System Architecture Flashcards
What is the purpose of the CU?
- It sends control signals to direct the operations of the CPU
- It decodes instructions during the FDE cycle
What is the purpose of the ALU ?
- To perform calculations and logical operations
What is a register?
Temporary storage space for one instruction or one address
What is cache memory ?
A register that is used to temporarily store data that is frequently accessed
Step 1 of the FDE cycle
.Pc displays the address in the RAM of the next instruction to be processed
.That value is copied to the MAR
Step 2 of the FDE cycle?
.Pc register is increased by 1
.This prepares the cpu for the next instructions to be fetch
Step 3 of the FDE cycle
The CPU checks address in RAM which matches the address held in the MAR
Step 4 of the FDE cycle ?
The instructions in RAM is transferred to the MDR
Step 5 of the FDE cycle ?
.The instructions in the MDR are copied to the CIR
Step 6 of the FDE cycle?
The CIR is decoded and executed
Any results in the exception is stored in the accumulator
How does cache affect the performance of the CPU?
.Cache memory is closer to the CPU then RAM meaning it provides data and instructions to the CPU at a faster rate
.More cache also mean that repeatedly used instructions can be stored and access faster
How does clock speed affect performance ?
.Faster clock speed means that the computer can perform the FDE cycle and more instructions can be processed each second
How does cores affect the performance of the CPU?
. More cores mean more instructions can be processed at once
What is an embedded system ?
A computer system built into a larger machine to provide a means of control
What is the PC ?
The register that tracks the RAM address of the next instruction to be fetched
