Chapter 2: The Microprocessor and Its Architecture

1.​ What are the main components of a microprocessor?

○​ The main components are the ALU (Arithmetic Logic Unit),
Control Unit, and Registers.
2.​ What is the function of the ALU?
○​ The ALU performs arithmetic and logical operations on data.
3.​ What are general-purpose registers in the 8086 microprocessor?
○​ AX, BX, CX, and DX, are used for various arithmetic and data
manipulation tasks.
4.​ What is the difference between real mode and protected mode?
○​ Real mode allows access to 1MB of memory, while protected mode
allows access to more memory with segmentation.
5.​ What are segment registers?
○​ CS, DS, SS, ES, FS, and GS define different segments in memory.
6.​ What is an offset address?
○​ It is the address relative to a segment, used to calculate the
physical address.
7.​ How is the physical address calculated in real mode?
○​ Physical Address = (Segment Register × 16) + Offset
8.​ What is memory paging?
○​ A technique that divides memory into pages to optimize memory
usage.
9.​ What are program-invisible registers?
○​ These are internal registers used for memory management (e.g.,
GDTR, IDTR).
10.​ What is the function of the stack segment (SS)?
○​ It points to the stack area, where temporary data and return
addresses are stored.

Here are the remaining 40 viva questions and answers from Chapter 2: The
Microprocessor and Its Architecture of the Intel Microprocessor book.

Chapter 2: The Microprocessor and Its Architecture (Continued)

11.​ What is the purpose of the instruction pointer (IP) in the 8086?​

○​ The IP holds the address of the next instruction to be executed.

12.​ What is the difference between the microprocessor and the
microcontroller?​

○​ A microprocessor is used for general-purpose computing, while a

microcontroller is designed for embedded applications with
built-in memory and I/O.
13.​ What is the role of the control unit in a microprocessor?​

○​ It decodes instructions and controls the execution of operations.

14.​ What is the function of the bus interface unit (BIU)?​

○​ It manages data transfer between the microprocessor and

memory or I/O devices.
15.​ What are the different types of buses in a microprocessor?​

○​ Address bus, Data bus, and Control bus.

16.​ What is the width of the address bus in the 8086 microprocessor?​

○​ It is 20-bit wide, allowing it to address 1MB of memory.

17.​ What is the purpose of the segment registers in the 8086?​

○​ They divide memory into logical segments for efficient addressing.

18.​ What are the different segment registers in the 8086?​

○​ Code Segment (CS), Data Segment (DS), Stack Segment (SS), Extra
Segment (ES).
19.​ What is the significance of the CS register?​

○​ It points to the memory segment where program instructions are

stored.
20.​ What is the function of the DS register?​

○​ It points to the segment where data variables are stored.

21.​ What is the purpose of the SS register?​

○​ It holds the base address of the stack segment.

22.​ What is the role of the ES register?​

○​ It is used for additional data storage and is often used in string

operations.
23.​ What is meant by pipelining in microprocessors?​

○​ It allows overlapping execution of multiple instructions for better

performance.
24.​ How does pipelining improve performance in the 8086?​

○​ It fetches the next instruction while executing the current one,

reducing wait time.
25.​ What is the function of the Execution Unit (EU)?​

○​ It processes instructions fetched by the BIU.

26.​ What is the difference between RISC and CISC architectures?​

○​ RISC (Reduced Instruction Set Computing) has simpler

instructions, while CISC (Complex Instruction Set Computing) has
more complex instructions.
27.​ Which architecture does the Intel 8086 use: RISC or CISC?​

○​ It follows the CISC architecture.

28.​ What is the difference between stack memory and heap memory?​

○​ Stack memory stores local variables and function calls, while heap
memory is used for dynamic memory allocation.
29.​ What is the purpose of the FLAGS register in the 8086?​

○​ It holds the status of operations, including condition flags and

control flags.
30.​ What are the different types of flags in the FLAGS register?​

○​ Status Flags (e.g., Zero Flag, Carry Flag), Control Flags (e.g.,
Interrupt Flag), and System Flags.
31.​ What is the Zero Flag (ZF)?​

○​ It is set when the result of an operation is zero.

32.​ What is the Carry Flag (CF)?​

○​ It is set when an arithmetic operation results in a carry or borrow.

33.​ What is the Sign Flag (SF)?​
 ○​ It indicates whether the result of an operation is positive or
negative.
34.​ What is the Overflow Flag (OF)?​

○​ It is set when the result of a signed arithmetic operation exceeds

the allowable range.
35.​ What is the purpose of the Parity Flag (PF)?​

○​ It indicates whether the number of 1s in the result is even or odd.

