Part 1 Block 3 - Buses and Clocks

Question 1

You have learned that data, instructions and control signals all have to be moved around the processor and between the processor and main memory.

Achieving this is the job of the various c_______ b________ and the processor clock.

Answer 1

computer buses

Question 2

The w____________ that connects the various internal and external components of a computer is known as a bus.

Answer 2

wiring

Question 3

I__________ buses inside the processor connect the various registers and cache memory together.

Other buses connect the processor to main memory.

Answer 3

internal

Question 4

At least three categories of bus are needed to ensure that the processor can operate effectively.

The c________ bus:

The a________ bus:

The d_______ bus:

Answer 4

control bus
This bus carries the control signals between the processor and main memory (and other parts of the computer system).

address bus
This bus carries the addresses of memory locations to be accessed.

data bus
This bus transfers data from place to place.

Question 5

All computers have a processor clock, which sends out p_________ at regular intervals.

Answer 5

pulses

Question 6

The purpose of the clock is to send a s_____________ signal between the circuits within the processor (and to sub-systems connected to the processor) to ensure that they remain in step.

Answer 6

synchronising signal

Question 7

What is the number of pulses per second, or frequency, of the clock is measured in?

Answer 7

gigahertz (GHz)

Question 8

A processor with a 2 GHz clock sends 2 billion pulses per second.

What would that be in decimal scientific notation?

Answer 8

2 x 10^9 pulses per second