1.1 systems architecture

• What does 'CPU' stand for?

  Central Processing Unit
• What is the purpose of the CPU?

  To process data and instructions by repeating the fetch-execute cycle
• What are the main components of the CPU?

  • Control Unit (CU)
  • Arithmetic and Logic Unit (ALU)
  • Registers
  • Cache Memory
• What is the role of the Control Unit (CU) in the CPU?

  It sends control signals to direct the operation of the CPU
• What are the three main factors that affect the performance of a computer system?

  Cache memory, clock speed, and number of cores
• What is an embedded system?

  A computer system built into a larger machine to provide control
• What does the ALU stand for and what is its function?

  ALU stands for Arithmetic and Logic Unit, which performs calculations and logical operations
• What is cache memory?

  Temporary storage for frequently accessed data
• What is the Fetch - Execute (F - E) cycle performed by?

  The CPU
• What is one example of an embedded system?

  A washing machine
• What is a register in the context of the CPU?

  A register is a temporary storage space for one instruction or address
• How does cache memory improve performance?

  It provides data and instructions to the CPU at a faster rate
• How often is the Fetch - Execute cycle performed by the CPU?

  Millions of times every second
• How does a washing machine utilize an embedded system?

  It has a control chip that manages different program cycles
• What is the purpose of cache memory in a CPU?

  Cache memory temporarily stores frequently accessed data
• If a computer has 8GB of cache memory instead of 4GB, what is the expected performance outcome?

  Higher performance due to faster access to frequently used instructions
• What is the primary function of the Fetch - Execute cycle?

  To process data and instructions for programs or services
• What is another example of an embedded system?

  A traffic light
• How does cache memory compare to registers and RAM in terms of speed?

  Cache is slower than registers but faster than RAM
• What function does the control chip in a traffic light serve?

  It determines when to change to a green or red light
• What is a register in the context of a CPU?

  A small storage space for temporary data
• What is a limitation of cache memory?

  It is costly, so most computers only have a small amount
• What is computer architecture?

  • The design and structure of a computer
  • Determines how components interact
  • Influences performance and capabilities
• How many essential registers are used in the Fetch - Execute cycle?

  Three essential registers
• What is clock speed?

  The measure of how quickly a CPU can process instructions
• What is the most common type of computer architecture?

  Von Neumann architecture
• What type of tasks do embedded systems perform?

  Specific pre-programmed tasks stored in ROM
• In what unit is clock speed measured?

  Gigahertz (GHz)
• What components do embedded systems use?

  A combination of hardware and software
• Who developed the concept of a stored program computer?

  John von Neumann
• What does the Program Counter (PC) register do?

  Tracks the RAM address of the next instruction to be fetched
• What does a clock speed of 3.5 GHz mean?

  The CPU can perform 3.5 billion cycles per second
• What is the role of the Memory Address Register (MAR)?

  Tracks the RAM address of the instruction to be fetched
• What are the typical characteristics of embedded systems regarding storage and processing power?

  They often have a small amount of storage and low processing power
• What is a key feature of Von Neumann architecture?

  It stores both program instructions and data in the same memory (RAM)
• How does clock speed improve performance?

  A higher clock speed allows more instructions to be processed each second
• What is the specification code for the OCR exam board related to embedded systems?

  J277
• What does the Memory Data Register (MDR) store?

  The instruction that has been transferred from RAM to the CPU
• How does Harvard architecture differ from Von Neumann architecture?

  Harvard architecture has separate memories for program instructions and data
• What happens to performance when a CPU is overclocked?

  The computer performs faster but risks overheating and damage