Computer Architecture Basics Quiz
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Questions and Answers

Which of these buses is responsible for transferring data between the CPU and other components like memory and peripherals?

  • Data Bus (correct)
  • System Bus
  • Address Bus
  • Control Bus

    • What is the primary function of the Control Bus?

  • Sending data to the CPU
  • Storing data for the CPU to access
  • Providing signals to manage data movement (correct)
  • Carrying data between the CPU and memory

    • Which component is responsible for retrieving the next instruction from memory and decoding it for execution?

  • Control Unit (correct)
  • Address Bus
  • Data Bus
  • Execution Unit

    • What is the primary function of the Address Bus?

    <p>Specifying the memory location for data transfer (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main characteristic of the von Neumann architecture?

    <p>Shared memory for data and instructions (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of these interrupt handlers is responsible for setting the cursor position on the screen?

    <p>INT 10h / AH = 2 (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the function of the instruction decoder in the fetch/execution cycle?

    <p>Translating the instruction code into micro-operations (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary purpose of the fetch/execution cycle?

    <p>Executing instructions stored in memory (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the function of the Address Bus in a computer system?

    <p>Determines the location of data in memory. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main difference between the Von Neumann architecture and the Harvard architecture?

    <p>Von Neumann architecture uses a single address space for both data and instructions, while Harvard architecture uses separate spaces. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the purpose of the Data Bus in a computer system?

    <p>Transmits data between the CPU and other components. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What determines the maximum amount of memory that a computer system can address?

    <p>The size of the Address Bus. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of these is NOT a function of the Control Bus?

    <p>Carrying instructions from the CPU to the ALU. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The Control Bus in a computer system primarily functions to...

    <p>Direct and control the operations of other components. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In a computer with a 16-bit address bus, what is the maximum possible memory size in bytes?

    <p>65,536 bytes (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How many memory locations can a 16-bit address bus access?

    <p>2^16 (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the purpose of the address bus?

    <p>To specify the location of data in main memory. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the role of the control bus?

    <p>To send signals that control the timing and operation of different components. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the function of the data bus?

    <p>To transfer data between the CPU and main memory. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    A Von Neumann architecture computer system uses a single address space for both instructions and data. What does this mean?

    <p>The CPU can access both instructions and data from the same memory locations. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is NOT considered as a part of the main memory?

    <p>Hard Disk Drive (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary function of the CPU in a computer system?

    <p>To execute instructions and perform calculations. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following components directly interacts with both the CPU and the main memory?

    <p>I/O Controller (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the key difference between a data bus and an address bus?

    <p>The address bus specifies the location of data, while the data bus carries the actual data. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is TRUE about the von Neumann architecture?

    <p>It is the most common computer architecture used today. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In which level of computer architecture abstraction do operating systems (OS) reside?

    <p>Level 3: OS machine Level (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Flashcards

    Complement Addition

    A method of adding binary numbers using their complements.

    Binary Subtraction

    A method used to perform subtraction in binary by adding the complement.

    8-bit Data Bus

    A data bus capable of transferring 8 bits of data at once.

    16-bit Address Lines

    Addressing scheme allowing access to 2^16 memory locations.

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    Maximum Memory Calculation

    The limit of memory that can be addressed based on address lines.

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    Memory Chip Size

    The capacity of individual memory chips connected to the CPU.

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    Minimum Address Bus Width

    Smallest number of bits required to address the total memory.

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    Decoders in Addressing

    Devices used to select specific memory chips based on address lines.

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    byte

    A unit of digital information that consists of 8 bits.

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    INT 10h / AH = 0

    Sets the video mode in DOS programming.

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    INT 10h / AH = 2

    Sets the cursor position on the screen.

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    Fetch/Execution Cycle

    The process where instructions are retrieved and executed by the CPU.

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    Instruction Counter

    Registers that store the address of the next instruction to be executed.

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    Instruction Decoder

    Translates the instruction code into signals for the CPU.

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    Micro-operation

    A low-level operation that controls hardware components in response to an instruction.

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    Control Unit

    The part of the CPU that directs the operation of the processor.

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    SSE2,3

    Streaming SIMD Extensions 2 and 3, instruction sets for parallel processing.

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    Types of Computers

    Categorized by price and use, ranging from disposable to supercomputers.

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    Mainframe

    Very powerful computer used mainly for processing large amounts of data.

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    Supercomputer

    Highly advanced computer used for complex simulations and calculations.

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    Computer Structure

    Consists of CPU, memory, buses (data, address, control), and I/O.

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    PC Structure

    Includes power source, motherboard, processor, and memory slots.

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    Device Controllers

    Controls I/O devices and manages bus access.

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    Abstract Layers of Computer Use

    User interface, application, OS, drivers, BIOS, and hardware hierarchy.

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    Instruction Set Architecture (ISA)

    The part of the processor that defines the machine code instructions.

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    Microarchitecture Level

    The design of the processor architecture, including data pathways.

