Computer Organization and Architecture Quiz

Computer architecture defines the WHAT of a computer system: the functional behavior, how it should operate, and the instructions it can execute.

Computer organization defines the HOW of a computer system: the physical structure, interconnection of components, and implementation details.

Single Accumulator Organization is a CPU structure where a single register, called the accumulator, stores data for all operations.

General Register Organization utilizes several registers for storing data, providing flexibility for more complex operations.

Stack Organization uses a stack data structure to manage data for operations, simplifying memory management.

Computer organization focuses on the physical connection of components, addressing how they communicate and work together.

Computer architecture defines the functional behavior, while computer organization implements the architecture's details.

Computer organization plays a critical role in optimizing the performance and efficiency of a computer system by ensuring efficient interactions between hardware components.

The symbols that represent facts, objects, or ideas.

The results of processing data into a meaningful form; the information transformed from data.

The area of the computer that temporarily holds data waiting to be processed, stored, or outputted.

The area of the computer that stores data permanently, even when it's not being used.

A program written using mnemonics, which are short, easy-to-remember codes.

Software that translates Assembly Language Programs into machine-readable code (Machine Level Language).

A program written using English-like statements that are easier for humans to understand.

Software that translates a High Level Language program, statement by statement, into Machine Level Language.

Programs that help users run other programs, like assemblers and compilers.

The core software that manages all computer operations, controlling hardware and resources.

A unit of data that a processor can access and move. The size of a word is defined by the computer architecture.

The physical parts of a computer system, like the CPU, memory, storage, and bus.

The programs that reside on a computer, including the operating system, applications, and utilities.

The process that converts a program written in a high-level language into a machine language that the computer can understand.

A device that allows information to be entered into a computer, such as a keyboard, mouse, or scanner.

A device that allows information to be sent out from a computer, such as a monitor, printer, or speakers.

A device that temporarily stores programs and data that the computer is currently using.

A device that provides long-term permanent storage of programs and data, such as a hard drive or SSD.

The number of bits that a CPU processes simultaneously.

A type of memory where any location can be accessed quickly and directly by specifying its address.

A type of memory that can only be read by the user and its contents cannot be changed. It typically stores the operating system.

Small, fast memory units that are tightly coupled with the CPU. They are used to store frequently accessed data for faster retrieval.

The time it takes to access a single word of data in memory.

The main memory that is directly associated with the CPU and operates at high speeds. Programs must be stored in this memory while they are running.

Instructions and data can be both written to and read from this type of memory under the control of the processor.

The defined size of a word is usually the same as the width of the computer's data bus. This allows a word to be transferred between storage and the processor register in a single operation.

Secondary memory stores data and programs that are accessed infrequently, like data on a hard drive or CD-ROM.

The Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU) is the part of a computer's processor that performs mathematical calculations such as addition, subtraction, division, and multiplication.

The output unit sends processed results to the outside world, like displaying text on a monitor or printing a document.

The control unit is like the 'boss' of the computer, sending signals to all other parts and coordinating how they work together.

A program is a set of instructions that a computer follows to perform a task. These instructions are stored in the memory.

An instruction is a specific command that tells the computer what to do, such as adding two numbers or moving data.

Data is the raw, unprocessed information that a computer works with. It can be numbers, letters, or symbols.

A register is a high-speed storage location inside the processor that temporarily holds data during calculations.

An instruction is a command that the CPU executes, and it's broken down into smaller steps called micro operations. Micro operations fetch data, perform calculations, and store results.

An instruction code is a binary representation of an instruction. It contains an opcode, which tells the CPU what operation to perform, and sometimes operands, which specify data locations.

The opcode, or operation code, is the part of an instruction code that specifies the operation to be performed, like adding, subtracting, moving data, etc.

Operands are additional information within an instruction code that tell the CPU where to find the data needed for the operation. They can specify register addresses or memory locations.

A memory reference instruction uses an address to access data in memory. The addressing mode specifies how to interpret the address.

A register reference instruction operates on data stored in a CPU register. They are faster because accessing registers is faster than memory.

Input/Output instructions are used to communicate with external devices like peripherals, enabling the CPU to get data from the outside world or send data out.