M4-Computer Architecture: Memory Organization and x86 Addressing Modes Flashcards | Quizlet

What does memory organization refer to?

How a computer's memory is structured and accessed.

What is address space?

The maximum amount of memory that a processor can reference, determined by the number of bits used for memory addresses.

What is multi-level addressing?

A hierarchical addressing scheme where main memory is divided into segments or pages.

What is physical memory?

The actual hardware memory chips installed in the computer, faster than virtual memory.

What is virtual memory?

A technique that uses a portion of the hard drive to extend available memory beyond physical RAM.

How does physical RAM differ from virtual RAM in terms of speed?

Physical RAM is faster than virtual RAM.

What is the main limitation of physical RAM?

Its capacity is limited by the physical RAM chips installed.

What technique does virtual RAM use for memory management?

Paging.

What is register addressing?

An addressing mode where the operand is directly located within a CPU register.

Give an example of an instruction using register addressing.

MOV AX, BX (copies value from BX to AX).

What is register indirect addressing?

The operand's address is stored in one or more registers, which are used as memory addresses.

Provide an example of register indirect addressing.

MOV BX, [000C] (loads value at memory address 000C into BX).

What is immediate addressing?

The operand is a constant value directly embedded within the instruction.

Give an example of an instruction using immediate addressing.

MOV CX, 3000 (loads the value 3000 into CX).

What is index addressing?

An addressing mode that uses an index register to calculate the operand's effective address.

Provide an example of index addressing.

MOV CX, DI + 000F (calculates effective address by adding DI and 000F).

What is base addressing?

An addressing mode that uses a base register to calculate the operand's effective address.

Give an example of base addressing.

MOV CX, [BX] (uses BX as a memory address to load data into CX).

What is base index addressing?

An addressing mode that combines a base register and an index register to calculate the effective address.

Provide an example of base index addressing.

MOV BX, [SI + DI] (calculates effective address by adding SI and DI).

What is the role of the CPU in accessing physical memory?

It has direct access to the CPU.

How does virtual memory access the CPU?

Data must be moved to physical RAM first, as it does not have direct access.

What happens to the effective size of virtual RAM when physical memory is limited?

Its effective size is limited by the available physical memory.

What is the purpose of swapping techniques in RAM?

To manage data within the physical memory.

What is the limitation of virtual memory in terms of capacity?

It is limited by the size of the computer's hard drive and configured swap space.