CPU Parts and Operations Quiz

CPU Registers and Architecture

• The Program Counter (PC) register holds the address of the instruction currently being executed.
• 'Load/store' refers to a processor architecture design where operations are performed on data in registers, while memory access is limited to specific load and store instructions.

RISC vs. CISC

• RISC (Reduced Instruction Set Computer) is known for its simplicity and reduced instruction set, promoting faster execution.
• CISC (Complex Instruction Set Computer) processors are characterized by a larger number of addressing modes and instruction formats, allowing for more complex commands.
• RISC architecture typically has a simpler instruction set, focusing on executing more instructions per clock cycle.

Functions within the CPU

• The Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU) is responsible for executing logical operations and arithmetic calculations.
• The Control Unit (CU) directs the operation of the processor, managing instruction execution and coordinating the activities of the ALU, registers, and memory.
• Branch instructions are a type of instruction that alters the flow of execution based on specific conditions, unlike regular instructions that execute in sequence.

Memory and Data Handling

• Temporary data and intermediate results during processing are managed by the CPU registers.
• The Processor Status Register (PSR) stores essential status flags which reflect the current state of the processor, helping in decision-making for conditional operations.

Assembly Language and Programming

• Labels are crucial in assembly language programming as they provide a means to reference particular instructions or memory addresses, enhancing readability and flow control in code.

Instruction Encoding

• CISC processors are known for encoding instructions with variable lengths, allowing for more complex operations in fewer lines of code compared to RISC processors, which typically utilize a fixed instruction length.

Key Differences in Memory Access

• The main distinction between RISC and CISC processors regarding memory access is that RISC architecture relies on load/store operations for accessing memory, while CISC can include memory operations directly in its instructions.