Computer Science Revision Flashcards
Revision (10 cards)
Define Von Neumann architecture
A computer architecture in which both instructions and data are stored in the same memory, allowing the CPU to access both from a single address space.
What is the MAR (Memory Address Register)?
A register within the CPU that holds the memory address of the location to be accessed (read from or written to).
What is the MDR (Memory Data Register)?
A register within the CPU that holds the data being transferred to or from memory.
What is the Program Counter (PC)?
A register within the CPU that holds the address of the next instruction to be executed.
What is the Accumulator?
A register within the CPU used to store intermediate results of arithmetic and logical operations.
What is the CPU (Central Processing Unit)?
The main processing unit of a computer that carries out instructions. Its purpose is to execute instructions to perform calculations and control the operations of the system.
What is the Fetch-execute cycle?
The fundamental process by which the CPU retrieves (fetches) an instruction from memory, interprets (decodes) it, and then performs (executes) the instruction.
What is the ALU (Arithmetic Logic Unit)?
A component of the CPU that performs arithmetic (addition, subtraction, etc.) and logical (AND, OR, NOT) operations.
What is the CU (Control Unit)?
A component of the CPU that manages and coordinates the activities of all other components by sending control signals. It fetches instructions, decodes them, and ensures they are executed correctly.
What is the Cache?
A small, fast memory within the CPU that stores frequently accessed data and instructions to speed up processing by reducing the need to access slower main memory (RAM).
