1.1.1 (Structure and function of the processor) Flashcards
1
Q
What is the Harvard architecture?
A
- Data and instructions are stored and fetched separately
- Can process instructions and data at the same time
2
Q
Compare Von Neumann and Harvard architecture
A
- Von Neumann is adaptable and conventional
- Harvard is faster and more complex
3
Q
What is an address bus?
A
- Transmits the address of data to be loaded from the CPU to memory
- Carries the location to read/write data
- It goes one way
4
Q
What is a data bus?
A
- Transmits data between components
- Goes both directions
5
Q
What is a control bus?
A
- Transmits command, timing, and status information between components
6
Q
What is assembly language?
A
- A low level programming language
- Each command maps directly to a machine code instruction
7
Q
Describe what happens in the “fetch” part of the fetch-execute cycle?
A
- The address of the instruction to be fetched is placed into the MAR.
- The instruction is fetched from memory. - - The instruction is transferred to the MDR.
8
Q
Describe what happens in the “decode” part of the fetch-execute cycle?
A
The instruction is decoded
9
Q
Describe what happens in the “execute” part of the fetch-execute cycle?
A
The decoded instruction is then executed so that the CPU performs continuously
10
Q
Describe what happens at the end of the fetch execute cycle?
A
- The process is repeated
- The program counter is incremented
11
Q
What operations does the ALU perform?
A
Arithmetic and logic operations
12
Q
What does the Control Unit (CU) do?
A
- Sends signals to control the fetch execute cycle.
- Co-ordinates the flow of data through the CPU
13
Q
What is a CPU register?
A
- The section of high-speed memory within the CPU that stores data to be processed
14
Q
State two features of the MAR?
A
- It is a register
- It stores a single address
15
Q
What is the function of the MAR?
A
- Stores the address of the instruction that is going to be fetched
- Holds the address in memory where data is going to be transferred to
