SLR1-1.1 Von Neumann, Harvard and contemporary processor architectures

Question 1

Von Neumann Architecture structure

Answer 1

CPU <-(System Bus)-> RAM Instructions & Data

Question 2

What are the main features of the Von Neumann architecture?

Answer 2

• Shared memory space for instructions and data
• Instructions and data are stored in the same format
• A single CU or processor follows a linear F-D-E cycle
• One instruction at a time
• Registers are used as fast access to instructions and data

Question 3

Harvard Architecture structure

Answer 3

RAM Instructions <-(System Bus)-> CPU <-(System Bus)-> RAM Data

Question 4

What are the main features of the Harvard Architecture?

Answer 4

• Instructions and data stored in separate memory units
• Each has its own bus
• Reading & Writing data can be done at the same time as fetching an instruction
• Used by RISC processors

Question 5

What are Von Neumann and Harvard architectures examples of?

Answer 5

Older computer architectures

Question 6

What are modern machine architectures known as?

Answer 6

Contemporary architectures

Question 7

What does SIMD stand for?

Answer 7

Single Instruction Multiple Data

Question 8

What is meant by Single Instruction Multiple Data (SIMD)?

Answer 8

A single instruction on multiple data items at the same time (used by graphic processors)

Question 9

What does MIMD stand for?

Answer 9

Multiple Instruction Multiple Data

Question 10

What is meant by Multiple Instruction Multiple Data (MIMD)?

Answer 10

Multiple instructions are carried out on multiple data items across several cores

Question 11

What is meant by distributed computing?

Answer 11

Where multiple computers on a shared network each take on part of a bigger problem - this can be done over a large scale over the internet