1.1 Systems Architecture Pre Exam

Ann wants to purchase a new computer and is looking at two models. The specification of the CPU in each computer is shown in Fig. 1.

Computer 1:

Clock Speed: 1 GHZ

Cache size: 2 MB

Number of Cores: 4

Computer 2:

Clock Speed: 1.4 GHz

Cache Size: 2 MB

Number of Corse: 2

When running a 3D flight simulator, Computer 1 is likely to run faster than Computer 2.

Using the information in Fig. 1, identify one reason for this.

• It has more cores

• It has a large cache

• It has a higher clock speed.

Ann wants to purchase a new computer and is looking at two models. The specification of the CPU in each computer is shown in Fig. 1.

Computer 1:

Clock Speed: 1 GHZ

Cache size: 2 MB

Number of Cores: 4

Computer 2:

Clock Speed: 1.4 GHz

Cache Size: 2 MB

Number of Corse: 2

When running a 3D flight simulator, Computer 1 is likely to run faster than Computer 2.

Which two answers best explains why the cache size affects the performance of the CPU.

Answers: 2

• It is faster to transfer to and from cache

  ...than transferring to and from RAM

• data is transferred faster ...

  ...which makes a CPU more efficient

• data is transferred slower ...

  ...which makes a CPU more less efficient

• It is faster to transfer to and from RAM

  ...than transferring to and from Cache

Identify three events that take place during the fetch-execute cycle.

Answers: 3

• An instruction is fetched from memory

• The instruction is then decoded

• The decoded instruction is then executed

• The decoded data is executed

• An instruction is fetched from secondary storage

Gareth has a satellite navigation system (Sat Nav) which contains an embedded system.

Define what is meant by an 'embedded system'.

• A computer system that is built into another device

• A device built into another computer system

• A device built into another device

Identify three devices, other than a Satellite Navigation system, that contain embedded systems.

Answers: 3

• Dishwasher

• MP3 player

• Washing machine

• Laptop

• Smart Phone

CPU stands for Central Processing Unit.

• True

• False

The CPU fetches and decodes instructions.

• True

• False

The speed of a CPU is usually measured in GigaHertz (GHz).

• True

• False

If a CPU has many cores, this slows down the computer.

• True

• False

The hard disk drive is part of the CPU.

• False

• True