Architecture and Fetch exectue cycle definitions

Question 1

Hardware

Answer 1

The electronical/ physical components of the computer system e.g. microprocessor, hard drive (BCS)

Question 2

Software

Answer 2

Programs, routines and procedures that can be run on a computer system/ hardware (BCS)

Question 3

Stored program concept

Answer 3

A program must be resident in main memory to be executed.
It is processed by fetching machine code instructions in sequence from main memory and executing them one at a time in the processor.

Question 4

Von Neuman Architecture

Answer 4

Programs/ instructions and data are stored in one single store (MAIN memory)

Question 5

RAM/ main memory

Answer 5

Used for programs which are currently being run and data which is being processed and is directly addressable by the processor - volatile

Question 6

ROM

Answer 6

Data and instructions are fixed during manufacture onto the ROM chip. It is permanent and cannot be deleted or amended. Example of data in ROM would be the boot strap loader, Non-volatile.

Question 7

EEPROM

Answer 7

(Electronically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory).

A type of non-volatile memory whose contents can be erased and reprogrammed using a pulsed voltage.

Question 8

Peripheral

Answer 8

A piece of equipment that can be attached to the central processing nit e.g. hard disk, keyboard.

Question 9

Addressable memory

Answer 9

Memory directly accessible by the CPU.

Question 10

Secondary memory

Answer 10

Memory that is not directly accessible to the processor but uses the I/O channels.

Question 11

Cache

Answer 11

Stores recently used data and instruction so that it can be quickly accessed at a later time.

Question 12

On-chip cache

Answer 12

Area of microprocessor that contains cache memory.

Question 13

Disc cache

Answer 13

Area of very fast memory between a hard drive and RAM.

Question 14

RAM cache

Answer 14

Area of very fast memory between RAM and the microprocessor.

Question 15

Web cache

Answer 15

File containing recently accessed web pages.

Question 16

External storage

Answer 16

See secondary memory.

Question 17

Clock speed

Answer 17

The frequency at which a clock pulse occurs (AQA)

Question 18

Register

Answer 18

A small but very fast storage unit on the processor where data/ control information is temporarily stored (AQA).

Question 19

Binary word

Answer 19

A group of bits that can be addressed, transferred and manipulated as a single unit (BCS).

Question 20

General purpose register

Answer 20

A register not assigned a specific role by the processor designer. Programmers may use some but not all dedicated registers.

Question 21

Dedicated register

Answer 21

A register assigned a specific role by the processor designer. Programmers may use some but not all dedicated registers.

Question 22

Bus

Answer 22

Set of parallel wires connecting independent components of a computer system (AQA).

Question 23

(Dedicated register) Program Counter

Answer 23

Stores the address of the next instruction to be executed.

Question 24

Memory Address Register

Answer 24

The CPU register that either stores the memory address from which data will be fetched to the CPU or the address to which data will be sent and stored.

Question 25

Memory Buffer Register

Answer 25

Stores the data or instructions being transferred and from the immediate access store

Question 26

Current Instruction register

Answer 26

Register that is a part of the CPU’s control unit and stores the instructions currently being executed or decoded.

Question 27

Accumulator

Answer 27

Stores results of arithmetic and logical operations.