Computer Hardware

Question 1

This processor is also often called the brain of computer.

It also has a SET OF REGISTERS which are temporary storage areas for holding data, and instructions.

It executes the stored program instructions, i.e. instructions and data are stored in memory before execution.

Answer 1

Central Processing Unit (CPU)

Question 2

It performs the arithmetic and logic operations on the data that is made available to it.

Answer 2

Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU)

Question 3

It is responsible for organizing the processing of data and instructions. It acts as a supervisor and, controls and coordinates the activity of the other units of computer.

It coordinates the input and output devices of a computer.

The function of a — can be considered synonymous with that of a conductor of an orchestra

Answer 3

Control Unit (CU)

Question 4

The CPU is fabricated as a ______ ______ ______ chip, and is also known as the ________.

Answer 4

single Integrated Circuit (IC); microprocessor

Question 5

It is plugged into the motherboard of the computer.

Answer 5

Microprocessor

Question 6

It is a circuit board that has electronic circuit etched on it and connects the microprocessor with the other hardware components

Answer 6

Motherboard

Question 7

Performs arithmetic operations on the data that is made available to it. Some of the arithmetic operations supported by the arithmetic unit are—addition, subtraction, multiplication and division.

Answer 7

Arithmetic Unit

Question 8

It is responsible for performing logic operations. It performs comparisons of numbers, letters and special characters. Logic operations include testing for greater than, less than or equal to condition.

Answer 8

Logic Unit

Question 9

Are high-speed storage areas within the CPU, but have the least storage capacity.

Are not referenced by their address, but are directly accessed and manipulated by the CPU during instruction execution.

Answer 9

Registers

Question 10

Important Registers in CPU

Answer 10

Accumulator (ACC)
Instruction Register (IR)
Program Counter (PC)
Memory Address Register (MAR)
Memory Buffer Register (MBR)
Data Register (DR)

Question 11

It stores the result of arithmetic and logic operations.

Answer 11

Accumulator (ACC)

Question 12

It contains the current instruction most recently fetched.

Answer 12

Instruction Register (IR)

Question 13

It contains the address of next instruction to be processed.

Answer 13

Program Counter (PC)

Question 14

It contains the address of next location in the memory to be accessed.

Answer 14

Memory Address Register (MAR)

Question 15

It temporarily stores data from memory or the data to be sent to memory.

Answer 15

Memory Buffer Register (MBR)

Question 16

It stores the operands and any other data

Answer 16

Data Register (DR)

Question 17

It indicates the amount of data with which the computer can work at any given time.

Answer 17

Size of Register or Word Size

Question 18

The size of a register may be:

Answer 18

8, 16, 32 or 64 bits

Question 19

It consists of cache memory and primary memory.

Answer 19

Memory Unit

Question 20

It is used to store the data and instructions during the processing of data.

Answer 20

Primary Memory or Main Memory

Question 21

Primary Memory is of two kinds:

Answer 21

Random Access Memory (RAM) Read Only Memory (ROM)

Question 22

• Volatile.
• It stores data when the computer is on.
• Temporary storage for data and instructions.
• Provides a limited storage capacity, due to its high cost
• It is used to store the data and instructions during EXECUTION of the instructions.

Answer 22

RAM

Question 23

• Non-volatile memory.
• Used for storing standard processing programs that permanently reside in the computer.
• Programmed by the manufacturer.

Answer 23

ROM

Question 24

• Non-volatile and is used for permanent storage of data and programs.
• Has a high storage capacity
• Cheaper

Answer 24

Secondary Memory

Question 25

The data and instructions that are required during the processing of data are brought from the secondary storage devices and stored in the RAM. It is a very high speed memory placed in between RAM and CPU. It is a storage buffer that stores the data that is used more often, temporarily, andmakes them available to CPU at a fast rate.

Answer 25

Cache Memory

Question 26

A computer program is a set of instructions that describe the steps to be performed for carrying out a computational task.

Answer 26

Instruction Format

Question 27

The program and the data, on which the program operates, are stored in main memory, waiting to be processed by the processor.

Answer 27

Stored Program Concept

Question 28

An instruction is divided into groups called

Answer 28

Fields

Question 29

The common fields of an instructionare—

Answer 29

Operation (op) code and Operand code

Question 30

It represents action that the processor must execute. It tells the processor what basic operations to perform.

Answer 30

Operation (op) code

Question 31

It defines the parameters of the action and depends on the operation. It specifies the locations of the data

Answer 31

Operand code

Question 32

A processor has a set of instructions that it understands. It is the set of all the basic operations that a processor can accomplish

Answer 32

Instruction Set

Question 33

It is the processor design technique used for implementing the Instruction Set.

Answer 33

Microarchitecture

Question 34

The primary responsibility of a computer processor is to execute a sequential set of instructions that constitute a program.

Answer 34

Instruction Cycle

Question 35

The processor fetches the instruction from the memory. The fetched instruction is placed in the Instruction Register. Program Counter holds the address of next instruction to be fetched and is incremented after each fetch.

Answer 35

Fetching

Question 36

The instruction that is fetched is broken down into parts or decoded. The instruction is translated into commands so that they correspond to those in the CPU’s instruction set.

Answer 36

Decoding

Question 37

The decoded instruction or the command is executed. CPU performs the operation implied by the program instruction.

Answer 37

Executing

Question 38

CPU writes back the results of execution, to the computer’s memory.

Answer 38

Storing

Question 39

A instruction cycle involves four steps:

Answer 39

Fetching Decoding Executing Storing

Question 40

Some categories of instructions are:

Answer 40

Memory access or transfer of data between registers Arithmetic operations Logic operations Control the sequence, conditional connections, etc

Question 41

A processor’s instruction set is a determining factor in its architecture.

Answer 41

Microprocessor

Question 42

Microprocessors are classified as:

Answer 42

Reduced Instruction Set Computer (RISC) Complex Instruction Set Computer (CISC)

Question 43

Hardwires the processor with complex instructions, which are difficult to create otherwise using basic instructions. Combines the different instructions into one single CPU.

Answer 43

Complex Instruction Set Computer (CISC)

Question 44

Has simple, single-cycle instructions, which performs only basic instructions. Does not have hardwired advanced functions. All high-level language support is done in the software.

Answer 44

Reduced Instruction Set Computer (RISC)

Question 45

Improves instruction execution speed by putting the execution steps into parallel. A CPU can receive a single instruction, begin executing it, and receive another instruction before it has completed the first. This allows for more instructions to be performed, about one instruction per clock cycle.

Answer 45

Pipelining

Question 46

The simultaneous execution of instructions from the same program on different processors. A program is divided into multiple processes that are handled in parallel in order to reduce execution time.

Answer 46

Parallel Processing