J277 Key Terms Homework 1

CPU

• “Decodes instructions. Sends signals to control how data moves around the CPU.”

• “Holds the result of calculations.”

• “The complete process of retrieving an instruction from store, decoding it and carrying it out.  Also known as the instruction cycle.”

• “The main part of the computer (the brain), consisting of the registers, ALU and control unit.”

Fetch-execute cycle

• “Holds the address of the next instruction to be executed. Step 1 of the fetch, decode, execute cycle.”

• “The complete process of retrieving an instruction from store, decoding it and carrying it out.  Also known as the instruction cycle.”

• “Performs calculations e.g. x = 2 + 3 and logical comparisons e.g. IF x > 3 in the CPU”

• “Holds the address of data ready for use by the memory data register, or the address of an instruction passed from the program counter. Step 2 of the fetch, decode, execute cycle.”

ALU

• “Performs calculations e.g. x = 2 + 3 and logical comparisons e.g. IF x > 3 in the CPU.”

• “The main part of the computer (the brain), consisting of the registers, ALU and control unit.”

• “Memory in the processor providing fast access to frequently used instructions and data.”

• “Decodes instructions. Sends signals to control how data moves around the CPU.”

CU

• “Decodes instructions. Sends signals to control how data moves around the CPU.”

• “Holds the data fetched from or to be written to the memory. Step 3 of the fetch, decode, execute cycle.”

• “Traditional computer architecture that forms the basis of most digital computer systems.  Instructions are fetched, decoded and executed one at a time.”

• “Holds the result of calculations.”

Cache

• “Performs calculations e.g. x = 2 + 3 and logical comparisons e.g. IF x > 3 in the CPU.”

• “Holds the address of data ready for use by the memory data register, or the address of an instruction passed from the program counter. Step 2 of the fetch, decode, execute cycle.”

• “Memory in the processor providing fast access to frequently used instructions and data.”

• “Tiny areas of extremely fast memory located in the CPU normally designed for a specific purpose, where data or control information is stored temporarily e.g. the MAR, MDR etc.”

Register

• “Performs calculations e.g. x = 2 + 3 and logical comparisons e.g. IF x > 3 in the CPU.”

• “Holds the address of data ready for use by the memory data register, or the address of an instruction passed from the program counter. Step 2 of the fetch, decode, execute cycle.”

• “Memory in the processor providing fast access to frequently used instructions and data.”

• “Tiny areas of extremely fast memory located in the CPU normally designed for a specific purpose, where data or control information is stored temporarily e.g. the MAR, MDR etc.”

Von Neumann architecture

• “Decodes instructions. Sends signals to control how data moves around the CPU.”

• “Holds the data fetched from or to be written to the memory. Step 3 of the fetch, decode, execute cycle.”

• “Traditional computer architecture that forms the basis of most digital computer systems.  Instructions are fetched, decoded and executed one at a time.”

• “Holds the result of calculations.”

MAR

• “Holds the address of the next instruction to be executed. Step 1 of the fetch, decode, execute cycle.”

• “The complete process of retrieving an instruction from store, decoding it and carrying it out.  Also known as the instruction cycle.”

• “Performs calculations e.g. x = 2 + 3 and logical comparisons e.g. IF x > 3 in the CPU”

• “Holds the address of data ready for use by the memory data register, or the address of an instruction passed from the program counter. Step 2 of the fetch, decode, execute cycle.”

MDR

• “Decodes instructions. Sends signals to control how data moves around the CPU.”

• “Holds the data fetched from or to be written to the memory. Step 3 of the fetch, decode, execute cycle.”

• “Traditional computer architecture that forms the basis of most digital computer systems.  Instructions are fetched, decoded and executed one at a time.”

• “Holds the result of calculations.”

Program Counter

• “Holds the address of the next instruction to be executed. Step 1 of the fetch, decode, execute cycle.”

• “The complete process of retrieving an instruction from store, decoding it and carrying it out.  Also known as the instruction cycle.”

• “Performs calculations e.g. x = 2 + 3 and logical comparisons e.g. IF x > 3 in the CPU”

• “Holds the address of data ready for use by the memory data register, or the address of an instruction passed from the program counter. Step 2 of the fetch, decode, execute cycle.”