M3 - U1 - S4 - Features of Processors

True

Done so using the fundamental instruction set of the CPU and loaded into system memory

True or False: When a software program runs it is assembled into machine code instructions

FDEW (CPU)

Fetch, decode, execute, write back

Control Unit

• Fetches next instruction in sequence from system memory

• Decodes each instruction and executes itself or passes to ALU or FPU

Result of an executed instruction

• Output

• Written back to a register or system memory

x86

Commonly used family of complex instruction set computer (CISC) instruction set architectures first developed by intel

True

This meant that each instruction could only be 16-bits “wide”

True or False: The original version of the x86 CPU architecture was designed for 16-bit CPUs

Register

• A temporary storage area/memory available to the different units within the CPU

• Used to store and manipulate data during the execution of instructions

True

Modern PCs typically have 32-bit or 64-bit registers, and are referred to as 32-bit or 64-bit processors

True or False: The size of a processor's registers determines the amount of data it can process in a single operation

• 4 GB

• 256 TB

32-bit systems/CPUs can address ___ of system memory, whilst 64-bit systems/CPUs can address ____ (or more) of system memory

Clock Speed (CPU)

The number of instructions a CPU can process in one second (Hz)

False

This is true when comparing CPUs of the same architecture but otherwise not the case

True or False: The speed at which a CPU runs is ALWAYS a key indicator of performance

CPU Core

• Processing unit within a CPU that executes instructions and performs calculations

• Can have multiple in 1 CPU

Core Speed

Speed at which the CPU runs internal processes and accesses cache

Memory Controller (MCU/MCC)

Digital circuit that manages the flow of data going to and from a computer's main memory to a processor

Bandwidth

The maximum capacity at which a network/bus/connection system can transmit data

True

• Often by transferring data from 2 memory modules simultaneously (Dual-channel)

• Modern bus types and memory interfaces work at GHz speeds

True or False: Modern memory designs increase bandwidth by transferring data twice per clock cycle (Double Data Rate)

• Heat

• Power

Improving computer performance by increasing CPU clock speed produces more ___ and uses more ___

Symmetric Multiprocessing (SMP)

• Using two or more physical CPUs to increase computer performance/speed

• ____ aware OS can make efficient use of the CPUs

• Expensive - only found on servers and high-end workstations

Dual Core/Chip Level Multiprocessing

Type of processor architecture that utilizes multiple processor cores on a single chip die to enhance performance and efficiency