Computer Architecture Overview

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Questions and Answers

What is the primary function of the memory address register (MAR)?

Holds the temporary results of arithmetic operations

Contains the address of the next instruction pair

Specifies the address in memory for data to be written or read (correct)

Stores the current instruction being executed

Which register contains the opcode instruction currently being executed?

Instruction buffer register (IBR)

Accumulator (AC)

Instruction register (IR) (correct)

Program counter (PC)

During the fetch cycle of an instruction cycle, which operation is performed?

The opcode is loaded into the instruction register (IR) (correct)

The instruction buffer register is cleared

The address portion is loaded into the program counter

The opcode is stored in the accumulator

How is the result of multiplying two 40-bit numbers stored in the IAS?

Most significant 40 bits in the AC and least significant in the multiplier quotient (MQ) Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of the instruction buffer register (IBR)?

It temporarily holds the right-hand instruction from a word in memory Signup and view all the answers

What was the primary function of the ENIAC when it was first developed?

To develop range and trajectory tables for weaponry. Signup and view all the answers

Which technology did the ENIAC primarily utilize for its operations?

Vacuum tubes Signup and view all the answers

How was the memory of the ENIAC structured?

It consisted of 20 accumulators, each holding a 10-digit decimal number. Signup and view all the answers

What was one of the significant drawbacks of the ENIAC?

It had to be programmed manually through switches and cables. Signup and view all the answers

What was the approximate physical size and weight of the ENIAC?

Weighing 30 tons and occupying 1500 square feet. Signup and view all the answers

What problem was the ENIAC intended to solve for the Ballistics Research Laboratory?

Speeding up the computation of trajectory tables. Signup and view all the answers

Which arithmetic system did the ENIAC primarily operate in?

Decimal arithmetic Signup and view all the answers

What was the power consumption of the ENIAC during operation?

140 kilowatts Signup and view all the answers

What does the packaging of a chip primarily provide?

Protection and attachment pins Signup and view all the answers

What is small-scale integration (SSI) characterized by?

Manufacture of only a few gates or memory cells Signup and view all the answers

What does Moore's law predict about the number of transistors on a chip?

It will double approximately every 18 months. Signup and view all the answers

What has been a consequence of Moore's law on the cost of chips?

The cost has remained virtually unchanged. Signup and view all the answers

What effect does shortening electrical path length on densely packed chips have?

It increases operating speed. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a consequence of increased density in chip design?

Increased physical chip size Signup and view all the answers

Who proposed Moore's law?

Gordon Moore Signup and view all the answers

What trend did Moore's law initially predict regarding transistor counts?

They would double every year. Signup and view all the answers

What type of computer architecture does the x86 represent?

Complex Instruction Set Computer Signup and view all the answers

Which processor was the first general-purpose microprocessor introduced by Intel?

8080 Signup and view all the answers

Which Intel processor introduced the x86 architecture?

8086 Signup and view all the answers

What was a significant advancement of the 80386 processor over its predecessors?

It supported multitasking capabilities. Signup and view all the answers

How does Intel's processor development timeline compare to its competitors?

Intel's development time is now shorter than its previous four-year cycle. Signup and view all the answers

Which processor allowed addressing of more memory compared to previous models?

80286 Signup and view all the answers

What kind of systems primarily utilize the ARM architecture?

Embedded systems Signup and view all the answers

What design principle distinguishes RISC from CISC?

RISC focuses on a reduced number of simple instructions. Signup and view all the answers

What is one of the main factors that influences the varying requirements of embedded systems?

Size and scale of the system Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following quality requirements can differ in embedded systems?

Safety and reliability Signup and view all the answers

What is the impact of real-time constraints on embedded systems?

It complicates the management of multiple activities. Signup and view all the answers

Embedded systems are often influenced by which type of loads?

Combination of static and dynamic loads Signup and view all the answers

What type of models of computation might be used in embedded systems?

Discrete-event and hybrid systems Signup and view all the answers

What does the instruction 'LOAD M(X)' do?

Transfers the contents of memory location X to the accumulator. Signup and view all the answers

Which environmental condition can significantly affect an embedded system's design?

Vibrations and radiation exposure Signup and view all the answers

What is a potential constraint that embedded systems must address regarding timing?

Precision of measurement is crucial. Signup and view all the answers

Which operation is performed by the instruction 'DIV M(X)'?

It divides the accumulator by M(X) and stores the quotient in MQ. Signup and view all the answers

What type of tasks can fluctuate in embedded systems?

Interface-intensive tasks and computational tasks Signup and view all the answers

In the context of conditional branch instructions, what does 'JUMP + M(X,20:39)' achieve?

