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05 - CPU and Memory
05 - CPU and Memory
Computer Architecture
CT049-3-1-OS&CA
Ver: VE
• Use of Registers
– Scratchpad for currently executing program
• Holds data needed quickly or frequently
– Stores information about status of CPU and currently executing program
• Address of next program instruction
• Signals from external devices
• General Purpose Registers
– User-visible registers
– Hold intermediate results or data values, e.g., loop counters
– Equivalent to LMC’s calculator
– Typically several dozen in current CPUs
Address Data
• ROM
– Read-only Memory
– Holds software that is not expected to change over the life of the
system
• EEPROM
– Electrically Erasable Programmable ROM
• Flash Memory
– Faster than disks but more expensive
– Uses hot carrier injection to store bits of data
– Slow rewrite time compared to RAM
– Useful for nonvolatile portable computer storage
• Parallel
– High throughput because all bits of a word are transmitted
simultaneously
– Expensive and require a lot of space
– Subject to radio-generated electrical interference which limits their
speed and length
– Generally used for short distances such as CPU buses and on
computer motherboards
• Serial
– 1 bit transmitted at a time
– Single data line pair and a few control lines
– For many applications, throughput is higher than for parallel
because of the lack of electrical interference
Plug-in
device Broadcast
bus
Example:
Ethernet
Shared among
multiple devices
Module Code & Module Title Slide Title SLIDE 30
Classification of Instructions
• Stack instructions
– LIFO method for organizing information
– Items removed in the reverse order from that in which they are
added
Push Pop
• OPCODE: task
• Source OPERAND(s)
• Result OPERAND
– Location of data (register, memory) Addresses
• Explicit: included in instruction
• Implicit: default assumed
Source Result
OPCODE
OPERAND OPERAND
Simple
32-bit
Instruction
Format
• Instruction
– Direction given to a computer
– Causes electrical or optical signals to be sent through specific circuits for
processing
• Instruction set
– Design defines functions performed by the processor
– Differentiates computer architecture by the
• Number of instructions
• Complexity of operations performed by individual instructions
• Data types supported
• Format (layout, fixed vs. variable length)
• Use of registers
• Addressing (size, modes)
• The instruction cycle is divided into two phases. Name each phase. The first phase is the
same for every instruction. What is the purpose of the first phase that makes this true?
• What are the criteria that define a von Neumann architecture? How does the addition of
two numbers illustrate each of the criteria?
• What is the difference between volatile and nonvolatile memory? Is RAM volatile or
nonvolatile? Is ROM volatile or nonvolatile?
• Registers perform a very important role in the fetch-execute cycle. What is the function of
registers in the fetch-execute instruction cycle?
• Explain each of the fetch part of the fetch-execute cycle. At the end of the fetch operation,
what is the status of the instruction? Specifically, what has the fetch operation achieved
that prepares the instruction for execution?
• Explain the similarity between this operation and the corresponding operation performed
steps performed by the Little Man.
The workings of the computer can be simulated by a simple model. The Little Man Computer model consists of a Little
Man in a mailroom with mailboxes, a calculator, and a counter. Input and output baskets provide communication to the
outside world. The Little Man Computer meets all the qualifications of a von Neumann computer architecture.
The Little Man performs work by following simple instructions, which are described by three-digit numbers. The first
digit specifies an operation. The last two digits are used for various purposes, but most commonly to point to an
address. The instructions provide operations that can move data between the mail slots and the calculator, move data
between the calculator and the input and output baskets, perform addition and subtraction, and allow the Little Man to
stop working. There are also instructions that cause the Little Man
to change the order in which instructions are executed, either unconditionally or based on the value in the calculator.
Q&A
Module Code & Module Title Slide Title SLIDE 45
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