Systems Architecture

• What does CPU stand for?

  Central Processing Unit
• Where is the CPU located in a computer?

  On the motherboard
• What is the purpose of a heat sink in relation to the CPU?

  To cool down the CPU
• What is the function of the CPU?

  It processes data
• What is a multicore CPU?

  A CPU with several processors within it
• What are the three main components of the CPU?

  ALU, control unit, and register unit
• What does the ALU stand for and what is its function?

  Arithmetic Logic Unit; it performs arithmetic and logic operations
• What role does the control unit play in the CPU?

  It coordinates the CPU's operations
• What are registers in the context of a CPU?

  Small, quick storage locations for data
• What is the Von Neumann architecture?

  A model that describes the structure of modern computers
• What is the stored program concept?

  Instructions and data are stored together in memory
• How does the Harvard model differ from the Von Neumann model?

  The Harvard model has separate memories for instructions and data
• What is the significance of the bottleneck in the Von Neumann architecture?

  If the connection between memory and CPU is slow, it creates a bottleneck
• What is the function of the system clock in a computer?

  To provide timing signals for synchronization
• How does the clock speed affect CPU performance?

  A higher clock speed allows the CPU to execute more instructions per second
• What is the fetch-execute cycle?

  The process of retrieving and executing instructions by the CPU
• What happens during the fetch stage of the fetch-execute cycle?

  Instructions are retrieved from memory and sent to the CPU
• What is the role of the control unit during the execute stage?

  It activates the necessary circuitry in the ALU to perform operations
• What is an operator in the context of an instruction?

  It specifies the operation to be performed
• What is an operand in the context of an instruction?

  It refers to the data that the operation will act upon
• What happens to the output of the ALU after executing an instruction?

  It may be stored in a register or written to memory
• How does clock speed relate to the number of cycles per instruction?

  A higher clock speed results in more cycles being completed per instruction
• What is the relationship between the CPU and other components in a computer?

  The CPU controls the processing of data for the entire computer
• What is the significance of the fetch-execute cycle in CPU operation?

  It is essential for executing instructions and processing data
• How does the ALU perform operations?

  It carries out arithmetic and logic operations as directed by the control unit
• What is the purpose of registers in the CPU?

  To provide quick access to small amounts of data
• What is the role of the control unit in the CPU?

  It coordinates the operations of the CPU and manages instruction execution
• What is the significance of the clock in synchronizing CPU operations?

  It ensures that all components operate in harmony at the correct times
• How does the CPU handle data transfers during the execute stage?

  It reads from and writes to registers and memory as needed
• What is the importance of the fetch-execute cycle in relation to clock speed?

  Faster clock speeds allow for more fetch-execute cycles per second
• What is the relationship between the ALU and the control unit?

  The control unit directs the ALU to perform specific operations
• How does the CPU's architecture affect its performance?

  The architecture determines how efficiently it processes instructions and data
• What is the significance of the ALU in the CPU?

  It performs the actual computations and logical operations
• What is the role of the control unit in instruction execution?

  It decodes instructions and manages their execution
• How does the CPU interact with memory during the fetch-execute cycle?

  It retrieves instructions from memory and executes them
• What is the impact of a slow memory connection on CPU performance?

  It creates a bottleneck, slowing down overall processing
• What is the purpose of the fetch stage in the fetch-execute cycle?

  To retrieve the next instruction from memory
• What does the execute stage involve in the fetch-execute cycle?

  Executing the instruction and performing the necessary operations
• How does the CPU's clock speed relate to its ability to execute instructions?

  A higher clock speed allows the CPU to execute more instructions in a given time
• What is the significance of the ALU's operations in the CPU?

  They are essential for performing calculations and logical decisions