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what is computer architecture
structure of a computer system determining how components work together
what does CPU stand for
Central processing unit
what does CU stand for
Control unit
what does ALU stand for
arithmetic and logic unit
what does the CPU consist of
CU, ALU, registers, buses
what is the CPU
central point of a computer that carries out all instructions
what is an integrated circuit
small silicone chip that contains electric components
what is von neumann architecture
Idea of a stored-program computer
what did von neumann architecture do or help with
got rid of computers needing to be fed data by a huma
what are three main novel features
concept of a CPU, CPU accessing memory directly, computers storing data
what are the components of the CPU
CU, ALU, system clock
what does the CU do
read instructions for memory
how is CU interprreted
fetch -decode-execute cycle
what does the CU ensure
synching of data flow and instructions in the computer
what does the ALU do
Allows required mathematic instructions or logic operations to be carried out
what does the system clock do
produce time signals on the control bus wh
what happens when the system clock is not there or not function well
computer crashes
what are registers
Small, fast storage units within the CPU used to hold temporary data
what does CIR stand for
Current instruction register
what does ACC stand for
Accumulator
what does MAR stand for
Memory address register
what does MDR stand for
memory data/buffer register
what does PC stand for
program counter
CIR purpose
stores current instructions being decoded and executed
ACC purpose
carry out ALU calculations and stores them temporarily
MAR purpose
stores address of memory being read or written to
PC purpose
stores address of the next instruction to be read
what do system buses do
Connect major computer components and control the transfers of data and control signals in-between
what does RAM stand for
random access memory
what does the RAM do
does not retain its contents when powered down
MDR purpose
stores data which has been read from data wihc is about to be written
what is the address bus
carries address from memory unit to CPY
data bus
carries data from memory to CPU
control bus
carries signal from CU to all computer components
what is fetch-decode-execute cycle
a method of processing data
FDE first step
PC stores the address location for the next carried out instruction. location copied into MAR
FDE step 2
PC incremented by one and stores next instruction
FDE step 3
CU requests RAM for instruction and sends signal to address bus
FDE step 4
Data held in RAM sent to correct address through MDR
FDE step 5
one arrieved, copied into CIR
FDE step 6
instruction decoded in CIR using ALU then carried out. resilt stored in accumulator
what is the clock speed
number of electrical pulses that the clock inside the CPU produces every second
what is the clock speed measured in
hertz
what is over clocking
using clock speed higher than the computer was designed for
disadvantages of clock speed
Unsynched operations, serious overheating of CPU
what are cores
one core is made of an ALU and continually increases clock speed
what is cache
stores frequently used instructions and data needed to be accessed faster to improve CPU performance
what is an instruction set
common instructions developed by processor manufactures so CPU operates efficiently
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