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3 Hardware Q 4) Describe role of memory unit in von

3.1 von Neumann Architecture Neumann Architecture.
Q 1) Describe von Neumann Architecture/ Ans) Role of Memory Unit
Ans) Stored Program Concept. [6] Memory unit consists of RAM and ROM, it is
The Von Neumann model primary memory. Its contents are directly
uses the stored program accessible by processor. All data and
concept. instructions are first loaded in memory unit
The program is a series of Immediate Access Storage. Then they are
instructions that are saved in fetched in registers inside CPU. The results
memory. of processing are first store in memory unit
The processor fetches each then in secondary storage.
instruction, decodes it and
then executes it. Q 5) Differentiate IAS and Register.
The processor uses several Ans) Immediate Access Store is part of
registers to store the data main memory, holds data and instructions
and instructions from the when they are waiting to be processed.
program because they can be accessed While Registers are storage inside CPU
faster than main memory. stores data and instruction while being
processed.
Q 2) Identify the components of CPU.
Ans) Components of von Neumann Model Q 6) Describe role of Control Unit.
Von Neumann Model has following four Ans) Control Unit functions are given below:
components:  It controls and monitors all activities of
1. Input/Output Devices computer
2. Memory Unit  It controls speed of processing using
3. Control Unit system clock
4. Arithmetic Logic Unit  It fetches instructions from memory into
CPU
Q 3) Describe role of I/O devices in von
 It decodes the instructions.
Neuman Model.
Ans) Input/output (I/O) Devices of a
Q 7) Describe role of ALU.
computer are hardware devices that are
Ans) Arithmetic & Logic Unit (ALU) perform
responsible for getting data from the
arithmetical operations like +, -, *, and / while
computer to the user or from the user to the
logical unit are to compare two quantities.
computer.
Q 8) Describe the role of Register.
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Register are located inside CPU, and used 3. Execute the instruction (e.g., add, divide,
temporarily for storing data during load, store...)
processing. 4.Store the result (for instructions like ADD,
Q 9) Describe the role of buses. place the 'answer' in the specified register.)
Ans) Buses: Bus is a group of parallel wires
that is used as a communication path. Q 12) Describe the role of registers in fetch
1. Data Bus: ''The bi-direction buses which execute cycle.
transmits data between CPU, memory and Ans) The program instructions are stored in
peripherals.'' a continuous block of main memory.
2. Address Bus: ''The uni-direction buses The Program Counter stores the address of
which carries memory address to read or the next instruction to be fetched.
write data.'' The contents of the PC are copied to the
3. Control Bus: The bi-direction wires which Memory Address Register.
transmits the control signals (instructions). The contents of the PC are then incremented.
The value in the MAR is loaded to the
address bus.
The data value found at this address is
loaded on to the data bus and fetched to the
Memory Data Register.
The contents of the MDR are copied to the
Current Instruction Register.
The instruction can now be decoded.
A. Control Bus: Bi-Direction, Synchronised
The data of MDR is copied to Accumulator.
with System Clock
Now the instruction is executed. The results
B. Address Bus: Uni-direction, between
of processing, is then Stored in memory unit.
register and main memory
C. Data Bus: Bi-Direction

Q 11) describe Fetch Execute Cycle.

Ans) Fetch-Execute Cycle: The basic steps
involved in executing an instruction. They are
also called the instruction cycle.
1. Fetch the instruction (transfer the
instruction from main memory to the decoder)
2. Decode the instruction (from machine
language)
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Q) What is instruction set? Q) Explain how the amount of cache
Ans) An instruction set is a list of all the commands affects the performance of a computer.
that can be processed by a CPU and the commands Ans) Cache stores frequently used instructions.
are machine code. The more cache means the processor can access
Q) State one purpose of a core in a CPU. more data faster.
Ans) Core is used to process an instruction, to Instead of having to access the data from the
carry out a fetch-execute cycle. slower-access RAM. Cache is memory that is faster
to access than RAM.
Q) The computer is upgraded to a dual core Q) State what is meant by clock speed.
CPU. Explain how the upgrade can affect the
Ans) The maximum number of FDE
performance of the computer.
cycles/instructions a CPU can
Ans) 1 core can run 1 FE cycle/instruction each
perform/process/execute in a second.
second, 2 (or other example) cores can run 2 (or
Clock is the CPU component that
other example FE cycles/instructions
regulates the number of fetch–decode–
simultaneously.
execute cycles the CPU can perform in a
Twice as many instructions are executed each
second. second.

It will increase the performance. Q) Explain the effect this change will have on the

Q) What is meant by 3.5 GHz processor? performance of the CPU.

Ans) It can run 3.5 billion FE cycles each second . Ans) Increase in clock speed of CPU will
Increases/improves the performance. Tasks can be

Q) The CPU has cache. Explain the performed quicker/faster, because more FDE

purpose of the cache. cycles/instructions can be processed in a second.

Ans) Cache is a fastest access memory that

stores frequently used data and
instructions. It is used to speed up
access. It has different levels e.g. L1 –
L3. L1 is low capacity but extremely fast,
L3 is the slowest of the three but also
usually has the biggest storage capacity.
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Q) What is an embedded system?
Ans) Embedded System means something that is
attached to another thing.
An embedded system is a special purpose
computer system built within a mechanical
device. It performs one dedicated function or
limited specific functions.
The vast household appliances are embedded
systems.
Features of Embedded System:
 Special purpose computer
 Dedicated to a single or limited task.
 Built (integrated) into a machine or larger
system.
 An embedded system must contain a
processor, memory and an I/O capability
and dedicated hardware.

Q) Explain why washing machine is

considered as Embedded system.

Ans) Microprocessor is installed in the

machine, it performs only one task, i.e.
special purpose computer, and it is not easily
updated.