CS 330 chapter 1 & 2

Often referred to as processor the ___ controls the operation of the computer and performs its data processing functions.

CPU

The instruction set, the number of bits used to represent various data types, I/O mechanisms and techniques for addressing memory are all examples

Computer architecture

Control signals, interfaces between the computer and peripherals, and the memory technology used are all examples

Computer organization

T/F A computer organization does not need to be designed to implement a particular architectural specification.

False

T/F Changes in computer technology are finally slowing down.

False

T/F Computer organization refers to attributes of a system visible to the programmer.

False

T/F A computer is a complex system

True

T/F Both the structure and functioning of a computer are, in essence, simple.

True

T/F Interfaces between the computer and peripherals is an example of an organizational attribute.

True

T/F The number of bits used to represent various data types is an example of an architectural attribute.

True

I/O

When data are received from or delivered to a device that is directly connected to the computer, the process is known as

10. One increment, or pulse, of a clock is referred to as a __________ . A. clock cycle B. clock rate C. clock speed D. cycle time

a

11. The use of multiple processors on the same chip is referred to as __________ and provides the potential to increase performance without increasing the clock rate. A. multicore B. GPU C. data channels D. MPC

a

15. The best known of the SPEC benchmark suites is __________ . A. SPEC CPU2006 B. SPECjvm2008 C. SPECsfs2008 D. SPEC SC2013

a

3. Architectural attributes include __________ . A. I/O mechanisms B. control signals C. interfaces D. memory technology used

a

3. ___________ potentially increases the amount of work available for the processor to execute. A. Branch prediction B. Performance balance C. Pipelining D. BIPS

a

4. The interface between processor and ___________ is the most crucial pathway in the entire computer because it is responsible for carrying a constant flow of program instructions and data between memory chips and the processor. A. main memory B. pipeline C. clock speed D. control unit

a

5. It is a(n) _________ design issue whether a computer will have a multiply instruction. A. architectural B. memory C. elementary D. organizational

a

A _________ is a mechanism that provides for communication among CPU, main memory, and I/O. A. system interconnection B. CPU interconnection C. peripheral D. processor

a

When data are moved over longer distances, to or from a remote device, the process is known as __________. A. data communications B. registering C. structuring D. data transport

a

System/370

architecture is the architecture of IBM's mainframe product line.

Base metric

are required for all reported results and have strict guidelines for compilation.

The three common formulas used for calculating a mean are

arithmetic, harmonic, and geometric.

. A __________ system is a set of interrelated subsystems. A. secondary B. hierarchical C. complex D. functional

b

. A common example of system interconnection is by means of a __________. A. register B. system bus C. data transport D. control device

b

13. The __________ measures the ability of a computer to complete a single task. A. clock speed B. speed metric C. execute cycle D. cycle time

b

4. _________ attributes include hardware details transparent to the programmer. A. Interface B. Organizational C. Memory D. Architectural

b

5. The __________ is a relatively small fast memory interposed between a larger, slower memory and the logic that accesses the larger memory. A. peripheral B. cache C. processor D. arithmetic and logic unit

b

8. A(n) __________ Mean is a good candidate for comparing the execution time performance of several systems. A. Composite B. Arithmetic C. Harmonic D. Evaluation

b

9. __________ law deals with the potential speedup of a program using multiple processors compared to a single processor. A. Moore's B. Amdahl's C. Little's D. Murphy's

b

The __________ moves data between the computer and its external environment. A. data transport B. I/O C. register D. CPU interconnection

b

System Performance Evaluation Corporation (SPEC).

best-known collection of benchmark suites is defined and maintained by an industry consortium known

. The _________ stores data. A. system bus B. I/O C. main memory D. control unit

c

1. Multiple parallel pipelines are used in __________ . A. speculative execution B. data flow analysis C. superscalar execution D. branch prediction

c

7. A __________ is a core designed to perform parallel operations on graphics data. A. MIC B. ALU C. GPU D. PGD

c

An I/O device is referred to as a __________. A. CPU B. control device C. peripheral D. register

c

The __________ performs the computer's data processing functions. A. Register B. CPU interconnection C. ALU D. system bus

c

1. Computer technology is changing at a __________ pace. A. slow B. slow to medium C. rapid D. non-existent

c.

13. The major structural components of the CPU are

control unit, register, CPU interconnection, and ALU.

control unit

controls the operation of the CPU and hence the computer.

