CIT 3150 Computer Architecture

CAT 1 – 30 Marks – Group Work and Presentation

Group 1:

1. Introduction to Computers (Chapter 1)

Discuss the role of system interconnects (buses and switches) in modern computer
architecture. Provide examples of how these components improve performance and
cost-efficiency.
2. Basic Hardware Units (Chapter 2)
Explain the differences between static and dynamic RAM, and describe scenarios
where each is used. Include examples of modern devices.
3. Inside the Computer (Chapter 3)
Create a detailed comparison of clock speed, word size, and bus size. Explain their
influence on processor performance.
4. Input and Output Devices (Chapter 4)
Design a setup that includes input and output devices suitable for a remote education
system. Justify your choices.
5. Computer Languages (Chapter 5)
Discuss the advantages of high-level programming languages over assembly
language. Provide examples of modern software written in each.
6. Computer Software (Chapter 6)
Analyze the differences between general-purpose and tailor-made software. Provide
real-world examples of where each is applicable.
7. Disks and Secondary Storage (Chapter 7)
Explain the concept of RAID. Compare its benefits and limitations with those of
traditional hard disks.
8. Binary Numbers (Chapter 8)
Demonstrate how binary numbers are used in computer memory to store text data.
Include an example of ASCII encoding.

Group 2:
 1. Introduction to Computers (Chapter 1)
Trace the evolution of computer generations. Highlight key technological
breakthroughs and their impact on modern computing.
2. Basic Hardware Units (Chapter 2)
Illustrate the role of cache memory in enhancing CPU performance. Provide a
practical example of cache implementation.
3. Inside the Computer (Chapter 3)
Describe the purpose and function of each register in a CPU. Highlight their
importance in program execution.
4. Input and Output Devices (Chapter 4)
Discuss the role of LCD projectors in presentations and compare them with modern
alternatives like smartboards.
5. Computer Languages (Chapter 5)
Explain the role of SQL as a 4GL. How does it differ from programming languages
like Python or Java?
6. Computer Software (Chapter 6)
Evaluate the importance of operating systems in resource management. Provide
examples of resource allocation techniques.
7. Disks and Secondary Storage (Chapter 7)
Analyze the importance of optical disks in archival storage. Discuss the shift to cloud-
based solutions.
8. Binary Numbers (Chapter 8)
Convert the decimal number 85 to binary. Perform binary addition with another
binary number, 1010.

Group 3:

1. Introduction to Computers (Chapter 1)

Define and compare the terms microarchitecture and instruction set architecture.
Provide examples.
2. Basic Hardware Units (Chapter 2)
Explain how an optical character recognition (OCR) system works. Discuss its use in
real-world applications like digitizing documents.
 3. Inside the Computer (Chapter 3)
Describe the functions of the northbridge and southbridge in a motherboard. Explain
how they interact with the CPU.
4. Input and Output Devices (Chapter 4)
Discuss the importance of interrupt priorities in real-time systems. Provide examples
from healthcare or manufacturing.
5. Computer Languages (Chapter 5)
Explain the role of interpreters and compilers in programming. Compare their
advantages and limitations.
6. Computer Software (Chapter 6)
Discuss the role of utility programs like firewalls and anti-virus software in
maintaining computer security.
7. Disks and Secondary Storage (Chapter 7)
Compare magnetic disks and SSDs in terms of speed, cost, and reliability.
8. Binary Numbers (Chapter 8)
Perform binary multiplication: 1101 × 101.

Group 4:

1. Introduction to Computers (Chapter 1)

Compare supercomputers, mainframes, and microcomputers in terms of size,
processing power, and use cases.
2. Basic Hardware Units (Chapter 2)
Describe how a scanner converts an image into digital data. Include the role of OCR
software.
3. Inside the Computer (Chapter 3)
Explain how buses (data, address, and control) facilitate communication in a
computer system.
4. Input and Output Devices (Chapter 4)
Design an interrupt-handling mechanism for a networked printer system. Explain
how it prioritizes tasks.
5. Computer Languages (Chapter 5)
Discuss the role of 5GLs in developing artificial intelligence applications. Provide
examples.
 6. Computer Software (Chapter 6)
Compare and contrast the functionalities of general-purpose and multimedia
software. Provide examples.
7. Disks and Secondary Storage (Chapter 7)
Explain the cylinder method of organizing data on a disk pack. Discuss its
advantages.
8. Binary Numbers (Chapter 8)
Explain how binary numbers are used to perform logical operations in the ALU.

