Systems Architecture, Memory, Storage

Question 1

Purpose of the CPU

Answer 1

The Central Processing Unit is the hardware that executes program and manages the rest of the hardware

Question 2

What does CPU stand for

Answer 2

Central Processing Unit

Question 3

Von Nuemann architecture

Answer 3

The idea of holding programs in memory, and moving data between the data unit and the processor

Question 4

Components of the CPU

Answer 4

Main memory, the processor and the cache memory

Question 5

Components of the processor

Answer 5

The CU, the ALU, the accumulator and registers

Question 6

What does CU stand for

Answer 6

Control Unit

Question 7

What does ALU stand for

Answer 7

Arithmetic Logic Unit

Question 8

Accumulators

Answer 8

Special purpose very fast memory locations in which all operations are carried out

Question 9

Address bus

Answer 9

Carries addresses from the processor to memory and input/output devices

Question 10

Data bus

Answer 10

Sends data between the processor, memory and input/output devices

Question 11

Control bus

Answer 11

Carries signals to coordinate all the computer activities

Question 12

Control Unit

Answer 12

• Controls the execution of instructions in the correct sequence
• Decodes instructions
• Regulates and controls processor timing using regular pulses from the system clock
• Sends and receives control signals to and from other devices within the computer

Question 13

Arithmetic Logic Unit

Answer 13

• Performs logical, shift and arithmetic operations
• Logical operations: include AND, OR and NOT
• Shift operations: the bits in a computer word can be shifted left or right by a certain number of places
• Arithmetic operations: include addition, subtraction, multiplication and division

Question 14

Special purpose registers

Answer 14

• Memory Address Register (MAR)
• Memory Data Register (MDR)
• Program Counter (PC)
• Current Instruction Register (CIR)
• Accumulator

Question 15

Memory Address Register

Answer 15

Holds the address of the instruction/piece of data to be fetched/stored

Question 16

Memory Data Register

Answer 16

Temporarily holds the data or instruction when it is fetched from memory

Question 17

Program Counter

Answer 17

Holds the memory address of the next instruction to be executed

Question 18

Current Instruction Register

Answer 18

Holds the current instruction to be executed, which has been fetched from memory and is temporarily held in the MDR before being copied to the CIR

Question 19

Fetch (the fetch-execute cycle)

Answer 19

• The address of the next instruction to be executed is copied from the PC to the MAR
• The PC is incremented
• The instruction held in the location of the address is copied to the MDR
• The contents of the MDR are copied to the CIR

Question 20

Decode (the fetch-execute cycle)

Answer 20

The CU decodes the instruction in the CIR

Question 21

Execute (the fetch-execute cycle)

Answer 21

The instruction is executed

Question 22

Factors affecting CPU performance

Answer 22

• Clock speed

- Type and size of memory

Question 23

Clock speed

Answer 23

The number of electrical cycles per second, or the rate at which the electrical current changes in the circuits, measured in hertz/gigahertz

Question 24

Caches

Answer 24

High-speed memory, which increases the speed of the CPU by holding frequently used data or instructions

Question 25

Embedded systems

Answer 25

An embedded system is a computer system with a dedicated function within a larger system

Question 26

What does RAM stand for

Answer 26

Random Access Memory

Question 27

Function of RAM

Answer 27

Acts as temporary storage for programs and data while the program is being executed

Question 28

Virtual Memory

Answer 28

Memory from the hard disk drive which is configured to operate like main memory

Question 29

What does ROM stand for

Answer 29

Read-Only Memory

Question 30

Function of ROM

Answer 30

To store the bootstrap loader

Question 31

What is the bootstrap loader

Answer 31

A small program which loads the operating system

Question 32

Types of secondary storage

Answer 32

Magnetic, flash, optical and cloud

Question 33

Magnetic storage

Answer 33

- Read with a moving head inside the disk drive - Moving parts so are slow to read from or write to - Vulnerable to magnetic fields - Can be internal or portable - Have huge capacity for relatively low cost

Question 34

Solid state drive(SSD)

Answer 34

- Flash memory - Reliable and durable(have no moving parts) - Relatively light - Faster access times than HDD(data can be accessed instantaneously - Low power consumption - Run cooler than HDDs - Thin due to no moving parts - Much more expensive than HDDs

Question 35

Optical devices

Answer 35

- 3 formats(CD-R, CD-ROM, CD-RW) - Makes pits and lands in the disk - Pits and lands are read with a laser - Can be damaged by sunlight

Question 36

Advantages of cloud storage

Answer 36

- Data can be accessed from anywhere - Data can be easily shared between locations - Backup is not an issue(responsibility of the provider)

Question 37

Disadvantages of cloud storage

Answer 37

- Requires an internet connection | - Security is a concern