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Chapter 1

This document contains questions and answers about computer components and memory. It defines the four main elements of a computer as the processor, main memory, I/O modules, and system bus. It describes the two categories of processor registers as the memory address register and memory buffer register. It lists the four actions a machine instruction can specify as moving data between processor and memory, transferring data between processor and I/O device, performing arithmetic/logic operations, and changing the execution sequence. It defines an interrupt and how multiple interrupts are prioritized. It distinguishes characteristics of memory hierarchy elements and defines cache memory. It describes the differences between multiprocessor and multicore systems and defines spatial and temporal locality in memory access.

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Gerard Bea
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42 views2 pages

Chapter 1

This document contains questions and answers about computer components and memory. It defines the four main elements of a computer as the processor, main memory, I/O modules, and system bus. It describes the two categories of processor registers as the memory address register and memory buffer register. It lists the four actions a machine instruction can specify as moving data between processor and memory, transferring data between processor and I/O device, performing arithmetic/logic operations, and changing the execution sequence. It defines an interrupt and how multiple interrupts are prioritized. It distinguishes characteristics of memory hierarchy elements and defines cache memory. It describes the differences between multiprocessor and multicore systems and defines spatial and temporal locality in memory access.

Uploaded by

Gerard Bea
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Chapter 1: Activities

Questions
 1.1. List and briefly define the four main elements of a computer.

Processor: Controls the computer's operation and handles data processing.


Main memory: is where data and programs are stored.
I/O modules: Transfer data between the computer and its surroundings.
System bus: Allows processors to communicate with one another.

1.2. Define the two main categories of processor registers.

Memory Address Register


Memory Buffer Register

1.3. In general terms, what are the four distinct actions that a machine instruction can
specify?

Processor Memory - Data can be moved from the processor to the memory or from the
memory to the processor.
Processor I/O: Data can be transferred to or from a peripheral device by transferring it
between the processor and an I/O device.
Data processing: entails performing some arithmetic or logic operation on data.
Control: An instruction can specify that the execution sequence be changed.

1.4. What is an interrupt?

A mechanism that allows other modules (I/O, memory) to disrupt the processor's normal
sequencing.

1.5. How are multiple interrupts dealt with?

Interrupts are prioritized, and those with higher priorities are executed even while interrupts
with lower priorities are handled.

1.6. What characteristics distinguish the various elements of a memory hierarchy?

Capacity, access time, and cost are all factors to consider.

1.7. What is cache memory?

Cache memory is designed to provide memory access times comparable to the fastest
memories available while also supporting a large memory size.

1.8. What is the difference between a multiprocessor and a multicore system?

A multiprocessor system is a computer system that uses two or more processors to handle
tasks simultaneously. A multicore system is a processor that has two or more cores, which are
processing units that can independently handle tasks.
1.9. What is the distinction between spatial locality and temporal locality?

The tendency of execution to involve a number of clustered memory locations is referred to as


spatial locality. This reflects a processor's proclivity to access instructions sequentially. Spatial
location also reflects a program's proclivity to access data locations sequentially, as when processing
a table of data.

1.10. In general, what are the strategies for exploiting spatial locality and temporal
locality?

By storing recently used instruction and data values in cache memory and utilizing a cache hierarchy,
temporal locality is exploited. Spatial locality is typically exploited by employing larger cache blocks
and incorporating prefetching mechanisms (fetching items whose use is anticipated) into cache
control logic.

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