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