36.​ What is the function of the Trap Flag (TF)?​

○​ It enables single-step debugging of programs.

37.​ What is the Interrupt Flag (IF)?​

○​ It enables or disables interrupts in the processor.

38.​ What is the Direction Flag (DF)?​

○​ It controls the direction of string operations (incrementing or

decrementing memory addresses).
39.​ How many registers does the 8086 have?​

○​ It has 14 registers: AX, BX, CX, DX, SP, BP, SI, DI, CS, DS, SS, ES, IP,
and FLAGS.
40.​ What is the purpose of the Base Pointer (BP)?​

○​ It is used to access stack data in subroutine calls.

41.​ What is the difference between the Stack Pointer (SP) and the Base
Pointer (BP)?​

○​ SP always points to the top of the stack, while BP can point

anywhere within the stack.
42.​ What is the purpose of the Source Index (SI) and Destination Index
(DI) registers?​

○​ They are used in string operations and memory addressing.

43.​ What is the function of the instruction queue in the 8086?​

○​ It prefetches instructions to improve execution speed.

44.​ How many bytes can the instruction queue hold in the 8086?​
 ○​ It can hold up to 6 bytes.
45.​ What is segmentation in memory addressing?​

○​ It divides memory into segments to allow efficient management

and protection.
46.​ Why does the 8086 use segmented memory addressing instead of
linear addressing?​

○​ Segmented memory allows better memory management and

compatibility with earlier processors.
47.​ What happens when the stack overflows in the 8086?​

○​ It can cause a stack fault or memory corruption.

48.​ What is the maximum addressable memory size in the 8086?​

○​ 1MB (20-bit address bus).

49.​ How is the 8086 microprocessor different from the 8088?​

○​ The 8086 has a 16-bit data bus, while the 8088 has an 8-bit data
bus.
50.​ Why is the 8086 called a 16-bit processor?​

○​ Because it processes 16-bit data in a single operation.

Chapter 3: Addressing Modes
1.​ What is an addressing mode?
○​ It defines how an operand is specified in an instruction.
2.​ What are the types of addressing modes in the 8086 microprocessor?
○​ Immediate, Register, Direct, Indirect, Indexed, and Base-Indexed.
3.​ What is the immediate addressing mode?
○​ The operand is specified directly in the instruction.
4.​ What is register addressing mode?
○​ The operand is stored in a register.
5.​ What is a direct addressing mode?
○​ The instruction contains the memory address of the operand.
6.​ What is the indirect addressing mode?
○​ The address of the operand is stored in a register or memory
location.
7.​ What is base-plus-index addressing?
○​ It uses a combination of base and index registers to determine the
operand's address.
8.​ What is scaled-index addressing?
○​ It involves multiplying the index register by a scaling factor (1, 2,
4, or 8).
9.​ What is RIP-relative addressing?
○​ It is used in 64-bit mode where an address is relative to the
instruction pointer (RIP).
10.​ What is stack addressing mode?
●​ It accesses data from the stack using PUSH and POP instructions.
11.​ How does the effective address calculation work in indexed
addressing?
●​ Effective Address = Base Register + Index Register + Displacement.
12.​ What is the difference between register relative and base
relative-plus-index addressing?
●​ Register relative uses a register and a displacement, while base
relative-plus-index uses a base register, index register, and
displacement.
13.​ What is an example of an immediate addressing mode?
●​ MOV AX, 1234H (The value 1234H is directly given in the instruction).
14.​ What is an example of a direct addressing mode?
 ●​ MOV AX, [2000H] (Moves the content of memory location 2000H
into AX).
15.​ What is an example of register addressing mode?
●​ MOV AX, BX (Copies the value in BX to AX).

I'll now provide 50 viva questions and answers for each of Chapters 3 to 9
from the Intel Microprocessor book in batches. Here's the next set:

Chapter 3: Addressing Modes (Remaining Questions)