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    Study Notes

    Computer Architecture Topics

    • The presentation covers topics in computer architecture, including introduction, computer logic, computer arithmetic, digital representation, scalability, instruction sets, assembly language, processing units, memory systems, input/output, and high-performance computing.
    • A historical evolution table is included, showing years, computer names, inventors, and comments on their significance in computer development.
    • A slide about the ENIAC computer details its characteristics, such as the year of development (1943-1946), the number of vacuum tubes (18,000), its weight (30 tons), size (150 m²), power consumption (140 kW), and its computational abilities.

    Computer Types

    • Various computer types are presented, along with their estimated price ranges and example uses.
    • Examples include disposable computers (gadgets), embedded computers (home appliances), game computers (game stations), personal computers (desktops/notebooks), servers (network servers), collections of workstations (departmental), mainframes (bank data processing), and supercomputers (weather forecasting).

    Abstract Layers of Computer Use

    • A diagram displays the abstract layers of computer use, from user interface to hardware.
    • The layers include user interface, application, operating system, drivers/BIOS, and hardware.

    Abstract Layers of Computer (Detailed)

    • A table shows the layers of an abstract computer, from high-level problem-oriented programming and language translation down to the physical digital logic level.
    • The table lists level 5 (problem-oriented language level), level 4 (assembly language level), level 3 (OS machine level), level 2 (instruction set architecture level), level 1 (microarchitecture level), and level 0 (digital logic level), indicating the type of translation or interpretation involved in each level.

    Computer Structure

    • A diagram illustrates a basic computer structure with components like CPU, main memory, and I/O.
    • Key components are connected by data, address, and control buses.

    PC Structure

    • Different components of a personal computer are listed.
    • This includes power source, circuit board (motherboard), processor, memory slots, chips, rear/front connectors, and sockets for I/O boards.

    Device Controllers

    • The function of a controller is to control the I/O device and handle bus access.
    • It issues commands to devices, manages data transfer, and handles interrupts.
    • DMA (Direct Memory Access) is a controller function allowing data transfer to and from memory without CPU intervention.

    Later PC Structure

    • A diagram of a later personal computer architecture displays connections between the CPU, memory, monitor, various controllers, and buses (PCI, ISA).

    CPU Structure

    • A diagram shows the basic structure of a CPU, highlighting the arithmetic logic unit (ALU), registers, and control unit.

    Computer Arithmetic

    • The different bases of numeration (binary, octal, decimal, hexadecimal) are defined.
    • Fixed-point and floating-point representations and arithmetic are presented.

    Binary, Octal, Decimal, and Hexadecimal

    • A table illustrates the conversions between binary, octal, decimal, and hexadecimal numerical systems.

    Remainder and Multiplication Methods

    • Methods for converting decimal numbers to binary are presented, along with multiplication methods for decimal numbers.

    Fixed Point Representation

    • Fixed-point number representation is defined, with explicit information about Radix point, MSD, LSD, Integer Part, and Fraction Part and descriptions of the positional form used to represent the number system.

    Examples and Conversions to Base 10

    • Examples of converting between different number bases and to decimal form are given.

    Positional Form

    • Demonstrates how to represent a decimal value in a fixed-point binary representation with specified bits.

    Signed Fixed Point Numbers

    • Different methods for representing signed numbers in a fixed-point format are listed, including signed magnitude, one's complement, two's complement, and excess (biased) representations.

    Signed Magnitude Representation

    • This representation describes a method to handle a signed number, storing the sign in the most significant bit of the number.

    One's Complement Representation

    • This representation shows how to represent negative numbers by complementing the bits of the positive representation.

    Two's Complement Representation

    • The procedure for representing negative numbers in the two's complement format is established, with a description of how the negative equivalent is derived from its corresponding absolute value.

    Excess Representation

    • Different methods are mentioned for interpreting sign bits in numbers using a format that offsets a base value. 

    4.0 Bit Signed Representation Table

    • A table provides a breakdown of various signed number representations (including sign magnitude, one's complement, two's complement, and excess-8) for numbers with a 4-bit range. 

    Floating Point Representation

    • The general form for representing numbers using a floating-point format is specified. 

    Floating Point Representation (Details)

    • Definitions describing different ways of interpreting a floating-point number (including explanations of the sign, mantissa, and exponent) are mentioned.

    IEEE-754 Standard

    • The standards used for single and double-precision floating-point formats are outlined.

    Exponent Values

    • Various operations and descriptions on interpreting how to represent the exponent value with given standards are described.

    Example Conversions

    • Steps are demonstrated for converting a base-10 decimal number to its floating-point binary correspondence.

    Complement Addition and Subtraction

    • Methods for performing arithmetic operations using complements, like addition and subtraction, with details on the handling of negative numbers.

    System Bus

    • A diagram shows the structure of the system bus, including components, control bus lines, address bus lines, and data bus lines, and depicts the flow of data between the CPU and various parts of the system.

