Questions and Answers
What is the first step the CPU carries out?
What does the CPU use to fetch data and instructions?
Address bus
What is the purpose of the decode step in the CPU's cycle?
The action part of the cycle when data processing takes place is called the ______.
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What happens to the result of the execution step?
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Study Notes
Fetch
- First step in the CPU's operation, where instructions and data are retrieved from main memory.
- Instructions and data are temporarily stored in the CPU's registers, which are internal memory areas.
- An essential hardware component, the 'address bus', is used for fetching data by addressing specific memory locations.
Decode
- The second step involves interpreting the fetched instruction to determine its intended action.
- The CPU operates with a specific instruction set designed for understanding particular commands.
- This decoding phase prepares the necessary components of the CPU for the subsequent execution of the instruction.
Execute
- The final phase of the cycle where the actual data processing occurs.
- Actions decided by the decoded instruction are performed on the relevant data.
- The results of the processing are then stored in another register for future use or further processing.
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Description
Test your understanding of the three main stages of CPU operation: Fetch, Decode, and Execute. Explore how instructions and data are retrieved, interpreted, and processed within the CPU's architecture. This quiz will assess your knowledge of the critical components involved in these steps.