Podcast
Questions and Answers
Which number system was first suggested by Ada, Countess of Lovelace for data representation inside computers?
Which number system was first suggested by Ada, Countess of Lovelace for data representation inside computers?
ASCII uses eight bits for its character encoding.
ASCII uses eight bits for its character encoding.
False
Why are multiple benchmarks used instead of one single 'best' benchmark?
Why are multiple benchmarks used instead of one single 'best' benchmark?
What is the primary advantage of using variable length codes in data representation?
What is the primary advantage of using variable length codes in data representation?
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Huffman Coding is a method used for ____ in variable length codes.
Huffman Coding is a method used for ____ in variable length codes.
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Computer A can have higher MIPS but take longer to execute a program than computer B.
Computer A can have higher MIPS but take longer to execute a program than computer B.
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Match the following coding systems with their characteristics:
Match the following coding systems with their characteristics:
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If a program takes 1,000,000 cycles and the CPU has a CPI of 40, how many instructions were executed?
If a program takes 1,000,000 cycles and the CPU has a CPI of 40, how many instructions were executed?
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The __________ is calculated by dividing the number of instructions by the number of cycles.
The __________ is calculated by dividing the number of instructions by the number of cycles.
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Which of the following is a disadvantage of using variable length codes rather than fixed length codes?
Which of the following is a disadvantage of using variable length codes rather than fixed length codes?
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Identify one benefit of ASCII as a standard for communications.
Identify one benefit of ASCII as a standard for communications.
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Match the benchmark to its score before improvement:
Match the benchmark to its score before improvement:
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EBCDIC is the dominant character encoding used on microcomputers.
EBCDIC is the dominant character encoding used on microcomputers.
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What is the geometric mean useful for in the context of benchmarking?
What is the geometric mean useful for in the context of benchmarking?
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What is the arithmetic mean of scores 10, 12, and 14?
What is the arithmetic mean of scores 10, 12, and 14?
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All data must be converted to machine-readable form for a computer to process it.
All data must be converted to machine-readable form for a computer to process it.
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Which of the following is NOT a common field in an instruction format?
Which of the following is NOT a common field in an instruction format?
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Existing software benchmarks can potentially hinder radical innovations in ISA design.
Existing software benchmarks can potentially hinder radical innovations in ISA design.
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What are the typical bit sizes of single and double precision floating point numbers?
What are the typical bit sizes of single and double precision floating point numbers?
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An operand is a value that an instruction operates on, commonly referred to as a ______.
An operand is a value that an instruction operates on, commonly referred to as a ______.
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Match the operand types with their characteristics:
Match the operand types with their characteristics:
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Which CPU organization is NOT mentioned?
Which CPU organization is NOT mentioned?
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Instruction formats must always be of variable length.
Instruction formats must always be of variable length.
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What is the primary purpose of an address field in an instruction?
What is the primary purpose of an address field in an instruction?
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Study Notes
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.
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