It takes the next instruction from right half of M(X) if the accumulator value is positive. Signup and view all the answers

What does the instruction 'STOR M(X,8:19)' modify?

It replaces the left address field in M(X) with some bits from the accumulator. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary purpose of the instruction 'ADD |M(X)|'?

To add the absolute value of M(X) to the accumulator. Signup and view all the answers

How does the 'LOAD - |M(X)|' instruction differ from 'LOAD |M(X)|'?

One transfers the negative of the absolute value; the other transfers the absolute value. Signup and view all the answers

What is the effect of the instruction 'LSH'?

It multiplies the accumulator by 2 by shifting its bits left. Signup and view all the answers

What is the main function of the 'STOR M(X,28:39)' instruction?

To replace the right address field of M(X) with the 12 rightmost bits of AC. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Computer Evolution and Performance

Computer evolution is characterized by increasing processor speed, decreasing component size, increasing memory size, and increasing I/O capacity and speed.
Microprocessor speed increase is due to smaller component size, which reduces the distance between components, increasing speed.
Techniques like pipelining and parallel execution increase processor efficiency.
A key issue in computer design is balancing the performance of different system components (e.g., processor speed vs. memory access time).
The ENIAC was the world's first general-purpose electronic digital computer, used during World War II to calculate ballistic trajectories.
The ENIAC was a decimal machine, not binary, containing 18,000 vacuum tubes and consuming 140 kilowatts of power. Its manual programming was a major drawback.
The von Neumann architecture, a stored-program concept, facilitated program storage and alteration in memory alongside data.
The IAS computer, a von Neumann machine prototype, is a model for subsequent general-purpose computers featuring a main memory, an ALU, and a control unit.
The IAS computer used a binary-based system.
The key components include the control unit, which interprets instructions and executes them, and the ALU, capable of arithmetic and logical operations.
The first generation of computers featured vacuum tubes.
The second generation of computers used transistors.
The third generation employed integrated circuits.
Advancements in technology (such as transistors, integrated circuits, and microprocessors) led to progressively faster, smaller, and more powerful computers.
The IBM 7000 series and the DEC PDP-8 were influential in the computer industry.
The IBM 7094 was a prominent second generation computer with data channels.
Microprocessor speed increase is a result of transistor technology advancement.
More transistors were placed on a single chip, leading to smaller, faster, and more complex processors.

Designing for Performance

Microprocessor speed is a key performance aspect.
Performance balance across all system components is essential to avoid bottlenecks.
Increased clock rates, larger caches, and parallel execution techniques are important improvements in performance techniques.
Modern processors employ multiple levels of caches to minimize memory access time and improve overall processing speed.
A significant performance gap exists between rapidly increasing processor speeds and slower memory access times.

The Evolution of the Intel x86 Architecture

The Intel x86 architecture has been a dominant force in non-embedded computing for over three decades.
The evolution of the x86 architecture includes key features such as:
- Growing processing speed: measured in MHz and GHz
- Instruction sets that have been kept largely backward compatible – older software is able to run on newer hardware with little modification.
- Addition of sophisticated instruction execution techniques: e.g., pipelining, superscalar architectures, and branch prediction.
- Increasing memory cache size
- Introduction of multiple cores.

Embedded Systems and ARM

Embedded systems are specialized computer systems integrated into larger systems with specific, predetermined functions.
The ARM architecture is a prominent example of a reduced instruction set computer (RISC) design philosophy, which prioritize simplicity and efficiency for embedded applications.
Characteristics of embedded systems often include high performance, low power consumption, and small sizes.
The ARM architecture is known for flexibility, low-power consumption and small size, suitability for embedded applications.
ARM processors have had increasing complexity through time: increased data path width (in bits), larger caches, and multiple cores.

Performance Assessment

Evaluating a processor's performance involves using performance benchmarks.
A system's performance is significantly influenced by the mix of instructions, the CPI, and the clock rate.
Amdahl's Law explains how the improvement in one part of a system's performance might not lead to comparable improvement in the overall system's performance.
Benchmark programs provide data for assessing system speed: comparing execution times for similar tasks.
MIPS rate and MFLOPS are measures of performance. These measures are not ideal when comparing diverse architectures because they do not reflect real-world application performance. MIPS and MFLOPS numbers should only be used as relative indicators to provide a general sense of a computer's speed, not as a absolute measure of a computer's performance.

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Description

This quiz covers fundamental concepts in computer architecture, including the functions of various registers, instruction cycles, and the historical significance of the ENIAC. Test your knowledge on the basic operations, register roles, and architectural principles that have shaped modern computing.