Program Counter and Instruction Address Quiz

What does the program counter represent in a Central Processing Unit (CPU)?

In the context of a CPU, what does RAM stand for?

Which component of the CPU is responsible for arithmetic and logical operations?

What type of memory retains its data even when the computer is turned off?

Which register in a CPU stores the memory address of the next instruction to be executed?

What is the name of the register in the IBM PC that serves as the program counter?

Which of the following is not typically considered a CPU register?

What is the function of the program counter in a computer system?

Which component of a computer system is responsible for executing instructions stored in memory?

In a computer system, what does RAM stand for?

What is the range of values that the CPU's program counter can have?

Which address does the program counter need to be set to at the start of execution?

What is the purpose of the program counter in a CPU?

Which part of the CPU is responsible for incrementing the program counter after each instruction?

If a CPU's program counter has a value of 07FFH, what will be the next address after incrementing it?

Central Processing Unit (CPU) Overview

The program counter (PC) represents the address of the next instruction to be executed within the CPU.
RAM stands for Random Access Memory, which is a type of volatile memory used by the CPU to store data and instructions temporarily.
The Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU) is the component responsible for performing arithmetic and logical operations within the CPU.

Memory Types

Non-volatile memory retains data even when the computer is powered off, ensuring information is not lost.
The Memory Address Register (MAR) stores the memory address of the next instruction to be executed.

Program Counter Specifics

In the IBM PC architecture, the program counter is referred to as the Instruction Pointer (IP).
CPU registers include places like the accumulator, but memory buffers are typically not classified as CPU registers.

Program Counter Functionality

The program counter’s primary function is to keep track of instruction sequences and ensure proper program execution.
The control unit within the CPU is responsible for executing instructions stored in memory.

Program Counter Initialization

At the start of execution, the program counter must be initialized to the memory address of the first instruction.
The program counter is incremented by the CPU after each instruction execution, facilitating the correct sequence flow.

Example of Instruction Execution

If a CPU’s program counter currently has a value of 07FFH, incrementing it will change the address to 0800H, pointing to the next instruction.

Test your knowledge on the relationship between the program counter and the address of the next instruction. Identify the address of the next instruction when the program counter becomes 1404.