Topic 2: Computational Organisation

Question 1

CPU

Answer 1

The key component of a computer system, which contains the circuit necessary to fetch, decode and execute program instructions from and to main memory (RAM). It contains ALU, CU and registers.

Question 2

CU

Answer 2

Directs the operation of the CPU and the data flow and is in charge of decoding the instructions.

Question 3

MAR

Answer 3

Temporary storage that stores the memory address from which data will be sent the CPU, or the address to which data will be sent and stored.

Question 4

ALU

Answer 4

Does all the arithmetic and logical calculations

Question 5

MDR

Answer 5

Temporary storage that holds data being transferred to and from the RAM.

Question 6

RAM and properties

Answer 6

Contains the data and instructions the computer has loaded since starting up and everything the user has opened. Those instructions are the ones that the computer has to execute.

• Volatile
• CPU can directly access RAM
• Linked to the CPU by buses

Question 7

ROM and properties

Answer 7

Used to storage data that is rarely changed such us firmware. It also holds the BIOS (Basic Input/Output)

• Non volatile
• Read only
• The CPU can not directly access the ROM memory.

Question 8

Cache

Answer 8

A type of small, high-speed memory used to hold frequently used data, so that the CPU needs to access the much slower RAM less frequently. It acts as a buffer between RAM and CPU.

Question 9

Bus

Answer 9

Communication system that transfers data between components inside a computer, or between computers.

Question 10

Address bus

Answer 10

Pathway from memory to processing unit carrying the memory address to and from where data is transferred

Question 11

Importance of both RAM and ROM

Answer 11

RAM and ROM both are the necessary memory for the computer. ROM is a necessary for a computer to boot up. RAM is important for CPU processing.

Question 12

CPU cycle: Fetch, decode and execute

Answer 12

Fetch
The Program Counter (PC) starts at 0000. This means that the first address in RAM where the computer will look for an instruction is at 0000.

The computer needs somewhere to store the current address in RAM that it is looking for. This is what the Memory Address Register (MAR) is for. 0000 is therefore copied into the MAR.

As the data fetched during the fetch stage is an instruction, it is copied into the Instruction Register (IR).

As the first instruction has been fetched, the system is at the end of the Fetch stage of the cycle. The program counter can be incremented by 1, so the system is ready to read the next instruction when the next Fetch cycle starts.

Decode
Now the instruction needs to be decoded. It is sent via the data bus to the control unit, where it is split into two parts.

The first part is the operation code or opcode, which in this example CPU is the first 4 bits. This is the command that the computer will carry out. The second part, in this case the second 4 bits, is the operand.

This is an address in RAM where data will be read from or written to, depending on the operation. The Control Unit can translate opcodes into instructions. So here the Control Unit translates the opcode 0101 into an instruction, for example LOAD FROM RAM.

Execute
Now the command will be executed. The operand is copied to the MAR, as this is the address of the data that needs to be loaded.

The data at address is then fetched from RAM and passed up the data bus to the MDR. As it is not an instruction but simply data, it is then passed to the Accumulator (Acc).

Question 13

Types of RAM

Answer 13

Static and dynamic

Question 14

Types of ROM

Answer 14

PROM: Can be programmed by user)
EPROM: Can be reprogrammed
EEPROM: Can be erased

Question 15

Hard Drive Disk

Answer 15

Storage device that uses mechanical platters moving read/write head to access data.

Question 16

Solid State Disk

Answer 16

Store information on flash memory, which consists of individual memory cells.

Question 17

Operating system

Answer 17

Powerful program that controls and manages the hardware and other software on a computer. It acts like an intermediary between software apps and hardware.

Question 18

Functions of OS

Answer 18

User Interface
Memory management
Peripheral management
Multitasking 
Security
Networking

Question 19

User Interfaces

Answer 19

GUI
CLI
MBI
NLI

Question 20

Memory management

Answer 20

Allocates and de-allocates memory/ assignes blocks of memory to programs;
Ensures a program has sufficient memory to run/manages virtual memory if needed;
To avoid overwriting /clashing of programs/optimise system performance/maximise
memory usage

Question 21

Peripheral management

Answer 21

Peripheral are controlled by drivers, software which allows hardware devices to be used by the OS.
It provides an interface between hardware and software.

Question 22

Multitasking

Answer 22

The OS handles multitasking in the way that it can handle multiple operations/programs at a time.

Uses CPU scheduling and multiprogramming to provide each user with a small portion of a time-shared CPU.

Question 23

Security

Answer 23

The most common method of protection is to provide some form of identity to the user that allows him authentication. Like a username and a password, to prevent unauthorized access.

An additional security method is the use of log files that keep track of any activity of any user in the computer system.

Question 24

Networking

Answer 24

Manages the interactions with networks of other computer systems, too. Allowing the user to share resources (files) with other systems.

Question 25

Software applications

Answer 25

Word processors
Spreadsheets
Database management
Web Browsers
Email
Computer Aided Design
Graphic Processing software

Question 26

GUI elements

Answer 26

• Toolbar
• Menu
• Dialogue box

Question 27

Why hexadecimals are used?

Answer 27

• Used for shorter representation because a byteacan be represented by 2 hexadecimals.
• Easier to use or remember
• They have this paralellism with the binary, which decimal has not.