Computer Performance and Operating Systems Quiz

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Questions and Answers

What is the main advantage of Complex Instruction Set Computing (CISC) over Reduced Instruction Set Computing (RISC)?

RISC processors consume less power compared to CISC processors.

CISC processors have a larger number of instructions, which can speed up certain tasks. (correct)

RISC processors have more busses and registers for architectural improvements.

CISC processors are more efficient in parallelizing tasks than RISC processors.

Which of the following is NOT mentioned as a future technology in the text?

Quantum computing

Graphene

DNA data storage

Artificial intelligence (correct)

In terms of power consumption, which platform has a clear advantage according to the text?

Servers

Mobile devices (correct)

Desktops

Analogue computers

Which type of computing architecture is associated with ARM and RISC-V processors?

Reduced Instruction Set Computing (RISC) Signup and view all the answers

What was the significance of iMac G4 mentioned in the text?

It marked the transition to Reduced Instruction Set Computing (RISC) architecture. Signup and view all the answers

Why does RISC architecture potentially have an advantage in packing more cores for servers?

RISC processors consume less power, allowing for more cores in a server setup. Signup and view all the answers

What is the main role of a compiler in relation to application performance?

Optimizing assembly code for efficient execution Signup and view all the answers

In the context of operating systems, what is the function of the Kernel?

Handling memory management and device drivers Signup and view all the answers

Which layer of the operating system is responsible for providing APIs to programmers?

Subsystems Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'Layers of abstraction' refer to in the context of computer hardware?

Hiding complexities of hardware through different levels Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes RISC architecture from CISC architecture?

RISC emphasizes simpler instructions and more registers Signup and view all the answers

What is the main purpose of timer interrupts in modern operating systems?

Limit the amount of time each process runs for Signup and view all the answers

How do APIs benefit programmers when interacting with devices?

Provide an easy way to access device functionalities Signup and view all the answers

In real mode, how are memory addresses handled?

Mapped to physical memory locations Signup and view all the answers

What is a key advantage of virtual memory compared to real mode memory?

Provides a layer of abstraction for memory management Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of interrupts in modern operating systems?

Suspend CPU execution to handle events Signup and view all the answers

How does time-slicing contribute to multitasking in single core processors?

Limits the time each process runs for Signup and view all the answers

What is a disadvantage of suspending and resuming processes frequently in a system?

Involves additional processing costs Signup and view all the answers

What role do timer interrupts play in the context of modern operating systems?

Limit the amount of time each process runs for, allowing multitasking on single core processors Signup and view all the answers

How is memory management handled in Real Mode computing?

Applications manage memory themselves with no protection from accessing memory of other applications Signup and view all the answers

What is the key advantage of Virtual Memory over Real Mode memory management?

Provides a layer of abstraction for efficient memory management Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes RISC architecture from CISC architecture in terms of instruction sets?

CISC architectures have simpler instructions but a larger variety of them Signup and view all the answers

Which platform has a clear power consumption advantage according to the text?

Mobile devices Signup and view all the answers

What is a key difference between mobile devices and servers in terms of platform comparison?

Servers generally prioritize power efficiency over performance unlike mobile devices. Signup and view all the answers

Why is virtual memory essential for modern computer systems?

To provide a way to run applications that require more memory than physically available. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is considered a future technology according to the text?

Quantum computing Signup and view all the answers

What is a distinguishing feature of RISC architecture compared to CISC architecture?

CISC instructions can perform multiple operations in a single instruction unlike RISC instructions. Signup and view all the answers

What sets UNIX apart from TCP/IP according to the text?

TCP/IP is a suite of protocols for communication while UNIX is an operating system. Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of UNIX in relation to TCP/IP as mentioned in the text?

UNIX introduced TCP/IP as part of the kernel Signup and view all the answers

How does RISC architecture differ from CISC architecture?

RISC processors limit instruction number and complexity while CISC introduces more complex instructions Signup and view all the answers

In terms of power consumption, why does RISC architecture have a clear advantage for mobile devices according to the text?

RISC processors consume less power due to limiting instruction complexity Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following technologies is NOT highlighted as a future aspect according to the text?

Optical computing Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of swapping out pages to secondary storage in virtual memory systems?

To free memory for processes that need to run Signup and view all the answers

How does the text suggest that RISC architecture could potentially be more efficient for servers compared to CISC?

RISC architecture can pack more cores and be more efficient for servers Signup and view all the answers

How does the operating system ensure that applications cannot interfere with each other in a virtual memory system?

By restricting applications to non-overlapping logical memory areas Signup and view all the answers

What is a significant drawback of using virtual memory systems due to the swapping of pages?

Performance penalty due to time-consuming tasks Signup and view all the answers

How does virtual memory contribute to system security?

By limiting application access to certain memory regions Signup and view all the answers

In a virtual memory system, what role does the kernel play when the computer boots?

It ensures the interrupt handler definitions are in memory Signup and view all the answers

Which factor contributes to the Von Neumann bottleneck according to the text?

Wide memory-CPU connection Signup and view all the answers

In the context of computer performance, what aspect significantly impacts the ability to make transistors smaller?

Thermal factors Signup and view all the answers

What is a potential limitation of RISC architecture for applications requiring complex instructions?

