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A OCR Computer Science A level > Chapter 3 - Types of processor > Flashcards

Chapter 3 - Types of processor Flashcards

1
Q

What is the stored program memory concept?

A

» Machine code instructions are fetched and executed serially by a processor that performs arithmetic and logical operations

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2
Q

How is the machine code fetched in Von Neumann’s architecture?

1 Mark

A

» Are fetched from memory one at a time, decoded and executed in the processor

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3
Q

Name 5 descriptions of Von Neumann’s architecture.

5 Marks

A

» Shared memory space for instructions and data
» Can access instructions and data required using a dedicated bus
» Single Processor CU manages program control and single ALU
» Same bus used for transferring both instructions and data
» Uses FDE cycle to excute one isntruction at a time in a linear sequence

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4
Q

What is the one problem of Von Neumann’s architecture and the 2 advantages?

A

» The data bus is slower than the rate at which the CPU can carry out instructions - Von Neumann Bottleneck - CPU has to wait for the data transfer as it is much faster
» Simpler operating system
» Easy to program

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5
Q

What is Harvard architecture extensively used in?

A

» With embedded Digital Signal Processing (DSP)

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6
Q

What is DSP?

A

» The DSP applications include audio and speech signal processing, sonar and radar signal processing and digital image processing

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7
Q

What are embedded systems?

1 Mark

A

» Special purpose computers built into devices often operating in real-time, such as those used in navigation systems

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8
Q

Name 4 descriptions of Harvard architecture.

4 Marks

A

» Memory is split into 2 parts
» One part for data and another part for program instructions
» Each part is accessed with a different bus
» Allows for pipelining

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9
Q

Why is data and instructions being fetched with a different bus an advantage?

1 Mark

A

» Allows the CPU to pipeline as the CPU can fetch both data and instructions at the same time

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10
Q

Can Harvard architecture be faster than von Neumann’s architecture?

A

» Yes because data and instructions can be fetched in parallel instead of competing for the same bus and avoids von Neumann bottlenecks

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11
Q

What is the one comparison between the Harvard and Von Neumann architecture in terms of where they are conventionally used?

1 Mark

A

» Von Neumann - used in conventional processors in PC’s
» Harvard used in DSP

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12
Q

What is the one comparison between Harvard and Von Neumann’s architecture in terms of memory?

1 Mark

A

» Von Neumann - data and programs share the same memory
» Harvard - the instructions and data are held in separate memories

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13
Q

What is the one comparison between the Harvard and Von Neumann architecture in terms of buses?

1 Mark

A

» One bus is used to transfer data and instructions - Von Neumann
» Parallel data and instruction buses may be used - Harvard

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14
Q

What is the one comparison between Harvard and Von Neumann’s architecture in terms of size?

1 Mark

A

» Programs can be optimised in size - Neumann
» Programs tend to be large - Harvard

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15
Q

What does CISC stand for?

1 Mark

A

» Complex Instruction Set Computer

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16
Q

What is the instruction set?

1 Mark

A

» Set of all instructions written in machine code, that can be recognised and executed by a given CPU

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17
Q

What is the aim of a CISC processor?

1 Mark

A

» Aims to complete the task in few lines of code as possible

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18
Q

What is complex instruction?

A

» Combines a load/store instruction with the instruction that carries out the actual calculation

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19
Q

With a CISC processor, what is so special about the hardware?

A

» Processor hardware and circuitry has to be more complicated so it can understand and execute a series of operations within one instruction
» Therefore more expensive

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20
Q

How many clock cycles do complex instructions take to execute and why?

A

» Takes more than one clock cycle, because its performing multiple operation

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21
Q

What are the three advantages of a CISC processor?

3 Marks

A

» Quicker to code programs
» Compiler has very little work to do to translate a high-level language statement into machine code
» Since code is short - requires less RAM is required to store the instructions

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22
Q

What are the three disadvantages of a CISC processor?

3 Marks

A

» They are larger as they require more transistors, making them more expensive
» Take multiple cycles per line of code, therefore programs run more slowly due to comploicated circuit
» Pipelining is not possible

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23
Q

What does RISC stand for?

1 Mark

A

» Reduced Instruction Set Computer

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24
Q

What does RISC aim to do?

1 Mark

A

» Aim to use simple instructions that will be executed within a single clock cycle