    Problem

    • A stated problem with calculations and memory organization involving ROM, RAM, and various bus lines.

    Statement

    • Defines different types of statements found in assembly language programs. 

    Instructions

    • Assembly language instructions are presented.

    Directives

    • Assembly language directives are explained.

    Macros

    • Assembly language macros are described.

    x86 Registers (Details)

    • A table provides information about x86 registers, including general-purpose and special-purpose registers.

    Segments

    • Explanations about the segment registers, which are used in segment-and-offset address format, are provided. 

    Special Purpose Registers

    • Definitions of the special-purpose registers in common use for assembly language programs (Instruction Pointer and Flags Registers), with their functionality explained. 

    Flags Register

    • The functionality of specific bits in the flags register, their purpose, and the different categories/types (status, control, system flags) are outlined.

    Interrupts

    • A list of interrupt codes and their descriptions for video mode setting, cursor position setting, and video page selection. 

    Pipelines

    • The concept of pipelines in instruction processing.

    Pipelining - Example

    • Calculations about the speedup gained from implementing pipelining.

    Pipelining Problems with Conditional Branches

    • The problems with conditional branches when pipelining and strategies for addressing them (multiple streams, prefetching, loop buffers, branch prediction, delayed branching).

    Fetch/Execute Expanded (Detailed)

    • Elaborated steps/operations in Fetch/Execute instruction processing cycles.

    Instruction Execution Pipeline

    • Diagrams demonstrating the instruction processing pipeline (including stages).

    Pipeline with Branch

    • Case studies showing how the pipeline may be impacted when a branch condition is triggered.

    Pipelines Performance

    • Definitions of pipeline cycle time.

    Pipelines Performance (Details)

    • Equations are mentioned for computing the time it takes to execute a set of instructions in a pipeline. 

    Solution to Conditional Branches

    • Strategies for dealing with conditional branches when pipelining.

    8086 Processor

    • A diagram depicts the block diagram of an 8086 processor and describes the functionalities of different units in the processor.

    Intel CPU Microarchitectures

    • Tables showing different Intel CPU microarchitectures and their characteristics, including the year of introduction, clock speed(MHz), types of buses used, number of pipeline stages, the process/node size, and number of transistors.

    Pentium 4

    • The control unit technology (NetBurst) in Pentium 4 is elaborated, describing techniques utilized to increase performance.

    Pentium Processor

    • A diagram details the architecture of a Pentium processor, pointing to different components.

    Raptor Lake Architecture (Detailed)

    • Details concerning the 13th generation of Intel Core CPUs, including the Z790 chipset and its block diagram.

    Bus-Front Side Bus

    • Discusses the concept and functionality of the Front Side Bus (FSB), as well as related technologies (hypertransport, quickpath, direct media).

    Memory Hierarchy

    • Explanation of the hierarchy of memory systems that are present on the computer, and how they are organized in levels of proximity to the CPU. 

    Memory Hierarchy (Details)

    • A table comparing different memory levels in terms of access speed, capacity, latency, bandwidth, and cost metrics. 

    The Transmission Speeds for Devices

    • A table of transmission rates for various devices interconnected in a computer system.

    Principle of Memory Locality

    • Definitions of spatial and temporal locality relating to memory access patterns in programs.

    Cache

    • Cache performance measurements/metrics used in the memory system, with definitions of HIT and MISS ratio values. 

    Exercise: Calculating Average Access Time

    • A sample activity is presented in which the average access time needs to be calculated for a specific memory and cache combination (of three levels).

    Cache Policies

    • Outline of memory hierarchy and policy used in the cache to speed the retrieval of data or instructions by the central processing unit (CPU).

    Block Transfer

    • The procedures used to organize blocks of data into the cache, including the mapping, identification, and handling of replacement policies are outlined.

    Block Placement

    • Methods to determine where to store a block of data in the cache, including direct mapping, full associativeness, and set associativeness.

    Direct Mapping

    • Block placement technique in a cache that maps each block from main memory to exactly one slot/block within the cache. 

    Block Identification

    • Strategies to determine whether a requested data block is stored in the cache.

    Block Replacement

    • Different strategies for choosing which block to replace when a miss occurs in a cache. 

    Other Strategies for Block Replacement Policy

    • Different approaches for determining which block should be replaced in a cache when a miss occurs (pseudo LRU, FIFO, MRU, LFU, adaptive replacement).

    Interaction with Memory

    • How an instruction is fetched and executed with different strategies (read through and no read through) used to access data from main memory.

    Write Policies

    • Different policies are analyzed considering the possibility of writing data (write-through and write-back).

    Write Policies (Elaboration)

    • Specific descriptions of the write policies are provided.

    Write Miss

    • Strategies are defined for loading a block into the cache when there is a miss.

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    Computer Architecture PDF

    Description

    Test your knowledge on the fundamental concepts of computer architecture. This quiz covers the roles of buses, the von Neumann architecture, and the fetch/execution cycle among other essential topics. Ideal for students learning computer organization and design.

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