Computer Architecture
Overview
Inside every computer is a single chip that does the actual thinking: the central processing unit. It does not work by magic but by repeating one tireless three-step routine billions of times a second, fetching an instruction, decoding it, then carrying it out. Understanding that cycle, and the small set of registers and units that perform it, is the key to explaining how any program runs.
In this lesson you will learn the role of the CPU and the microprocessor, walk through the fetch-decode-execute cycle component by component on a Von Neumann machine, and see how cores, cache and clock speed change performance. You will also meet the instruction set and the embedded systems that quietly run the devices around you.
Objectives
- 1 (a) Understand the role of the central processing unit (CPU) in a computer (b) Understand what is meant by a microprocessor
- 2 (a) Understand the purpose of the components in a CPU, in a computer that has a Von Neumann architecture (b) Describe the process of the fetch-decode-execute (FDE) cycle, including the role of each component in the process
- 3 Understand what is meant by a core, cache and clock in a CPU and explain how they can affect the performance of a CPU
- 4 Understand the purpose and use of an instruction set for a CPU
- 5 Describe the purpose and characteristics of an embedded system and identify devices in which they are commonly used
Lesson Note
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Lesson Evaluation
Congratulations on completing the lesson on Computer Architecture. Now that youve explored the key concepts and ideas, its time to put your knowledge to the test. This section offers a variety of practice questions designed to reinforce your understanding and help you gauge your grasp of the material.
You will encounter a mix of question types, including multiple-choice questions, short answer questions, and essay questions. Each question is thoughtfully crafted to assess different aspects of your knowledge and critical thinking skills.
Use this evaluation section as an opportunity to reinforce your understanding of the topic and to identify any areas where you may need additional study. Don't be discouraged by any challenges you encounter; instead, view them as opportunities for growth and improvement.
- Which register holds the address of the next instruction to be processed? A. MDR B. CIR C. Program counter (PC) D. Accumulator Answer: C
- What are the three stages of the cycle a CPU uses to process an instruction? A. read, write, store B. fetch, decode, execute C. input, process, output D. open, run, close Answer: B
- Which component performs the mathematical and logical operations? A. Control unit B. Arithmetic logic unit (ALU) C. Memory address register D. Program counter Answer: B
- Increasing the number of cores in a CPU improves performance mainly because it can: A. store more data permanently B. run more fetch-decode-execute cycles at the same time C. increase the clock speed automatically D. reduce the size of the instruction set Answer: B
- Which is the best example of an embedded system? A. a desktop PC B. a laptop C. the controller inside a washing machine D. a cloud server Answer: C
Available on the Green Bridge App
Download the Green Bridge CBT app on your phone or computer to access full lesson notes, practice questions, and more.
Available on the Green Bridge App
Download the Green Bridge CBT app on your phone or computer to access full lesson notes, practice questions, and more.
Recommended Books
Practice Mock Questions
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