ICS 2101

W1-2-60-1-6

JOMO KENYATTA UNIVERSITY

OF
AGRICULTURE AND TECHNOLOGY

University Examinations 2014/2015

FIRST YEAR SPECIAL/SUPPLEMENTARY EXAMINATION FOR THE

DEGREE OF BACHELOR OF BUSINESS INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

ICS 2101 : COMPUTER ORGANIZATION

DATE: AUGUST 2015 TIME: 2 HOURS

INSTRUCTIONS: ANSWER QUESTION ONE (COMPULSORY) AND

ANY OTHER TWO QUESTIONS.
______________________________________________________________________

QUESTION ONE (30 MARKS)

(a) Differentiate between the term computer organization and computer

architecture. [4 marks]

(b) With the aid of a diagram, describe the four main components of a
computer system. [8 marks]

(c) Computer bus times are grouped depending on the function. State
and explain the three bus signal groups. [6 marks]

(d) Give the Boolean expression and the truth table for the following
logic gates: [6 marks]

(i) 2 input OR
(ii) 2 input NAND
(iii) 2 input AND

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(e) Define the following terms in the context of digital systems:

[6 marks]

(i) Circuit.
(ii) Literal.
(iii) Sequential circuit.

QUESTION TWO (20 MARKS)

(a) Define the term register in the context of CPU. Identify any five
registers with their corresponding functions. [12 marks]

(b) Identify the name of a circuit that takes several inputs and their
respective values to select the specific output line. Name the
important application of these devices. [4 marks]

(c) One of the cache design requirements is cache size. Explain the
impact of a larger cache in systems performance. [4 marks]

QUESTION THREE (20 MARKS)

(a) Using a diagram, discuss the modern multilayered system

architecture. [12 marks]

(b) Explain with justification (within a computer system) the common

areas of application for each of the following types of memory:
[8 marks]
(i) ROM
(ii) DRAM
(iii) SRAM
(iv) EEPROM

QUESTION FOUR (20 MARKS)

(a) Memory references tend to be clustered in certain regions within the

computer system. This principle is known as the principle of locality
and it occurs in three dimensions. State and explain these three
dimensional factors. [9 marks]

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(b) Using a diagram, describe the classical organization of CPU.
[5 marks]

(c) Explain the operation of 1-bit Adder using an illustrative diagram.

Show how a 1-bit Adder can be implemented using AND, OR and
NOT gate. [6 marks]

QUESTION FIVE (20 MARKS)

(a) Explain using a diagram why memory hierarchical organization is

important. Discuss the characteristics in the context of hierarchical
organization. [12 marks]

(b) Identify and explain four classes of interrupts. [8 marks]