16.​ What is Indexed Addressing Mode?
●​ The effective address is calculated by adding an index register to a
displacement value.
17.​ What are the two types of Indexed Addressing Modes?
●​ Based Indexed and Scaled Indexed Addressing.
18.​ What is Relative Addressing Mode?
●​ The operand’s address is relative to the current instruction pointer (IP).
19.​ What is the advantage of using Relative Addressing Mode?
●​ It allows position-independent code execution.
20.​ What is the difference between Direct and Indirect Addressing
Modes?
●​ Direct mode specifies the address explicitly, while Indirect mode uses a
register or memory to hold the address.
21.​ Which addressing mode is used for accessing an array?
●​ Indexed Addressing Mode.
22.​ What is an example of Register Indirect Addressing Mode?
●​ MOV AX, [BX] (Moves data from the address stored in BX to AX).
23.​ What is the purpose of the Effective Address (EA)?
●​ It is the final calculated address used to access data in memory.
24.​ How does Scaled Index Addressing work?
●​ The index register is multiplied by a scaling factor (1, 2, 4, or 8).
25.​ Which instruction set primarily uses RIP-relative addressing?
●​ The x86-64 instruction set.
26.​ What is an example of Immediate Addressing Mode?
●​ MOV AL, 0x25 (Moves the immediate value 0x25 into AL).
27.​ Which addressing mode is best for accessing global variables?
●​ Direct Addressing Mode.
28.​ Which addressing mode is commonly used for accessing parameters
in a procedure?
●​ Stack Addressing Mode.
29.​ What happens when an invalid memory address is accessed?
●​ A segmentation fault or exception occurs.
30.​ Which addressing mode is used in function calls and returns?
●​ Stack Addressing Mode.
31.​ What is the significance of Base Relative Addressing?
●​ It allows accessing data relative to a base register like BP or SP.
32.​ What is an example of using Base Plus Index Addressing?
●​ MOV AX, [BP+SI] (Moves data from the address computed using BP
and SI).
33.​ What is a practical use of Scaled Indexed Addressing?
●​ Efficiently accessing elements in a structure or an array.
34.​ Which mode is primarily used for accessing I/O ports?
●​ Direct Addressing Mode using IN and OUT instructions.
35.​ What is the difference between Register Addressing and Register
Indirect Addressing?
●​ Register Addressing directly uses a register, while Register Indirect
Addressing uses a register to hold an address.
36.​ Why is Indexed Addressing useful for loop operations?
●​ It simplifies array access by allowing automatic address updates.
37.​ Which addressing mode requires an additional memory fetch cycle?
●​ Indirect Addressing Mode.
38.​ How does the LEA (Load Effective Address) instruction work?
●​ It computes the effective address and loads it into a register.
39.​ Which addressing mode does CALL instruction use to jump to a
subroutine?
●​ Indirect Addressing Mode.
40.​ Which instruction in assembly uses Stack Addressing Mode?
●​ PUSH and POP.
41.​ What is an example of Register Relative Addressing?
●​ MOV AX, [BP+4] (Moves data from memory at BP+4 to AX).
42.​ Which addressing mode is used in CMP [BX], AL?
●​ Register Indirect Addressing.
43.​ Which segment register is used by default for Indirect Addressing?
●​ Data Segment (DS) for data access, Stack Segment (SS) for stack
operations.
44.​ What is the key benefit of Relative Addressing?
●​ It allows programs to run independently of memory location.
45.​ Why is it not allowed to move data directly from one memory
location to another in x86?
●​ x86 does not support direct memory-to-memory operations in one
instruction.
46.​ What is an example of a jump instruction using Relative Addressing?
●​ JMP SHORT LABEL (Jumps to a nearby address relative to IP).
47.​ Which addressing mode helps with memory segmentation in
protected mode?
●​ Segment: Offset Addressing Mode.
48.​ What is the function of the ModR/M byte in x86 instruction
encoding?
●​ It defines the addressing mode and registers used in an instruction.
49.​ Why do high-performance applications prefer Scaled Indexed
Addressing?
●​ It improves efficiency in array and matrix operations.
50.​ What is the default segment register for instructions using BP?
●​ Stack Segment (SS).
Here are 50 viva questions and answers from Chapter 4: Data Movement
Instructions of the Intel Microprocessor book.

Chapter 4: Data Movement Instructions

1.​ What is the purpose of the MOV instruction?​

○​ It transfers data from one location to another (register-to-register,

memory-to-register, etc.).
2.​ Can MOV transfer data between two memory locations directly?​

○​ No, x86 architecture does not allow direct memory-to-memory

transfers.
3.​ What is the difference between MOV and XCHG?​

○​ MOV copies data, while XCHG swaps the values of two operands.
4.​ What is the purpose of the PUSH instruction?​

○​ It stores data onto the stack and decrements the stack pointer
(SP).
5.​ What is the purpose of the POP instruction?​

○​ It retrieves data from the stack and increments SP.

6.​ What is the function of the LEA (Load Effective Address) instruction?​

○​ It loads the memory address of an operand into a register without

accessing memory.
7.​ What is the function of LDS and LES?​

○​ They load a segment register and an offset register from memory.

