Computer Science - Architecture Of The CPU

What is the fetch - execute cycle?

1. The instruction is set.

2. Fetches the instruction from the main memory.

3. It is then executed.

4. Then repeated

What is the main components of the CPU?

• ALU (arithemetic logic unit)

• CU (control unit)

• Cache

• Registers

What does the ALU do?

Performs all the basic math and logical decisions in the CPU.

What is the CU

Directs the operation of the processor by managing how it moves through the system.

What does the cache do?

Stores recently accessed data in a smaller, faster storage layer to avoid delay.

What are registers?

Holds data that the processor needs right away.

What is Von Neumann architecture?

A framework where program instructions and data share the same unified memory space.

Define MAR

MAR, Memory Address Register, temporarily holds the address of the instruction being read or written to RAM.

Define MDR

MDR , Memory Data Register, temporarily holds the instructions being transferred between the CPU and RAM.

What is a Program Counter?

Specialized hardware register in a CPU that stores the memory address of the next instruction to be fetched and executed.

What is an Accumulator?

Temporary storage that holds intermediate results of math and logic operations.

What can affects the CPU's performance?

• Clock speeds (measures the number of cycles the CPU executes per second)

• Cache size

• Number of cores

What is a core?

An individual processing unit inside the CPU.

What is a binary format?

A method of encoded data that uses a sequence of 1s and 0s that is processed by computers.

Name the units of data storage

• Byte

• Kilobyte(KB)

• Megabyte(MB)

• Gigabyte(GB)

• Terabyte(TB)

Convert the units of data storages

1 000 bits ➜ 1 KB

1 000 KB ➜ 1 MB

1 000 MB ➜ 1 GB

1 000 GB ➜ 1 TB

What is the equation of sound file size?

Sound file size = sample rate x duration(s) x bit depth

What is the equation of image file size?

Image file size = colour depth x image height(px) x image width(px)

What is the equation of text file size?

Text file size = bits per character x number of characters

Name the different types of searching algorithms

• Binary search

• Linear search

Name different types of sorting algorithms

• Merge sort

• Bubble sort

• Insertion sort

What is a linear search?

Starts at the first value in the data set and checks every value one at a time until the value you are looking for is found.

How is a linear search done?

1. Check the first value, if it is the data you are looking for the search ends.

2. If it is not, repeat this with all the values until the data is found.

What is a binary search?

Halves the data set with the middle value, go left if the value is smaller but right when bigger.

How is a binary search is done?

1. Identify the middle value

2. Compare the value to see if it is bigger or smaller

3. If the value is smaller, go left and create a new list with the numbers of the right including the middle value.

4. Repeat this instructions until the value you are looking for is set to be the middle value.

What is an algorithm?

A set of detailed instructions that are set for a computer to follow as efficiently as possible.