questions from vimas

• What's meant by von neuman architecure?

  • Both the data and structure share the same memory store
  • follows the fetch-decode-execute cycle
• Define the term 'pipelining' - 3 marks

  • one instruction can be fetched whilst another is being decoded
  • ..and another is being executed
  • completes multiple FDE cycles at once
• Give one way the Harvard architecture differs from the von neuman architecture - 1 mark

  • Instruction and data are stored in separate memory units
• Give two features of a replacement processor that would increase the typical performance of the computer - 2 marks

  • More cache memory
  • More cores
  • Faster clock speed
• Benefits of pipelining:

  • More instructions can be carried out in a set amount of time
  • increases speed/performance of the program
• Describe how the accumulator is used in the FDE cycle - 2 marks

  • holds the result of calculations from the ALU
  • holds all input/output
  • stores data which has come from MDR/RAM
• Describe how the program counter is used during the FDE cylce - 2 marks

  • Holds the adress of the next instruction to be executed/fetched
  • Incremented by on each cycle
• State the name of three other registers that are used in the FDE cycle:

  • MAR
  • MDR
  • CIR
  • IR (index register)
• RISC


  • Reduced instruction set
  • Smaller number of instructions available
  • Several instructions can be combined to perform tasks as CISC instructions used regularly
  • Has fewer transitors
  • Can only do complex things by combining multiple instructions
  • Compilers need to be more complex than CISC
• CISC


  • Complex instruction set
  • Traditional approach to processor design
  • Lots of instructions available (some instructions will rarely get used)
  • CISC integrated units = more expensive/complicated
  • May take several cycles
  • Can complete complex things in one line (doesn't need to combine multiple instructions)
• RISC -evaluation

  • Requires softwares to be specifically written for it (cannot use CISC isntructions
  • More power efficient
  • would require less/no cooling mechanism
  • Smaller/longer battery life
  • May require greater RAM as programs tend to be larger than their CISC equivalent
• CISC - evaluation

  • Less power efficient
  • Requires a larger battery + cooling mechanism
  • more expensive to purchase
• What is meant by 'primary key'


  A field that us unique/doesn't repeat
• Identify one method of capturing a new customer's personal data, and why this method is suitable:

  • form/web form
  • Can use validation to check for errors
  • can check for duplicate values
  • data can be entered straight into the database (limited manual processing)
• Identify two methods of exchanging data with other computer systems:

  • SQL
  • EDI
• ACID stands for atomicity, consistency, isolation and durability.

  Describe what is meant by the transaction bein durable:

  • the data/transaction is not lost
  • incase of a power/system failure
• Give one way that durability can be achieved for a completed transaction:

  • Completed transactions should be stored in temporary storage //not stored in RAM