CA Quiz LU11

Which concept was introduced by IBM in 1964 and separates architecture from implementation?

• Cache memory

• Pipelining

• Microprogrammed control unit

• Family concept

What is the driving force for Complex Instruction Set Computers (CISC)?

• Optimizing instruction pipeline

• Supporting more complex high level languages

• Reducing software costs

• Increasing hardware costs

What is the intention of CISC in terms of compiler writing?

• Implement complex operations in microcode

• Support more complex HLLs

• Improve execution efficiency

• Simplify compiler writing

What determines the function to be performed by the processor in terms of instruction execution characteristics?

• Operands used

• Processor interaction with memory

• Memory organization

• Execution sequencing

What is the purpose of having a large register file in RISC processors?

• To store global variables efficiently

• To optimize register usage

• To improve memory access

• To support complex HLLs

How are local scalar variables stored in registers in RISC processors?

• Reserved for global variables

• Passed as parameters

• Saved from registers into memory

• Stored in memory

What is the purpose of register windows in RISC processors?

• To switch to a fixed-sized window of registers

• To allocate registers based on most used variables

• To store global variables

• To hold parameters passed down from the parameter that called the current procedure

Why is CISC considered to have faster programs compared to RISC?

• More complex control unit

• Smaller programs

• Bias towards simpler instructions

• Optimization more difficult

What are the characteristics of RISC processors in terms of instruction execution?

• Multiple instructions per cycle

• Memory to memory operations

• Register to register operations

• Complex addressing modes

What is the main difference between RISC and CISC processors?

• Instruction formats

• Number of instructions per cycle

• Execution sequencing

• Control and pipeline organization