. It is a(n) _________ issue whether the multiply instruction will be implemented by a special multiply unit or by a mechanism that makes repeated use of the add unit of the system. A. architectural B. memory C. mechanical D. organizational

d

12. With respect to changes in values, the __________ Mean gives equal weight to all of the values in the data set. A. Harmonic B. Arithmetic C. Composite D. Geometric

d

14. A measurement of how many tasks a computer can accomplish in a certain amount of time is called a(n) __________ . A. real-time system B. application analysis C. cycle speed D. throughput

d

2. Computer _________ refers to those attributes that have a direct impact on the logical execution of a program. A. organization B. specifics C. design D. architecture

d

2. The desktop application(s) that require the great power of today's microprocessor-based systems include___________. A. image processing B. speech recognition C. videoconferencing D. all of the above

d

6. An increase in clock rate means that individual operations are executed _____. A. the same B. slower C. with very little change D. more rapidly

d

_________ provide storage internal to the CPU. A. Control units B. ALUs C. Main memory D. Registers

d

The basic functions that a computer can perform are

data processing, data movement, control, and data storage.

Amdahl's law

deals with the potential speedup of a program using multiple processors compared to a single processor.

Pipelining

enables a processor to work simultaneously on multiple instructions by performing a different phase for each of the multiple instructions at the same time.

speculative execution

enables the processor to keep its execution engines as busy as possible by executing instructions that are likely to be needed.

T/F 1. Year by year the cost of computer systems continues to rise.

f

T/F 3. Workstation systems cannot support highly sophisticated engineering and scientific applications.

f

T/F A straight comparison of clock speeds on different processors tells the whole story about performance.

f

T/F Measures such as MIPS and MFLOPS have proven adequate to evaluating the performance of processors.

f

T/F Raw speed is far more important than how a processor performs when executing a given application.

f

T/F Superscalar execution is the same principle as seen in an assembly line.

f

T/F A microcomputer architecture and organization relationship is not very close.

false

T/F Historically the distinction between architecture and organization has not been an important one.

false

T/F When data are moved over longer distances, to or from a remote device, the process is known as data transport.

false

Geometric Mean

gives consistent results regardless of which system is used as a reference.

benchmark suite

is a collection of programs, defined in a high-level language, that together attempt to provide a representative test of a computer in a particular application or system programming area.

Harmonic Mean

is preferred when calculating rates

Function

is the operation of each individual component as part of the structure.

Structure

is the way in which the components are interrelated

The four main structural components of the computer are

main memory, I/O, system interconnection, and CPU.

operates by executing microinstructions that define the functionality of the control unit.

microprogrammed control unit

Little's Law applies to a

queuing system.

Computer organization

refers to the operational units and their interconnections that realize the architectural specifications.

Computer architecture

refers to those attributes of a system visible to a programmer.

12. A common example of system interconnection is by means of a

system bus, consisting of a number of conducting wires to which all the other components attach.

T/F 2. Processors are so inexpensive that we now have microprocessors we throw away.

t

T/F 4. The IAS is the prototype of all subsequent general-purpose computers.

t

T/F A common measure of performance for a processor is the rate at which instructions are executed, expressed as millions of instructions per second (MIPS).

t

T/F Branch prediction potentially increases the amount of work available for the processor to execute.

t

T/F Cloud service providers use massive high-performance banks of servers to satisfy high-volume, high-transaction-rate applications for a broad spectrum of clients.

t

T/F Designers wrestle with the challenge of balancing processor performance with that of main memory and other computer components.

t

T/F Operations performed by a processor, such as fetching an instruction, decoding the instruction, performing an arithmetic operation, and so on, are governed by a system clock.

t

T/F The cache holds recently accessed data.

t

T/F The raw speed of the microprocessor will not achieve its potential unless it is fed a constant stream of work to do in the form of computer instructions.

t

branch prediction

the processor looks ahead in the instruction code fetched from memory and predicts which branches, or groups of instructions, are likely to be processed next.

Hertz.

the speed of a processor is dictated by the pulse frequency produced by the clock, by this

T/F A computer must be able to process, store, move, and control data.

true

T/F A particular architecture may span many years and encompass a number of different computer models, its organization changing with changing technology.

true

T/F Changes in technology not only influence organization but also result in the introduction of more powerful and more complex architectures.

true

T/F The hierarchical nature of complex systems is essential to both their design and their description.

true

Arithmetic Mean

used for a time-based variable, such as program execution time, has the important property that it is directly proportional to the total time.