26 Questions
What is the purpose of interconnection in a computer system?
To allow communication between different units such as memory, input/output, and CPU
What is the function of an I/O module in a computer system?
Receive data from computer and send data to peripheral
What does a CPU primarily do in the context of interconnection?
Reads instructions and data, and receives interrupts
What is a bus in the context of computer architecture?
A shared communication pathway connecting two or more devices
What is the main characteristic of a 32-bit data bus?
It consists of 32 separate single bit channels
Which type of unit receives addresses and control signals in a computer system?
Input/Output unit
What does the data bus carry at this level?
Both data and instruction
In bus architecture, what does the address bus identify?
Source or destination of data
What is the key determinant of performance in bus architecture?
Bus width
What does the bus width determine in a system?
Maximum memory capacity
What problems are associated with lots of devices on a single bus?
Both propagation delays and reduction in clock speed
Which type of bus has separate data and address lines?
Dedicated bus
In bus arbitration, what does centralised arbitration involve?
Single hardware device controlling bus access
What does the control bus carry in terms of information?
All control and timing information
What is the role of an I/O module in a computer system?
It serves as an interface to the processor and memory via the system bus and also interfaces with one or more peripheral devices through data links.
Why are peripherals not connected directly to the system bus?
Peripherals deliver different amounts of data at different speeds and in different formats, making direct connection infeasible.
What types of devices are typically interfaced with an I/O module?
Human readable devices like screens and printers, as well as machine readable devices such as magnetic disks and sensors.
What is the primary reason for the data transfer rate of peripherals being slower than that of the CPU and RAM?
The wide variety of peripherals delivering different amounts of data at different speeds and in different formats.
What is the purpose of Interrupt Driven I/O?
To overcome CPU waiting and avoid repeated CPU checking of device
What technique allows the CPU to have direct control over I/O?
Programmed I/O
What is the function of the Control & Timing block in the External Device Block Diagram?
To manage the flow of data between external devices and the processor
What is the main difference between Memory mapped I/O and Isolated I/O?
Memory mapped I/O has separate address spaces for devices and memory, while Isolated I/O shares an address space with memory
What is the role of the 8259A interrupt controller in the context of an 8086-based system?
To provide interrupt processing capability, including determining priority and signaling the CPU
What is the purpose of the External Device Block Diagram in a computer system?
To manage the flow of data between devices and the processor
In bus architecture, what does isolated I/O require that memory mapped I/O does not?
Memory select lines
What is the primary function of Programmed Interrupt Driven I/O?
Interrupting CPU when ready for data transfer
Test your knowledge of computer architecture and organization with a focus on the interconnection of various units such as memory, input/output, and CPU. This quiz covers the different types of connections needed for these units and their functions within the computer system.
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