8.​ What is a string instruction?​

○​ Instructions that operate on sequences of bytes or words, like

MOVS, STOS, and LODS.
9.​ What does the Direction Flag (DF) control in string operations?​
 ○​ It determines whether string operations increment (DF=0) or
decrement (DF=1) addresses.
10.​ What is the LODS instruction?​

●​ It loads a string element into AL, AX, or EAX from memory.

11.​ What is the STOS instruction?
●​ It stores a string element from AL, AX, or EAX in memory.
12.​ What is the MOVS instruction?
●​ It moves a string from one memory location to another.
13.​ What registers are used for MOVS instruction?
●​ Source Index (SI) and Destination Index (DI).
14.​ How does the REP prefix work in string instructions?
●​ It repeats an instruction several times based on the CX register value.
15.​ What is the purpose of the IN and OUT instructions?
●​ They are used for transferring data between the CPU and I/O ports.
16.​ What is the difference between MOV and MOVSX/MOVZX?
●​ MOVSX and MOVZX extend a smaller value into a larger register
(sign-extended or zero-extended).
17.​ What is the function of XLAT?
●​ It translates a byte in memory based on an index in AL.
18.​ What is the function of the BSWAP instruction?
●​ It swaps the byte order of a 32-bit register.
19.​ What is an example of an indirect memory move?
●​ MOV AX, [BX] (Moves data from the address stored in BX to AX).
20.​ What is the difference between MOV and CMOV?
●​ CMOV (Conditional Move) moves data only if a specified condition is
met.
21.​ What is the function of the LAHF and SAHF instructions?
●​ They load and store the status flags into AH.
22.​ Which registers are involved in the stack operations PUSH and POP?
●​ The Stack Pointer (SP) and optionally BP for stack frame references.
23.​ What is the function of the PUSHA and POPA instructions?
●​ They push or pop all general-purpose registers onto/off the stack.
24.​ What is the purpose of the ENTER instruction?
●​ It sets up a stack frame for a function.
25.​ What is the function of the LEAVE instruction?
●​ It restores the stack frame before returning from a function.
26.​ What is the significance of the Alignment Check (AC) flag in data
transfers?
●​ It ensures memory operands are aligned properly in some architectures.
27.​ What happens if an unaligned memory address is accessed?
●​ Some processors allow it with performance penalties; others raise
exceptions.
28.​ What is the function of the MOVSB, MOVSW, and MOVSD
instructions?
●​ They move bytes, words, and double words, respectively, in string
operations.
29.​ Which flag is modified when using string instructions?
●​ The Direction Flag (DF).
30.​ How does the REPNE/REPNZ prefix work?
●​ It repeats a string operation while ZF=0.
31.​ What is the function of the CLD and STD instructions?
●​ CLD clears DF (incrementing string operations), and STD sets DF
(decrementing string operations).
32.​ What is an example of a MOV operation between segment registers?
●​ MOV DS, AX (Moves the value in AX to the DS segment register).
33.​ Why can't MOV directly move data between two segment registers?
●​ Direct segment-to-segment moves are not allowed; an intermediate
general-purpose register must be used.
34.​ How do the MOV instruction and string instructions differ?
●​ MOV transfers single data items, while string instructions handle entire
blocks of data.
35.​ What is a memory-to-memory transfer in x86 assembly?
●​ It is performed using string instructions like MOVS (not directly using
MOV).
36.​ What happens when a POP operation is executed?
●​ The top value from the stack is moved into the destination register, and
SP is incremented.
37.​ What is the function of INSB and OUTSB instructions?
●​ The input and output of a byte from a port to memory.
38.​ What happens when an OUT instruction is executed?
●​ A value is written to an I/O port.
39.​ What is the function of LGS, LSS, and Land FS instructions?
●​ They load both a segment register and an offset register.
40.​ What is the difference between PUSH and PUSHA?
●​ PUSH stores a single value; PUSHA stores all general-purpose registers.
41.​ What is an example of the LEA instruction?
●​ LEA BX, [SI+4] (Loads BX with the address computed from SI+4).
42.​ What is the difference between MOV and MOVCR?
●​ MOV moves general-purpose data, while MOVCR moves data between
control registers and general-purpose registers.
43.​ What is the function of MOVD and MOVQ in SIMD?
●​ They move data to and from MMX registers.
44.​ What is the difference between LODS and STOS instructions?
●​ LODS loads data from memory to a register, while STOS stores data from
a register to memory.
45.​ What is the function of CMOVcc instructions?
●​ They conditionally move data based on the status flags.
46.​ What is an example of a conditional move instruction?
●​ CMOVZ AX, BX (Moves BX to AX if the Zero Flag is set).
47.​ What happens if a MOV instruction attempts to move data into CS?
●​ It generates an invalid operation error, as CS cannot be modified directly.
48.​ What is the difference between REP and REPE/REPZ?
●​ REP repeats an instruction, while REPE/REPZ stops on Zero Flag clear.
49.​ Which instruction allows reading an indexed table?
●​ XLAT (Translate Table Lookup).
50.​ Why is LEA often preferred over ADD for address calculations?
●​ LEA performs address calculations without modifying flags.
Here are 50 viva questions and answers from Chapter 5: Arithmetic and Logic
Instructions of the Intel Microprocessor book.

