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Questions and Answers
What is the size of a register in the RISC-V architecture?
What is the size of a register in the RISC-V architecture?
The RISC-V architecture uses 64 registers as a standard.
The RISC-V architecture uses 64 registers as a standard.
False
Name the term used for a group of 32 bits in RISC-V architecture.
Name the term used for a group of 32 bits in RISC-V architecture.
word
In computer architecture, a natural unit of access usually represents a group of ___ bits.
In computer architecture, a natural unit of access usually represents a group of ___ bits.
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Match the following terms with their respective definitions:
Match the following terms with their respective definitions:
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Which of the following statements about registers in RISC-V is true?
Which of the following statements about registers in RISC-V is true?
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Having a larger number of registers generally increases the speed of a computer.
Having a larger number of registers generally increases the speed of a computer.
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There are typically ___ registers in RISC-V architecture.
There are typically ___ registers in RISC-V architecture.
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What is the primary reason DRAM sizes are measured in binary rather than decimal?
What is the primary reason DRAM sizes are measured in binary rather than decimal?
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The C assignment statement A = h + A requires only one RISC-V instruction.
The C assignment statement A = h + A requires only one RISC-V instruction.
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In RISC-V architecture, which instruction is used for loading a word from memory?
In RISC-V architecture, which instruction is used for loading a word from memory?
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The process of putting less frequently used variables into memory is called __________.
The process of putting less frequently used variables into memory is called __________.
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Match the RISC-V instructions with their purposes:
Match the RISC-V instructions with their purposes:
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In the given example, what offset is used in the store word instruction for variable A?
In the given example, what offset is used in the store word instruction for variable A?
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Registers are generally faster than memory for data access.
Registers are generally faster than memory for data access.
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What does the term 'hardware principle relating size and speed' suggest?
What does the term 'hardware principle relating size and speed' suggest?
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Which type of RISC-V instruction operates directly on two registers?
Which type of RISC-V instruction operates directly on two registers?
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Registers take longer to access than memory.
Registers take longer to access than memory.
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What is the primary benefit of using registers over memory?
What is the primary benefit of using registers over memory?
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The instruction that adds a constant directly to a register in RISC-V is called __________.
The instruction that adds a constant directly to a register in RISC-V is called __________.
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How many times faster are registers compared to DRAM for 32-bit data?
How many times faster are registers compared to DRAM for 32-bit data?
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The addi instruction is less efficient than loading a constant from memory.
The addi instruction is less efficient than loading a constant from memory.
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Match the following terms with their descriptions:
Match the following terms with their descriptions:
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What is the common utilization of constant operands in RISC-V arithmetic instructions?
What is the common utilization of constant operands in RISC-V arithmetic instructions?
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What is a reason for not using more than 32 registers in RISC-V?
What is a reason for not using more than 32 registers in RISC-V?
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Registers in a processor have no impact on program performance.
Registers in a processor have no impact on program performance.
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What does RISC-V convention use to name registers?
What does RISC-V convention use to name registers?
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In the example assignment statement, the variables f, g, h, i, and j are assigned to registers x__, x__, x__, x__, and x__ respectively.
In the example assignment statement, the variables f, g, h, i, and j are assigned to registers x__, x__, x__, x__, and x__ respectively.
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What is the first instruction in the compiled RISC-V code for the assignment f = (g + h) - (i + j)?
What is the first instruction in the compiled RISC-V code for the assignment f = (g + h) - (i + j)?
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The compiler directly uses variables instead of registers in the executed program.
The compiler directly uses variables instead of registers in the executed program.
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Match the following register names with their corresponding variables:
Match the following register names with their corresponding variables:
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What task is the compiler responsible for in terms of program variables and registers?
What task is the compiler responsible for in terms of program variables and registers?
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What is the primary role of the constant zero in a computer's instruction set?
What is the primary role of the constant zero in a computer's instruction set?
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RISC-V architecture designates register x0 to hold the value of one.
RISC-V architecture designates register x0 to hold the value of one.
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What is one drawback of increasing the number of registers in a chip over time?
What is one drawback of increasing the number of registers in a chip over time?
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The RISC-V variant known as RV64 has _____ bit registers.
The RISC-V variant known as RV64 has _____ bit registers.
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Which RISC-V variant is better suited for handling larger addresses?
Which RISC-V variant is better suited for handling larger addresses?
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Match the following terms with their descriptions:
Match the following terms with their descriptions:
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The migration from 32-bit to 64-bit address computers has eliminated the need for varying integer data types in C.
The migration from 32-bit to 64-bit address computers has eliminated the need for varying integer data types in C.
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In a computer, what does the offset typically work with in the context of data structures?
In a computer, what does the offset typically work with in the context of data structures?
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Study Notes
Operands of Computer Hardware
- Arithmetic instruction operands are limited to special hardware locations known as registers.
- Registers are essential components in computer design and can be viewed as the foundational elements of hardware.
- In RISC-V architecture, registers are 32 bits in size; this size is referred to as a word, while a doubleword is 64 bits.
- Current computers typically have 32 registers, impacting performance and instruction set design.
- Design Principle: Smaller registers can enhance speed because fewer components may lead to shorter signal travel distances.
- Compilers map program variables to registers; for instance, variables f, g, h, i, and j are often assigned to designated registers like x19 to x23.
Memory Operands
- Unlike registers, memory can hold complex data structures like arrays and structures, accommodating more data than available registers.
- Memory addressing operates on powers of two, resulting in binary sizes (gibibytes and tebibytes) rather than decimal sizes.
- RISC-V utilizes load word (lw) and store word (sw) instructions for transferring data between memory and registers.
- Compilers aim to keep frequently accessed variables in registers, moving infrequently used variables into memory—a process known as spilling registers.
- Access times to registers are significantly faster (200 times) and more energy-efficient (10,000 times) than accessing data from DRAM.
Constant or Immediate Operands
- Many operations in RISC-V utilize constant operands, particularly for incrementing indices in arrays.
- The inclusion of constants within arithmetic instructions, such as add immediate (addi), allows for faster operations without needing a prior load from memory.
- The constant zero is used strategically in instructions, enabling simplifications in instruction sets (e.g., negating a value using subtraction).
- RISC-V architecture includes variants such as RV32 (32-bit) and RV64 (64-bit), adapted for different application needs.
Architecture and Evolution
- The growth rate of registers in chips aligns with Moore’s Law, which predicts the doubling of transistors approximately every 24 months.
- Software limitations and the inertia of existing instruction set architectures traditionally slow the increase in the number of registers.
- RISC-V architecture facilitates effective handling of arrays by utilizing base register addressing combined with offsets.
- Transitioning from 32-bit to 64-bit architectures presents challenges for data type sizes in programming languages like C, particularly regarding pointers and integers.
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Description
Explore the fundamentals of computer hardware operands with this quiz. Gain a deeper understanding of registers and their role in arithmetic instructions. This quiz will test your knowledge on how operands are utilized within computer architecture.
