ITDR2102: Computer Organization – Tutorial Answers

Tutorial 9
From Lecture 9 (Input-Output)

1. Discuss the major functions of I/O module.

1. Control and timing
− Coordinates the flow of traffic between internal resources and external devices
2. Processor communication
− Involves command decoding, data, status reporting, address recognition
3. Device communication
− Involves commands, status information, and data
4. Data buffering
− Performs the needed buffering operation to balance device and memory speeds
5. Error detection
− Detects and reports transmission errors

2. Discuss the relative merits of polling, interrupts, and DMA.

1. Polling (programmed I/O) involves the CPU in repeatedly checking (polling) the I/O
devices' status registers to see if it is time to transfer data. Most of the time there is nothing
to do so processor time is wasted.
2. Interrupts are less wasteful since the processor is signaled when there is something to
do. But the processor must still transfer the data between the I/O device registers and
memory.
3. In DMA, the processor gives the DMA device a block of memory for the transfer of data
between memory and the device. It needs the starting address and the size of the block
The DMA device gains control of the external bus and transfers the data without
involvement of the CPU.
3. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of memory-mapped I/O versus isolated I/O.
Memory mapped I/O places the registers of the I/O interfaces in the normal address space of
the processor. This permits access by any memory reference instruction at the expense of
address space for real memory. Isolated I/O involves creating a separate address space
specifically for I/O registers and a special set of instructions to address them.

I/O addressing method Advantages Disadvantages

No special commands Expense of address space of the
Memory-mapped I/O
needed for I/O. memory.
Saves the address space • Need I/O or memory select lines.
Isolated I/O
of the memory • Special commands needed for I/O.

4. What are the main characteristics of Thunderbolt?

• Provides up to 10 Gbps throughput in each direction and up to 10 Watts of power to connected
peripherals.
• Most recent and fastest peripheral connection technology to become available for general-
purpose use
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