Chapter 5: Arithmetic and Logic Instructions

Arithmetic Instructions
1.​ What are the main arithmetic instructions in x86 assembly?​

○​ ADD, SUB, MUL, DIV, INC, DEC, ADC, SBB, NEG, CMP.
2.​ What is the function of the ADD instruction?​

○​ It adds two operands and stores the result in the destination.

3.​ Which flags are affected by the ADD instruction?​

○​ Carry (CF), Zero (ZF), Sign (SF), Overflow (OF), Auxiliary Carry
(AF), and Parity (PF).
4.​ What is the purpose of the ADC (Add with Carry) instruction?​

○​ It adds two operands along with the carry flag (CF).

5.​ What is the difference between ADD and ADC?​

○​ ADC considers the carry flag, whereas ADD does not.

6.​ What does the SUB instruction do?​

○​ It subtracts the source operand from the destination operand.

7.​ What is the function of the SBB (Subtract with Borrow) instruction?​

○​ It subtracts two operands along with the carry flag.

8.​ What is the role of the INC instruction?​

○​ It increments a register or memory location by 1.

9.​ Does the INC instruction affect the carry flag (CF)?​

○​ No, INC does not modify the CF.

10.​ What is the function of the DEC instruction?​

●​ It decrements a register or memory location by 1.

 11.​ Does the DEC instruction affect the carry flag?
●​ No, it does not modify the CF.
12.​ What does the NEG instruction do?
●​ It converts an operand to its two’s complement (negation).
13.​ What happens when NEG is applied to zero?
●​ The result remains zero, but the carry flag (CF) is set.
14.​ What is the function of the CMP instruction?
●​ It subtracts two operands but does not store the result, only affects flags.
15.​ Which flags are affected by the CMP instruction?
●​ Zero (ZF), Carry (CF), Overflow (OF), Sign (SF), and Parity (PF).
16.​ What is the function of the MUL instruction?
●​ It performs unsigned multiplication of the accumulator with an operand.
17.​ Which registers are used in an 8-bit MUL operation?
●​ AL × operand → AX.
18.​ Which registers are used in a 16-bit MUL operation?
●​ AX × operand → DX:AX.
19.​ What is the purpose of the IMUL instruction?
●​ It performs signed multiplication.
20.​ What is the function of the DIV instruction?
●​ It performs unsigned division.
21.​ Which registers store the quotient and remainder for the 8-bit
division?
●​ AL = Quotient, AH = Remainder.
22.​ Which registers store the quotient and remainder for the 16-bit
division?
●​ AX = Quotient, DX = Remainder.
23.​ What is the purpose of the IDIV instruction?
●​ It performs signed division.
24.​ What happens if division by zero occurs?
●​ It generates a Divide Error (DE) exception.

Logical Instructions
25.​ What are the main logical instructions in x86 assembly?
●​ AND, OR, XOR, NOT, and TEST.
26.​ What does the AND instruction do?
●​ It performs a bitwise AND operation between two operands.
27.​ Which flags are affected by the AND instruction?
 ●​ Zero (ZF), Sign (SF), and Parity (PF), but Carry (CF) and Overflow (OF)
are cleared.
28.​ What does the OR instruction do?
●​ It performs a bitwise OR operation between two operands.
29.​ What does the XOR instruction do?
●​ It performs a bitwise exclusive OR operation.
30.​ What is the special use of XOR for clearing registers?
●​ XOR AX, AX sets AX to zero more efficiently than MOV AX, 0.
31.​ What is the function of the NOT instruction?
●​ It performs a bitwise complement (1’s complement) of an operand.
32.​ What does the TEST instruction do?
●​ It performs a bitwise AND operation but does not store the result, only
sets flags.
33.​ How is TEST different from AND?
●​ TEST does not change the destination operand, while AND stores the
result.