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25
How are complex commands such as MULT represented in a RISC processor?
» Separated into a number of simpler commands
26
Why does the compiler have to do more work in a RISC processor? | 1 Mark
» Since there are more lines of code
27
Why do the RISC instructions require fewer transistors? | 1 Mark
» Because they have less complex hardware
28
What are the 4 advantages of a RISC processor? | 4 Marks
» Simpler processor designe » Easier to pipeline - As fixed length of codes » Decode unit has a lower power consumption » Faster than CISC as programs run faster due to simpler instructions
29
What are the 2 disadvantages of a RISC processor? | 2 Marks
» Compiler has to do more work to translate high-level code into machine code » More RAM is required to store the machine code
30
Where are RISC and CISC architectures used? | 2 Marks
» RISC is used mainly in portable devices » CISC although less common, are used in Desktops and PC's
31
What is a co-processor? | 1 Mark
» Is an extra processor used to supplement the functions of the primary processor for a specialised task, and carries out only a limited range of functions
32
What is a Multi-core processor? | 2 Marks
» Single-chip containing more than one independent processing units » Each core can fetch decode and execute an instruction independently » Focuses efforts of multiple CPUs into 1 task
33
What is parallel processing? | 1 Mark
» Multiple processors are executing more than one task at the same time by dividing the program instruction between the multiple cores
34
What is a GPU?
» A specialized electronic circuit that is very efficient at manipulating computer graphics and image - processing » Contains specialised processing cores, created to render images » Can work quickly over a large block of similar data - Due to having large number of cores - which are higly paralleiziable
35
What is a GPU a form of?
» A Co-processor which can be used with a CPU to acclerate performance
36
What is one difference between multi-core systems and parallel processing? | 1 Mark
» They accomplish a similar task however instead of requiring multiple cores they can complete task with a single core by using threading
37
Compare RISC and CISC | 5 Marks
» CISC - Each instruction takes more than one clock cycle to execute - RISC - Each instruction executes in one clock cycle » CISC - High power consumption - RISC - Low power consumption » RISC - Simple processor design - CISC - Complicated processor design » RISC - Complex task can only be performed by combining multiple instructions - CISC - Complex instruction can be performed using less instructions » RISC - Pipelining is possible - CISC - Pipelining is not possible
38
What is concurrent processing? | 2 Marks
» One processor is executing more than one task seemingly at the same » With each processing in turn being given a slice of processor time
39
What are some limitations of parallel processing? | 3 Marks
» Algorithm must be suitable for parallel processing » Increased complexity of the control unit, which means increased time spent managing processes instead of executing them » Potential for deadlock, where one process requires the output of another
40
What are 2 ways parallel processing can be achieved in modern computer systems? | 2 Marks
» Multiple processors within a single computer, each dedicated to a specific task, such as a GPU » Multiple cores inside a single CPU, running multiple process simultaneously
41
Why is a GPU more suited for processing graphics than a CPU? | 4 Marks
» CPUs are general purpose processors, whereas GPUS are designed specifically for graphics, so are likely to have built-in circuitry for graphic operations » GPUS are able to perform an instruction on multiple data locations at the same time » We want to do this when processing graphics » Which means it can process and perform transformations to onscreen graphics faster than the CPU
42
What is SIMD? | 2 Marks
» Single instruction, multiple data, is a type of parallel processing » Hardware components that perform the same operation on multiple data operands concurrently
43
What is an array processor architecture?
» Single instruction multiple data » Allows same instruction to operate simultaneously on multiple data locations
44
Other than graphics, state 2 additional uses of a GPU, and why is it more effective than a CPU at the specific task?
» Cryptocurrency mining, Audit processing,machine learning » Process involved calculations on large data sets » Single instruction multiple data » Specialist hardware/ array processing than a CPU
45
Why does simply not doubling the number of cores not double the performance?
» Some programs cant make maximum use of all cores » Overheads involved with inter-core communication
46
What is MMID? | 2 Marks
» Multiple instruction multiple data » Different instructions carried out at the same time on different pieces of data
47
What does a GPU Process?
» Involved processing many calculation on large data sets SMID
48
What are 2 benefits of a multicore system and one disadvantage? | 3 Marks
» More jobs can be carried out in a short time because they are executed simultaneously » Task can be shared between processors to reduce the load on individual processor and avoid bottlenecks » Hard to program code to decompose problems efficiently for multicore processing
49
What is a CPU bottle neck?
» A bottleneck occurs when a PC is running a demanding application and its performance begins to stall.
50
Why do supercomputers have multiple GPUs and cores?
» Cost-effective method » GPU tend to have a large number of cores so can run highly parallel problems
51
Give one advantage and one disadvantage, other than cost, of using Von Neumann compared with array processor architectures? | 2 Marks
» Simpler operating system » Slower than array processing on large data sets
52
What are the 2 different approches to parallel processing? | 2 Marks
» SIMD » MIMD
53
Why is a supercomputer useful?
» CPUs can work in parallel » On the same problem
54
Which part of the FDE cycle will the accumulator recieve a value from the ALU? | 1 Mark
» Execute
55
What might a cotemporary processor contain?
» Both a harvard architecture and a Von Neumann architecture
56
What is mean by the term Von Neumann architecuture? | 2 Marks
» Uses same memory for data and instructions » Uses same bus for data and isntructions
57
Where would an interrupt be handled? | 1 Mark
» After the decode phase
58
Describe one difference between CISC and RISC | 2 Mark
» CISC architecture has more complex circuitry, whilst RISC has simple circuitry minimising manufacture cost
59
What does BRA do?
» Accumulator checked to see if value held is positive or zero » If so BRANCH carried out/jumps to specificed location
60
What is a thread?
» A sequence of instructions that have been sent to the CPU to be processed
61
What is the main benefit of multithreading?
» Allows 2 threads to be run on each core
62
What is one use of a GPU?
» Modelling

A OCR Computer Science A level (75 decks)

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