetic and logic operations

Question 28

What is the function of a CU?

Answer 28

Controls the memory, processor and input-output devices

Question 29

List the registers of a CU.

Answer 29

CIR (Current Instruction Register) and PC (Program Counter)

Question 30

What are the steps involved in a fetch operation?

Answer 30

Address of next instruction→PC
PC→MAR
Instruction→MDR
MDR→CIR
Value of PC incremented