Limited number of registers Signup and view all the answers

Which technology, mentioned in the text, holds promise for significantly impacting future computing architectures?

Advancements in graphene technology Signup and view all the answers

In terms of power efficiency, which platform type is generally favored based on the information provided?

Mobile devices Signup and view all the answers

What is a potential drawback of utilizing a longer pipeline in processors?

Higher risk of performance loss from incorrect predictions Signup and view all the answers

In the context of processor design, what was a notable characteristic of the 'infamous' Pentium 4 Prescott?

Extremely long pipeline with 31 stages Signup and view all the answers

What capability does Direct Memory Access (DMA) provide in modern computing systems?

Allows hard drives to bypass the CPU for data transfers Signup and view all the answers

How do subsystems like modern graphics cards contribute to computer performance?

They offload specialized tasks like physics calculations from the CPU Signup and view all the answers

Why is adding more execution units, cores, and pipelines common in modern computing despite increased costs?

To overcome limitations in clock rates and boost performance Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary responsibility of the Kernel in an operating system?

Controlling hardware complexity from users/programmers Signup and view all the answers

In the context of operating systems, what is the purpose of Interrupt handling?

Handling unexpected events from hardware Signup and view all the answers

How does the Kernel contribute to process synchronization within an operating system?

Implementing deadlock handling mechanisms Signup and view all the answers

Which resource is NOT typically managed by the operating system for a process?

Peripheral devices Signup and view all the answers

What type of architecture aims to simplify processor instructions for faster execution?

RISC (Reduced Instruction Set Computing) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a key feature of RISC architecture that sets it apart from CISC architecture?

Fewer addressing modes Signup and view all the answers

In terms of memory management, what advantage does virtual memory offer over real mode memory?

Increased physical address space Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following emerging technologies is NOT mentioned in the text as a future technology?

'5G networks' Signup and view all the answers

When comparing power consumption between mobile devices and servers, which platform typically consumes more power?

'Server' systems Signup and view all the answers

Which component of the operating system is responsible for managing process creation and deletion?

Kernel (supervisor program) Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Operating System Overview

An operating system is the collection of software and data that manages the system, performs resource sharing, and provides user dialogue and timesharing.
Many definitions exist, but the core idea is that the OS manages the system and its resources.

UNIX and Future of Computing

UNIX introduced TCP/IP as part of the kernel.
Future developments in computing include quantum computing, new semiconductor materials, new memory technologies, DNA data storage, and analogue computers.

RISC and CISC

CISC (Complex Instruction Set Computing) increases efficiency by introducing more complex instructions.
RISC (Reduced Instruction Set Computing) limits instruction number and complexity, allowing for other architectural improvements.
RISC has advantages in power consumption and smaller cores.

Platforms and Performance

Mobile devices: RISC has a clear advantage due to lower power consumption.
Servers: RISC could pack more cores and be more efficient, depending on the purpose.
Desktops: Either RISC or CISC could win, depending on the ability to parallelise tasks and needs for backwards compatibility.

Operating System Layers

Hardware abstraction: provides all the processor-dependent code.
Kernel: allows running processes simultaneously.
Executive services: drivers, memory management, etc.
Subsystems: provides the API.
User Interface: launching and using applications.

Interrupts and Time-Slicing

Interrupts: events that stop/suspend execution of the CPU to make it do something else.
Time-slicing: the general idea is to limit the amount of time each process runs for, allowing multitasking.

Memory Management

Real mode: applications manage memory themselves, limited to what is available.
Virtual mode: applications are given access to all the memory they need, creating a layer of abstraction.
Modern OS is responsible for keeping track of memory usage, deciding which processes to load, and allocating and un-allocating memory space.

Kernel and Process Management

Kernel: hides hardware complexity, runs from the main memory, and needs to be small and efficient.
Process management: the OS manages processes, creating, deleting, suspending, and resuming them, and providing mechanisms for process communication.

OS Functions and Virtual Memory

Virtual memory: a layer of abstraction, creating a virtual address space, and allowing the OS to take control of the hardware.
OS functions: include process management, memory management, file management, I/O system management, and security.

Performance, OS, and Discussion

Performance problems: every time we invent a faster computer, we find a task that needs more work to be done.
Limiting factors: design model, Von Neumann bottleneck, clock rate, and software issues.
CPU architecture features: instruction set, number of registers, bus width, and longer pipelines.
Superscalar and parallel computing: breaking down phases into smaller ones, duplicating, and allowing parallel execution of instructions.

Subsystems and I/O Devices

Subsystems: getting other specialized parts of the machine to deal with specific tasks, such as graphics systems.
I/O devices: each device is given a unique I/O port number, and data is temporarily stored in memory before being transferred to the device.

DMA and DMA Controllers

DMA (Direct Memory Access): smart devices can help efficiency by moving data without the help of the CPU.
DMA controllers: microprocessors that transfer data to or from specific memory addresses, often found on devices such as sound cards, network adapters, and hard drives.

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Description

Test your knowledge on computer performance, software impact, compilers, and operating systems with this quiz. Learn about the importance of hardware, software, and how compilers affect application performance.