Untitled Quiz

Module 1: Introduction to Computer Systems

• Computer systems encompass hardware, software, and architecture.
• Understanding computer performance is key to software development.
• Bus interconnection structures connect computer components.
• Computer architecture is crucial for software programmers.
• Computer architecture details are complex but necessary for comprehensive understanding.
• Programmers need to know the basics of how components work together and their impact on software.

Lesson 1: Computer Architecture

• A vital course required for all computer science programmers.
• Understanding how programs affect hardware is essential for software developers.
• Knowledge of hardware details, such as memory and timing, is necessary.
• Studying computer architecture helps programmers improve program efficiency in embedded systems.
• Learning and mastering computer architecture is challenging.

Lesson 2: Components of a Computer System (Processor, Memory, Input/Output)

• A computer is an electronic device manipulating data for desired output format.
• Input devices accept data, storage unit stores and processes, and output devices provide results.
• A computer's central units include storage, communication channels, control, and processing.
• The control unit manages data flow between all devices, coordinating system operations.
• Input and output, storage, communication and processing are the five fundamental components.

Lesson 2: The Von Neumann Model

• John Von Neumann was pioneer in computer development.
• Stored programs are a key aspect of Von Neumann architecture (instructions and data stored together).
• A program counter tracks the next instruction for execution, simplifying storage and retrieving.
• Modern computers use CPUs, memory, and I/O units to perform various computations.

Lesson 3: The System Bus Model

• A computer system bus acts as communication pathway among all devices to exchange data.
• The system bus is made up of data, address, control, and power buses, with separate I/O buses in some architectures.
• The system bus helps to minimize cost and improve the modularity and efficiency of computers.

Lesson 4: Levels of Abstraction (Levels of Machines)

• Computer systems are defined by abstract layers ranging from user-level to device-level.
• The lowest level involves digital logic, followed by transistors, logic gates, etc, up to the user level.
• Understanding each level is vital for a comprehensive understanding of a computer and its design.
• The user level involves application programs, and successively lower levels specify implementation details.

Lesson 5: Evolution of Computers

• Computer development is primarily based on technology such as vacuum tubes, relays, transistors, and integrated circuits.
• Generations of computers distinguish between hardware technologies.
• First generation computers used vacuum tubes.
• Second generation computers used transistors.
• Third generation computers introduced integrated circuits.
• Fourth generation computers saw the invention of the microprocessor.
• Fifth generation computers are characterized by artificial intelligence.

Lesson 6: Measuring Performance

• Computer performance is measured by execution time.
• MIPS (Millions of Instructions Per Second) was an early metric based on the number of instructions per second.
• CPI (Cycles Per Instruction) and IPC (Instructions Per Cycle) use clock cycles for computation.
• Benchmark suites provide a broader measure of computer performance comparing various programs.
• Effective performance is evaluated using execution time, MIPS, IPC, and benchmark suites.

Module 2: Machine Representation of Numbers and Characters

• Data is represented digitally, with 0 and 1 (bits).
• Different data types use various binary representations (e.g., numbers, alphabetic characters).
• Number systems (binary, octal, decimal, hexadecimal) perform conversion between numeral systems.
• BCD (Binary Coded Decimal) is a way to represent decimal numbers in binary form.
• EBCDIC and ASCII are commonly used data representations for letters, characters.

Lesson 3: Instruction Set Architecture

• Defines the set of commands a computer's processor can execute.
• Instructions have operations, addresses, and modes to specify what to do and how to access data.
• Different instruction types define the manner in which a machine performs various tasks.
• The concept of addressing modes helps to explain how operands are specified and referenced by instructions.
• Instruction types include data movement, arithmetic, and logical instructions, as well as the controls for the program sequencing and subroutines.

Lesson 4: Addressing Modes

• Addressing modes determine how to locate the operands of an instruction.
• Common modes include immediate, direct, indirect, register, base register, relative, index.
• Different addressing modes have different advantages and are suited for various computations and situations.