Shift and Rotate Instructions

34.​ What are shift instructions in x86?
●​ SHL (Shift Left), SHR (Shift Right), SAL (Arithmetic Shift Left), SAR
(Arithmetic Shift Right).
35.​ What does the SHL instruction do?
●​ It shifts bits to the left, inserting 0 into the least significant bit.
36.​ What does the SHR instruction do?
●​ It shifts bits to the right, inserting 0 into the most significant bit.
37.​ What is the difference between SHL and SAL?
●​ Both perform the same operation (shift left), but SAL is used for signed
values.
38.​ What does the SAR instruction do?
●​ It shifts bits to the right while preserving the sign bit (used for signed
numbers).
39.​ What is the function of the ROL (Rotate Left) instruction?
●​ It rotates bits left through the carry flag.
40.​ What is the function of the ROR (Rotate Right) instruction?
●​ It rotates bits right through the carry flag.
41.​ What does the RCL (Rotate through Carry Left) instruction do?
●​ It rotates bits left, including the carry flag in the operation.
42.​ What does the RCR (Rotate through Carry Right) instruction do?
●​ It rotates bits right, including the carry flag in the operation.
43.​ What is the difference between shifts and rotates?
●​ Shifts move bits in one direction, losing bits, while rotates wrap bits
around.
44.​ How does the SHRD (Shift Right Double) instruction work?
●​ It shifts a double word right while shifting in bits from another register.
45.​ What does the SHLD (Shift Left Double) instruction do?
●​ It shifts a double word left while shifting in bits from another register.
46.​ What happens if the shift count is greater than 31 in a 32-bit shift?
●​ The result is undefined or may clear the register.
47.​ What is the role of the Carry Flag (CF) in shift operations?
●​ It stores the last bit shifted out.
48.​ What is the purpose of the BSR (Bit Scan Reverse) instruction?
●​ It finds the position of the highest set bit.
49.​ What is the purpose of the BSF (Bit Scan Forward) instruction?
●​ It finds the position of the lowest set bit.
50.​ What happens if no bit is set in BSR or BSF instructions?
●​ The Zero Flag (ZF) is set.
Here are 10 viva questions and answers from each of Chapters 6 to 9 of the
Intel Microprocessor book.

Chapter 6: Program Control Instructions

1.​ What is the purpose of program control instructions?​

○​ They change the flow of execution in a program.

2.​ What are the main types of program control instructions?​

○​ Jumps, Loops, Calls, and Interrupts.

3.​ What is the difference between an unconditional and a conditional
jump?​

○​ Unconditional jumps (JMP) always transfer control, while

conditional jumps depend on flag conditions.
4.​ What is the purpose of the CALL instruction?​

○​ It transfers control to a subroutine and saves the return address.

5.​ What is the function of the RET instruction?​

○​ It returns control from a subroutine by restoring the saved

address from the stack.
6.​ What are the main conditional jump instructions?​

○​ JE (Jump if Equal), JNE (Jump if Not Equal), JG (Jump if Greater), JL

(Jump if Less), etc.
7.​ What is the LOOP instruction used for?​

○​ It decrements the CX register and jumps to a specified label if CX is

not zero.
8.​ What is an interrupt in a microprocessor?​

○​ A signal that temporarily halts execution to handle an external or

internal event.
 9.​ What is the difference between hardware and software interrupts?​

○​ Hardware interrupts are triggered by external devices, while

software interrupts are generated by the processor using INT
instructions.
10.​ What does the IRET instruction do?​

●​ It returns from an interrupt service routine by restoring flags and

registers.

Chapter 7: Using Assembly Language with C/C++

1.​ Why is assembly language used with C/C++?​

○​ To optimize performance-critical code, interact with hardware, or

use low-level instructions.
2.​ What is the purpose of the _asm directive in C/C++?​

○​ It allows inline assembly within a C/C++ program.

3.​ What is an example of an inline assembly command in C?​

○​ _asm { MOV AX, 5 }

4.​ How can a C function call an assembly function?​

○​ By using the extern keyword to declare the assembly function.

5.​ What is the difference between inline assembly and linking an external
assembly file?​

○​ Inline assembly is embedded within C code, while an external

assembly file is linked separately.
6.​ Which registers are typically used to pass function arguments in
assembly?​

○​ AX, BX, CX, and DX.

7.​ What is the purpose of the stdcall and cdecl calling conventions?​

○​ They define how function arguments are passed and who is

responsible for stack cleanup.
 8.​ What is the role of the EBP register in function calls?​

○​ It is used to create a stack frame for local variables and function

parameters.
9.​ Why should registers be preserved in assembly functions?​

○​ To avoid modifying registers that the calling function relies on.

