SLR1-1.1: Structure and function of the processor

Question 1

What are the main components of a computer?

Answer 1

• Input devices
• Output devices
• CPU
• Main memory (RAM)

Question 2

What are two examples of input devices?

Answer 2

1) Mouse
2) Keyboard

Question 3

What are two examples of output devices?

Answer 3

1) Screen
2) Speakers

Question 4

What is the function of the Control Unit (CU) ?

Answer 4

*Decodes instructions
* Sends control signals to coordinate the movement of data through the processor
* Sends control signals to execute them
* Coordinates buses

Question 5

What is the function of the Program Counter (PC)?

Answer 5

• Holds the address of the next instruction
• Sends it to MAR
• Then increments (or jumps to new address from CIR)

Question 6

What is the function of the Memory Address Register (MAR)?

Answer 6

• Holds the address from the Program Counter (PC) or Current Instruction Register (CIR)
• Sends it to memory to access data/instructions

Question 7

What is the function of the Memory Data Register (MDR)?

Answer 7

*Temporarily stores fetched data/instructions
* Acts as a buffer
* Sends the instruction to the Current Instruction Register (CIR)

Question 8

What is the function of the Current Instruction Register (CIR)?

Answer 8

*Holds the current instruction being executed
*The contents of the MDR are copied to the CIR if it is an instruction
* Contains the opcode and operand of the current instruction

Question 9

What is the function of the Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU)?

Answer 9

• Performs arithmetic and logical operations and calculations on the data

Question 10

What is the function of the Accumulator (ACC)?

Answer 10

• Temporarily stores results of calculations
• General purpose register of the CPU
• Data or control information is stored here

Question 11

What are the 3 buses?

Answer 11

• Data bus
  *Address Bus
• Control Bus

Question 12

What is the function of the Data bus?

Answer 12

• Carries data between processor components
• Allows movement of values within the system

Question 13

What is the function of the Address bus?

Answer 13

• Carries addresses of data/instructions
  *Specifies where to read from or write to in memory

Question 14

What is the function of the Control bus?

Answer 14

• Sends control signals from the Control Unit (CU) to other parts of the processor

Question 15

What is assembly code?

Answer 15

It is a language that has one-to-one relationships with the processor architecture

Question 16

In low-level, what code do computer use?

Answer 16

Assembly code