Computer Science - The CPU

What is Von Neumann architecture

the stored program computer ; where instructions are stored in short term memory

summarise the purpose of the ALU

performs arithmetic operations and logic

summarise the purpose of the CPU

fetches, decodes and executes instructions from RAM; performs processes on the input to get the output

draw and label a diagram that shows input, output, CPU, ALU and main memory

explain the purpose of main memory

temporary storage for program that are currently running (GB)

explain the purpose of the cache

small high-speed bits of memory on board the CPU that hold recently/frequently used instructions. this speed up access (MB)

explain the purpose of registers

storing single instructions/address or piece of data

what does the memory hierarchy look like

what is the difference between data, instructions and addresses

data is any raw information that can be stored or processed

instructions are the operations being processed

addresses are the location in memory where data/instructions can be stored and fetched from

what is the purpose of the MAR

memory address register - part of the CPU that stores the address in memory of the instruction currently being executed

what is the purpose of the MDR

memory data register - stores the data/instructions from the address held in the MAR currently being executed

what is the PC

program counter- stores the address of the next instruction/data to be fetched from RAM. is always one FDE cycle ahead of the MAR

What is ACC

accumulator - stores the results of calculations

what is the control unit

part of the CPU that sends signals to control where to send information