Computer Architecture: Processor Structure

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Questions and Answers

What is the primary function of the Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU) in a computer system?

The ALU completes arithmetic and logical operations.

How does the Control Unit (CU) manage the flow of instructions within the CPU?

The Control Unit controls operations of the CPU by managing data flow and decoding instructions.

What role do registers play in a computer's processing capabilities?

Registers temporarily store data and operate at very high speeds.

What information does the Program Counter (PC) hold in a CPU?

The Program Counter holds the address of the next instruction to be executed. Signup and view all the answers

Describe the purpose of the Memory Address Register (MAR) in the CPU.

The MAR stores the address of the location to be read from or written to. Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of the Memory Data Register (MDR)?

The MDR temporarily stores data that has been read or data to be written. Signup and view all the answers

What does the Current Instruction Register (CIR) store?

The CIR holds the current instruction being executed, divided into opcode and operand. Signup and view all the answers

Explain the function of buses within the CPU.

Buses are sets of parallel wires that connect components inside the CPU. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of the address bus in a computer system?

To transmit memory addresses specifying where data is to be sent or retrieved from. Signup and view all the answers

Describe the purpose of the control bus in a computer's architecture.

To transmit control signals between internal and external components. Signup and view all the answers

How is assembly code divided for execution?

Into an operand and an opcode. Signup and view all the answers

What does the Fetch phase in the FDE cycle involve?

Copying the address from the Program Counter (PC) to the Memory Address Register (MAR) and copying the instruction to the Memory Data Register (MDR). Signup and view all the answers

What factors affect CPU performance?

Clock speed, number of cores, and amount and type of cache memory. Signup and view all the answers

What is the key advantage of Harvard architecture?

It allows quicker execution with different sizes of memory for instructions and data. Signup and view all the answers

What is the benefit of using Von Neumann architecture?

It is cheaper to develop and allows programs to be optimized in size. Signup and view all the answers

What is contemporary processing in relation to computer architecture?

It combines Von Neumann and Harvard architectures, utilizing each based on the operation required. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Processor Structure and Function

The Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU) performs arithmetic and logical operations.
The Control Unit manages CPU operations, including data flow between the CPU and other devices, and instruction decoding.
Registers are small, high-speed memory cells that temporarily store data.
- The Program Counter (PC) holds the address of the next instruction.
- The Accumulator (ACC) stores calculation results.
- The Memory Address Register (MAR) stores the memory address for reading or writing.
- The Memory Data Register (MDR) temporarily stores data read or to be written.
- The Current Instruction Register (CIR) holds the current instruction, divided into opcode and operand.
Buses are sets of parallel wires connecting CPU components.
- Data Bus: Bi-directional, transfers data and instructions.
- Address Bus: Used to specify memory addresses.
- Control Bus: Sends control signals between internal and external components.
Opcode and Operand are components of an instruction.
- Opcode: The type of instruction.
- Operand: The data for the operation.
The fetch-decode-execute (FDE) cycle is the basic operation of the CPU.
- Fetch: The CPU retrieves an instruction from memory.
- Decode: The CPU interprets the instruction.
- Execute: The CPU performs the instruction's operation.
Factors affecting CPU performance: Clock speed, number of cores, cache memory size.
Types of Computer Architectures
- Harvard Architecture: Separates data and instruction memory
- Von Neumann Architecture: Combines data and instruction memory

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Description

This quiz covers the essential components and functions of a CPU, including the Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU), Control Unit, and various registers. Explore how data flow is managed through buses and learn the roles of the Program Counter, Accumulator, and other key elements. Test your understanding of processor structure and function!