Computer Architecture Lecture 1

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Questions and Answers

Which type of ROM is programmed during the manufacturing process?

Erasable Programmable ROM (EPROM)

Mask Programmed ROM (correct)

Electrically Erasable PROM (EEPROM)

Programmable Read-Only Memory (PROM)

What is the primary purpose of Cache Memory in a computer system?

To hold the operating system

To provide faster access to frequently used data (correct)

To backup data in case of power loss

To store all data permanently

What component is NOT typically part of a binary adder?

Sum Output

Carry Bit

Control Unit (correct)

Input Ports

In a Carry Propagate Adder (CPA), what is the main function?

To add two binary numbers and handle carry bits Signup and view all the answers

What does Erasable Programmable ROM (EPROM) require for data erasure?

Ultra Violet exposure Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following correctly describes a Full Adder?

It adds three binary digits together. Signup and view all the answers

What is a disadvantage of using PROM compared to other types of ROM?

Data cannot be erased or rewritten after programming. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a common use case for binary subtraction in computer architecture?

Data encoding Signup and view all the answers

What is the main purpose of a shifter in an unsigned divider?

To manage the division process by shifting bits. Signup and view all the answers

In the IEEE 754 single precision representation, how many bits are allocated for the mantissa?

23 bits Signup and view all the answers

What does the bias value of 127 represent in the IEEE 754 floating-point standard?

The value added to the exponent for normalization. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements is true regarding fixed-point numbers?

They have a fixed number of digits after the decimal point. Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of the Most Significant Bit (MSB) in the mantissa of the IEEE 754 representation?

It is implicitly assumed to be 1. Signup and view all the answers

In unsigned division, what does the term 'restoring' refer to?

Adding back the divisor to the result if the subtraction results negative. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary distinction between floating point and fixed point representations?

Floating point can represent a broader range of values than fixed point. Signup and view all the answers

How is the exponent represented in the IEEE 754 floating-point format?

In a biased format with a constant added. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of a synchronous counter in digital circuits?

To control the timing of sequential circuits Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes a ring counter from other types of counters?

It rotates a single '1' through a series of flip-flops Signup and view all the answers

What is a key characteristic of asynchronous (ripple) counters?

They can introduce delays due to cascading effects Signup and view all the answers

In digital memory systems, what does ROM primarily provide?

Non-volatile storage for permanent data Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes a 8 x 4 ROM in design?

It contains 4 bits of data for each of the 8 addresses Signup and view all the answers

How does a binary adder function in digital systems?

It operates on bits to produce a sum and a carry Signup and view all the answers

What type of number representation do binary adders typically handle?

Only integers in signed and unsigned formats Signup and view all the answers

Which component would you traditionally find in a design of a ripple counter?

Flip-flops arranged in a linear fashion Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Computer Architecture 2024/2025

Course offered by Dr. Elmahdy Maree
Semester: 2024/2025
Lecture 1

Computer Architecture and Organization

Computer architecture refers to the visible attributes of a system to a programmer
Examples of architectural attributes include instruction sets, number of bits for data types, I/O mechanisms, and memory addressing techniques
Computer organization describes how the operational units in a system realize architectural specifications
Organizational attributes are hardware details transparent to the programmer, like control signals, interfaces with peripherals, and memory technology.

Digital Building Blocks

Registers: Memory units directly integrated into the CPU for data storage and manipulation during instruction execution. A register can hold instructions, addresses, or any data type.
Counters: Digital circuits that increment or decrement a value based on a clock signal or input sequences.
BUS system: Set of wires/networks that enable data transfer between components within a computer system
RAM (Random Access Memory): A type of computer memory used to store data that is readily accessible and modifiable.

Flip Flops

D Flip-flop: A digital circuit that stores one bit of data. Its output follows the input on the rising edge of the clock signal.
A D Flip-flops "characteristic table" and " Function table" are presented.
T Flip-flop: A digital circuit where its output toggles on the rising edge of the clock when the input T is 1 and doesn't change otherwise.
A T Flip-flop "characteristic table" and " Function table" are presented.
JK Flip-flop: A digital circuit; its output changes based on the inputs J and K determined by the truth table

Registers (Continued)

Buffer Registers: A type of register used to temporarily store data during the transfer between different units or systems
A diagram is given showing the symbol of buffer registers
Controlled Buffer Registers: A buffer register that requires a control signal (e.g., LOAD signal) to enable the data transfer. Diagrams demonstrate hardware implementation.
Three-State Registers: A digital circuit can operate in one of three states: high, low, or high-impedance (Hi-Z). A control signal is used to switch between states. The schematic symbol is presented

Shift Registers

Digital circuits that shift data bits positions to the left or right based on control signals.

Bus-Organized Computers

A bus is a set of interconnected wires that transmits binary data words
Diagrams demonstrate some examples
Diagrams illustrate the various computer components like PC, MAR, IR, MBR and their interconnect using the system bus, and I/O module, including buffers

Memory System

ROM (Read-Only Memory): Non-volatile memory used for storing permanent instructions or data which can only be read RAM (Random Access Memory): Data storage that can be read and written to. It is volatile, losing its contents when power is removed.
ROM Design: The schematic and table are provided for a ROM's design with 8x4
Different types of ROMs: Mask ROM, PROM, EPROM, EEPROM.

Counters

Synchronous counters: Each flip-flop is triggered simultaneously by the clock signal
Asynchronous (Ripple) counters: Flip-flops are triggered sequentially
State diagrams, 4-state tables, T flip-flop inputs, diagrams of synchronous and asynchronous counters are provided

ALU Design

Adders: Combination circuits that perform bitwise addition. Key types shown are half adder, full adder and binary subtractor
Full adder diagrams are shown
BCD Adder: Addition of Binary Coded Decimal numbers
Binary Subtraction: Use 2's complement of the number to be subtracted to perform subtraction
Carry Propagate Adder (CPA): Adds multiple bits while propagating carries
Multiplication:
- Unsigned and Signed Multiplication methodologies shown
- Booth Algorithm for signed binary multiplication illustrated
- Hardware implementation diagrams

Division

Unsigned Division, mathematical explanation and algorithms are provided
Diagrams illustrated
Steps in the division operation are shown
Hardware implementation example of unsigned multiplication and division are presented
Floating-point numbers definition, explanation and formats presented

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Description

This quiz covers the foundational concepts of computer architecture and organization as outlined in Lecture 1 of the 2024/2025 course. It examines the distinction between architectural attributes and operational organization, including digital building blocks such as registers and counters. Test your understanding of these crucial topics in computer systems!