10.​ What is the difference between using MOV and LEA for address
calculations in assembly?​

●​ MOV loads the value from memory, while LEA loads the address of the
operand.

Chapter 8: Programming the Microprocessor

1.​ What are modular programs in assembly?​

○​ Programs divided into smaller, reusable procedures or modules.

2.​ What is the role of the linker in assembly programming?​

○​ It combines multiple object files into an executable program.

3.​ How is keyboard input handled in assembly?​

○​ By using BIOS or DOS interrupt services like INT 16H.

4.​ What is a lookup table in assembly programming?​

○​ A predefined array of values used for quick data retrieval.

5.​ What is the purpose of macros in assembly?​

○​ Macros define reusable blocks of code to simplify programming.

6.​ What is the difference between sequential and random file access?​

○​ Sequential access reads data in order, while random access jumps

to specific locations.
7.​ What is an example of a system call in assembly?​

○​ INT 21H (used in DOS for file and I/O operations).

 8.​ What is a common use of the CMP instruction in programming?​

○​ To compare two values before a conditional jump.

9.​ What is an ISR (Interrupt Service Routine)?​

○​ A function that handles an interrupt request.

10.​ Why is stack management important in assembly programming?​

●​ To ensure proper function calls, local variable storage, and return

address handling.

Chapter 9: 8086/8088 Hardware Specifications

1.​ What is the difference between the 8086 and 8088 microprocessors?​

○​ The 8086 has a 16-bit data bus, while the 8088 has an 8-bit data
bus.
2.​ What is the purpose of the clock generator (8284A) in the 8086?​

○​ It generates the required clock signal for the microprocessor.

3.​ What is bus buffering in the 8086?​

○​ It separates the internal and external buses to improve

performance.
4.​ What is the maximum clock speed of the original 8086 processor?​

○​ 5 MHz to 10 MHz.
5.​ What is the function of the ready signal in the 8086?​

○​ It allows slow memory or I/O devices to synchronize with the

processor.
6.​ What are the two operating modes of the 8086?​

○​ Minimum mode and Maximum mode.

7.​ What is the purpose of the 8288 bus controller?​

○​ It generates control signals for memory and I/O operations in

maximum mode.
8.​ What is a wait state in the 8086?​

○​ A delay inserted when accessing slow memory or peripherals.

9.​ Why does the 8086 have a queue buffer?​

○​ To prefetch instructions and improve execution speed.

10.​ What is the difference between memory-mapped I/O and
port-mapped I/O?​

●​ Memory-mapped I/O uses regular memory instructions, while

port-mapped I/O uses IN/OUT instructions.
Here are 50 viva questions and answers from Chapter 15: Bus Interface of the
Microprocessor Architecture book.

Chapter 15: Bus Interface

ISA (Industry Standard Architecture) Bus
1.​ What is the ISA bus?​

○​ ISA (Industry Standard Architecture) is an early expansion bus

used in IBM-compatible PCs.
2.​ What are the two versions of the ISA bus?​

○​ 8-bit ISA and 16-bit ISA.

3.​ What is the data transfer speed of the ISA bus?​

○​ The 8-bit ISA bus transfers data at 4.77 MHz, while the 16-bit
version operates at 8 MHz.
4.​ Why was the ISA bus eventually replaced?​

○​ Due to its slow speed and lack of plug-and-play capabilities, it was

replaced by PCI and USB.
5.​ What type of devices were commonly connected to the ISA bus?​

○​ Sound cards, network cards, and early graphics cards.

6.​ What is bus arbitration in ISA?​

○​ It is the process of determining which device can use the bus at a

given time.
7.​ What is the main limitation of the ISA bus?​

○​ It does not support high-speed data transfer required for modern

applications.
 8.​ What is the maximum addressable memory using an ISA bus?​

○​ 16 MB for the 16-bit version.

9.​ How does the ISA bus handle interrupts?​

○​ It uses dedicated IRQ (Interrupt Request) lines assigned to

specific devices.
10.​ Why did plug-and-play technology not work well with the ISA bus?​

●​ Because ISA devices required manual configuration of IRQs and DMA

settings.

Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) Bus

11.​ What is the PCI bus?
●​ The Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) bus is a high-speed
interface for connecting peripherals to the CPU.
12.​ What is the width of the PCI bus?
●​ It comes in 32-bit and 64-bit versions.
13.​ What is the maximum data transfer rate of PCI?
●​ PCI 2.0 can transfer data at up to 533 MB/s.
14.​ What is PCI Express (PCIe)?
●​ PCIe is a faster, serial-based version of PCI that supports high-speed
data transfers.
15.​ How does PCI support plug-and-play?
●​ It allows automatic configuration of IRQs and memory addresses.
16.​ What is the difference between PCI and PCIe?
●​ PCIe uses a serial bus architecture, while PCI uses a parallel bus.
17.​ What is a PCI bridge?
●​ A device that connects multiple PCI buses to expand system capabilities.
18.​ How does PCI handle multiple devices?
●​ It uses bus mastering, where devices can communicate without
involving the CPU.
19.​ What is the purpose of the PCI configuration space?
●​ It stores information about connected devices for automatic system
configuration.
20.​ How many lanes can PCIe support?
●​ PCIe can support configurations like x1, x4, x8, x16, and x32 lanes.
Parallel Printer Interface (LPT Port)
21.​ What is the LPT port used for?
●​ It is used to connect printers and other parallel communication devices.
22.​ What is the data width of the LPT port?
●​ It is an 8-bit port.
23.​ How does the parallel port transmit data?
●​ It sends 8 bits of data simultaneously using separate wires.
24.​ What are the common modes of parallel port operation?
●​ SPP (Standard Parallel Port), EPP (Enhanced Parallel Port), and ECP
(Extended Capabilities Port).
25.​ What is the main drawback of parallel ports?
●​ They have a short cable length limit and lower speed compared to USB.
26.​ What type of connector is used for LPT ports?
●​ A 25-pin DB-25 connector.
27.​ How does the EPP mode improve performance?
●​ It allows bidirectional data transfer at higher speeds.
28.​ What was the primary use of the LPT port in early computers?
●​ Connecting printers and scanners.
29.​ Why was the parallel port replaced by USB?
●​ USB offers higher speed, better plug-and-play support, and reduced
cable complexity.
30.​ How does an LPT port differ from a COM port?
●​ The LPT port is parallel (8-bit), while the COM port is serial (1-bit).

Serial COM Ports

31.​ What is a COM port?
●​ A serial communication port used for connecting modems, mice, and
other devices.
32.​ What is the standard connector type for COM ports?
●​ 9-pin (DB-9) or 25-pin (DB-25) connectors.
33.​ What protocol is commonly used with serial ports?
●​ RS-232.
34.​ What is the maximum baud rate of a standard COM port?
●​ Typically 115,200 bps.
35.​ Why are serial ports used in industrial applications?
 ●​ They are simple, reliable, and support long-distance communication.
36.​ What is flow control in serial communication?
●​ A mechanism to prevent data loss by coordinating data transmission
speed.
37.​ What is a UART (Universal Asynchronous Receiver-Transmitter)?
●​ A chip that converts parallel data into serial form for transmission.
38.​ What is the difference between hardware and software flow control?
●​ Hardware flow control uses control signals, while software flow control
uses special characters like XON/XOFF.
39.​ Why is the COM port slower than USB?
●​ It transmits data sequentially, bit by bit, instead of using multiple data
lanes.
40.​ What is the purpose of DTR (Data Terminal Ready) in RS-232
communication?
●​ It signals that the device is ready for communication.

Universal Serial Bus (USB)

41.​ What is USB?
●​ USB (Universal Serial Bus) is a high-speed, plug-and-play interface for
connecting peripherals.
42.​ What are the different versions of USB?
●​ USB 1.1 (12 Mbps), USB 2.0 (480 Mbps), USB 3.0 (5 Gbps), and USB 4.0
(40 Gbps).
43.​ What is the maximum cable length for USB devices?
●​ 5 meters for USB 2.0, 3 meters for USB 3.0.
44.​ What is USB hub?
●​ A device that expands the number of available USB ports.
45.​ How does USB handle power management?
●​ It provides up to 5V power for connected devices and supports power
saving modes.
46.​ What are the two types of USB connectors?
●​ Type-A (host-side) and Type-B (device-side).
47.​ What is the main advantage of USB over older buses like ISA and PCI?
●​ USB supports hot-swapping, plug-and-play, and high-speed data
transfer.
48.​ What is the purpose of the USB enumeration process?
●​ It allows the system to detect and configure a newly connected USB
device.
49.​ How does USB differ from serial and parallel ports?
●​ USB is faster, supports multiple devices on one port, and requires no
manual configuration.
50.​ What is the USB OTG (On-The-Go) feature?
●​ It allows USB devices like smartphones to act as both a host and a
peripheral.