History of Computer Systems

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Questions and Answers

Which entities are identified as the two major forces contributing to advancements in the computer industry?

Software developers and hardware manufacturers

Government regulations and private citizens

Global corporations and non-profit organizations

University research centers and computer companies (correct)

What type of machines are built to serve specific applications?

Hybrid machines

General purpose machines

Special purpose machines (correct)

Universal machines

Which of the following defines the interface between the basic machine instruction set and the runtime and I/O control?

Network architecture

System architecture

Language architecture

Instruction set architecture (correct)

In the definition of computer architecture, what does 'performance' refer to?

The behavior of the computer system Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of application programs in the layered abstraction levels of computer systems?

They serve as the highest level of abstraction Signup and view all the answers

What aspect of computer architecture is defined by the interconnection of various hardware components?

Structure Signup and view all the answers

What is primarily emphasized by general purpose machines?

Flexibility to perform diverse computations Signup and view all the answers

How is 'organization' defined in the context of computer architecture?

The management and interaction of components Signup and view all the answers

What is the overall CPI for the execution of 100 instructions on machine A?

2.76 Signup and view all the answers

Which category of instructions has the highest occurrence on machine A?

Branch Signup and view all the answers

In calculating MIPS, what does the 'execution time' depend on?

CPI and instruction count Signup and view all the answers

For machine B, which instruction category has the lowest cycles per instruction?

ALU Signup and view all the answers

What is the standard clock rate used for calculating MIPS in the examples?

200 MHz Signup and view all the answers

How does the CPI relate to the organization and instruction set architecture of a processor?

CPI reflects both the organization and the instruction set architecture Signup and view all the answers

What does MIPS measure in a computing system?

Rate of instruction execution Signup and view all the answers

Which statement is true regarding the execution of a set of benchmark programs on two different machines?

Both CPI and instruction count are important for comparison Signup and view all the answers

What is the relationship between clock cycle time (CT) and clock frequency (f)?

CT increases as f decreases. Signup and view all the answers

How is CPU time calculated using cycle count (CC) and cycle time (CT)?

CPU time = CC * CT Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best defines the average number of clock cycles per instruction (CPI)?

The CPU clock cycles for the program divided by the instruction count. Signup and view all the answers

What components are multiplied to find the total CPU time using the instruction count?

Instruction count, CPI, and clock cycle time. Signup and view all the answers

In calculating the overall CPI, what does Ii represent?

The number of times instruction type i is executed. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements regarding performance measures is true?

The total clock rate affects how many instructions can be processed. Signup and view all the answers

What calculation can be performed if the clock rate is known?

Overall CPI can be derived from CPU time and the instruction count. Signup and view all the answers

What does the cycle count (CC) specifically refer to?

The total number of CPU clock cycles needed to execute a job. Signup and view all the answers

What was the primary purpose of the ENIAC machine?

To compute artillery firing tables during World War II Signup and view all the answers

What was a significant improvement introduced with the Electronic Discrete Variable Automatic Computer (EDVAC)?

It explored the concept of stored programs Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following machines was the first full-scale, stored-program computer?

EDSAC Signup and view all the answers

What concept did the machines introduced at Harvard (MARK I, II, III, and IV) utilize?

Separate memory for instructions and data, known as Harvard Architecture Signup and view all the answers

When was the first general-purpose commercial computer, UNIVAC I, released?

1951 Signup and view all the answers

What was the status of the computer industry in the early 1950s?

It witnessed a slowdown Signup and view all the answers

What was a notable feature of the IBM 360 series introduced in 1964?

It included multiple models with varying price and performance Signup and view all the answers

Which company introduced the first minicomputer?

Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC) Signup and view all the answers

What happens to the speedup, SUo, when enhancement is available 100% of the time?

SUo equals SUD. Signup and view all the answers

If enhancement was only possible for 30% of the time, what is the calculated speedup?

1.4 Signup and view all the answers

Which formula correctly represents the speedup when considering multiple independent enhancements?

SUo = (D1+D2+...+Dn)/(1 - (D1+D2+...+Dn) + (SUD1 + SUD2 + ... + SUDn)) Signup and view all the answers

What does the acronym CPI stand for in performance measures?

Cycles Per Instruction Signup and view all the answers

What was a significant historical advancement mentioned in the chapter regarding computer systems?

The development of the Z1 computer in 1938. Signup and view all the answers

Which architectural styles are compared in the chapter?

RISC and CISC Signup and view all the answers

What impacts the performance measures of a computer system?

Technological development and other factors Signup and view all the answers

What common performance measures were introduced in the chapter?

CPI, MIPS, MFLOPS, and Arithmetic/Geometric performance means Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Computer Systems History

The development of computers is due to the combined efforts of University research centers and the computer industry.
The Electronic Numerical Integrator and Calculator (ENIAC) was the first operational general-purpose computer, built in 1944 using vacuum tubes.
ENIAC was designed for computing artillery firing tables during World War II.
The Electronic Discrete Variable Automatic Computer (EDVAC) was an improved version of ENIAC, focused on stored programs and more efficient program input.
The Institute for Advanced Study (IAS) built a computer in 1946, about 10 times faster than ENIAC.
The Electronic Delay Storage Automatic Calculator (EDSAC) was the first full-scale, stored-program, fully operational computer in 1949.
Cambridge University built the EDSAC, inspired by the EDVAC project.

Computer Architecture

Computer systems can be defined by different levels of abstraction, each providing functional support to the previous level.
These layers can include application programs, high-level languages, and machine instructions.
Language architecture refers to the interface between application programs and high-level languages.
Instruction set architecture defines the interface between the basic machine instruction set and the runtime and I/O control.
Computer architecture can also be defined by four viewpoints: structure, organization, implementation, and performance.
Structure defines the interconnection of hardware components, while organization defines the dynamic interplay and management of these components.
Implementation focuses on the detailed design of hardware components, and performance specifies the system's behavior.

Performance Measures

Computer performance can be measured by CPU time, which is the time taken to execute a job.
CPU time is calculated using the cycle count (CC), cycle time (CT), and clock frequency (f).
Clock cycles allow for counting unit computations as storage is synchronized with clock edges.
CPU time formula: CPU time = CC * CT = CC/f.
Average number of clock cycles per instruction (CPI) is another performance measure, useful for comparing instruction categories.
CPI formula: CPI = CPU clock cycles for the program / Instruction count.
CPI reflects the processor's organization and instruction set architecture, while instruction count reflects instruction set architecture and compiler technology.
MIPS (Million Instructions Per Second) is a performance measure that indicates the rate of instruction execution per unit time.
MIPS formula: MIPS = Instruction count / (Execution time * 10^6 * CPI * 10^6).

Speedup

SUo represents the speedup of a system after enhancement.
SUD represents the speedup due to the enhancement.
D represents the fraction of time the enhancement is applied.
Speedup formula: SUo = 1 / ((1 - D) + (D / SUD)).
This formula helps understand the impact of partial enhancement application.

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Description

This quiz explores the pivotal moments in the history of computer systems, focusing on key developments and innovations from the 1940s. It examines notable machines such as ENIAC and EDSAC, highlighting their contributions to modern computing. Test your knowledge of how these early computers shaped the future of technology.