Group 5:

1. Introduction to Computers (Chapter 1)

Explain the characteristics of a computer (e.g., speed, accuracy, and diligence) and
their relevance in different sectors like healthcare and finance.
2. Basic Hardware Units (Chapter 2)
Discuss the differences between volatile (RAM) and non-volatile (ROM) memory.
Provide real-life applications of each.
3. Inside the Computer (Chapter 3)
Illustrate the fetch-decode-execute cycle. Provide a step-by-step explanation of how it
works in modern CPUs.
4. Input and Output Devices (Chapter 4)
Compare traditional output devices like dot matrix printers with modern alternatives
like 3D printers. Highlight their use cases.
5. Computer Languages (Chapter 5)
Trace the evolution of programming languages from machine code to 5GLs. Provide
examples of tasks best suited for each generation.
6. Computer Software (Chapter 6)
Analyze the role of development programs like compilers and libraries in creating
software applications.
7. Disks and Secondary Storage (Chapter 7)
Discuss how RAID improves data security and performance. Explain the difference
between RAID 0 and RAID 1.
8. Binary Numbers (Chapter 8)
Convert the binary number 110101 to decimal. Explain the steps involved.
Group 6:

1. Introduction to Computers (Chapter 1)

Analyze the contributions of Charles Babbage to modern computing. How does the
Analytical Engine compare to today’s computers?
2. Basic Hardware Units (Chapter 2)
Explain the functions of the control unit and arithmetic/logic unit (ALU) in a CPU.
Provide examples of their operations.
3. Inside the Computer (Chapter 3)
Discuss how registers like the program counter (PC) and memory address register
(MAR) facilitate program execution.
4. Input and Output Devices (Chapter 4)
Design a real-world system that uses both OMR and OCR technologies. Explain the
advantages and challenges of each.
5. Computer Languages (Chapter 5)
Explain the differences between an assembler, a compiler, and an interpreter.
Provide examples of programming languages that use each.
6. Computer Software (Chapter 6)
Compare the functions of operating systems like Windows and Linux. Highlight their
strengths and weaknesses.
7. Disks and Secondary Storage (Chapter 7)
Explain the concept of optical storage. Discuss how DVDs differ from CDs in terms
of technology and storage capacity.
8. Binary Numbers (Chapter 8)
Perform binary subtraction: 10101 - 1101.

Group 7:

1. Introduction to Computers (Chapter 1)

Discuss the concept of multiprocessing in modern computers. Explain how it
improves performance with examples.
2. Basic Hardware Units (Chapter 2)
Analyze the evolution of printers from dot matrix to laser. Discuss how each
technology meets specific user needs.
 3. Inside the Computer (Chapter 3)
Explain the role of the system clock in synchronizing CPU operations. How does
clock speed influence performance?
4. Input and Output Devices (Chapter 4)
Describe the role of voice input devices in modern applications. Discuss their
advantages and limitations.
5. Computer Languages (Chapter 5)
Explore the use of SQL in database management systems. Create and explain a
simple SQL query for managing student records.
6. Computer Software (Chapter 6)
Discuss the advantages of using software suites like Microsoft Office over standalone
applications.
7. Disks and Secondary Storage (Chapter 7)
Compare SSDs and HDDs in terms of speed, durability, and cost-effectiveness.
Provide examples of their usage.
8. Binary Numbers (Chapter 8)
Convert the decimal number 255 to binary and hexadecimal.

Group 8:

1. Introduction to Computers (Chapter 1)

Discuss the characteristics of supercomputers. Provide examples of their applications
in scientific research and industry.
2. Basic Hardware Units (Chapter 2)
Explain the concept of cache memory. Discuss its levels (L1, L2, L3) and their impact
on system performance.
3. Inside the Computer (Chapter 3)
Describe the role of buses in data communication. Compare the data bus, address
bus, and control bus.
4. Input and Output Devices (Chapter 4)
Analyze the importance of timer interrupts in operating systems. Provide examples of
their practical applications.
5. Computer Languages (Chapter 5)
Explain the significance of 4GLs in database management. Compare their ease of use
with 3GLs.
6. Computer Software (Chapter 6)
Analyze the role of diagnostic utilities in maintaining system performance. Provide
examples of such utilities.
7. Disks and Secondary Storage (Chapter 7)
Explain the cylinder method of organizing data on a disk. Discuss how it improves
efficiency in data retrieval.
8. Binary Numbers (Chapter 8)
Perform binary division: 101010 ÷ 11.