Computer Architecture Fundamentals
What are the three main components of a computer system?
CPU, Memory, and Input/Output (I/O) devices
What is the difference between RAM and ROM?
RAM (Random Access Memory) is volatile and stores temporary data, while ROM (Read-Only Memory) is non-volatile and stores permanent data.
What is the difference between RISC and CISC architectures?
RISC (Reduced Instruction Set Computer) uses a small, optimized set of instructions, while CISC (Complex Instruction Set Computer) has many complex instructions.
What is an interrupt in computer architecture?
A signal sent to the CPU to indicate an event that needs immediate attention, such as hardware input.
What are the three levels of cache memory?
L1 (smallest and fastest), L2 (larger but slower), L3 (shared among cores, largest but slowest).
What is the role of the CPU in a computer system?
The CPU (Central Processing Unit) executes instructions and processes data.
What is meant by “cache memory” in computer architecture?
A small, high-speed memory that stores frequently accessed data to reduce access time from main memory.
What is pipelining in CPU architecture?
A technique where multiple instruction stages (fetch, decode, execute) are processed simultaneously to improve efficiency.
True or False: The higher the clock speed of a processor, the faster it executes all types of programs.
False. Performance depends on multiple factors like CPU architecture, number of cores, and memory hierarchy.
What happens when a cache miss occurs?
The CPU must fetch data from slower main memory, increasing latency.
What are the components of a von Neumann Architecture??
1. Central Processing Unit (CPU)
2. Memory (Main Memory or RAM)
3. Input/Output (I/O) Devices
4. System Bus
True or False: Virtual memory allows the use of disk space as an extension of RAM.
True. Virtual memory extends physical RAM by using disk storage when needed.
True or False: A single instruction in an assembly language corresponds directly to one machine language instruction.
True. Assembly language instructions translate one-to-one with machine code instructions.
What is Direct Memory Access (DMA) used for?
It allows peripherals to access memory directly without CPU intervention, improving data transfer efficiency.
True or False: The L1 cache is typically larger and slower than the L3 cache.
False. L1 is the smallest but fastest, while L3 is the largest but slowest.
True or False: The ALU (Arithmetic Logic Unit) is responsible for executing instructions.
False. The ALU performs arithmetic and logical operations, but the Control Unit manages instruction execution.
What is the principle of “locality” in memory hierarchy?
It states that programs access a small portion of memory repeatedly (temporal locality) and that nearby memory locations are accessed more frequently (spatial locality).
What is the purpose of an instruction register in a CPU?
It holds the current instruction being executed.
What is the purpose of bus architecture in a computer system?
It enables communication between CPU, memory, and I/O devices.
What is page swapping in virtual memory?
Moving data between RAM and disk storage to manage memory when physical RAM is full.
What is the function of the control unit in a CPU?
It directs the execution of instructions by coordinating activities between the CPU, memory, and I/O devices.
Which type of memory is non-volatile and retains data even when power is turned off?
ROM, Flash Memory, and SSDs.
What role does the program counter play in instruction execution?
It keeps track of the next instruction’s memory address in the instruction sequence.
How does increasing the number of cores in a CPU improve performance?
It allows multiple tasks to be processed simultaneously, improving multitasking and parallel processing.
How does associative mapping work in cache memory?
It allows data to be stored in any available cache block, increasing flexibility and reducing conflicts.