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Computer Architecture And Design

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Answer 38 questions in 15 minutes.
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1. What are two examples of instruction - level parallelism?
10^9 cycles per sec
Procedure call. Copies PC to $ra - # push $t0 - Subu $sp - $sp - 4 - sw $t0 - ($sp) - # pop $t0 - Lw $t0 - ($sp) - addu $sp - $sp - 4
(1) pipelining (2) multiple instruction issue
Also called DLP. A form of parallelization of computing across multiple processors in parallel computing environments - which focuses on distributing the data across different parallel computing nodes.

2. What is thread- level parallelism?
Also called TLP. A form of parallelization of computer code across multiple processors in parallel computing environments - which focuses on distributing execution processes (threads) across different parallel computing nodes.
There does not exist the case of negative zero. - Can perform a- b as a+ (- b) without adjustments inside the CPU.
Computers that are lodged in other devices where their presence is not immediately obvious.
10^9 cycles per sec

3. What is the $sp register used for?
Points to the current top of the stack
Add memory - additional processors to handle more tasks in a given time.
Computer speeds double every 18-24 months
Also called TLP. A form of parallelization of computer code across multiple processors in parallel computing environments - which focuses on distributing execution processes (threads) across different parallel computing nodes.

4. How is CPU performance measured?
Magnetic disk - flash memory are examples of this type of memory.
Instructions/unit time (e.g. - instructions/sec) - equal to 1/execution time
DRAM - RAM - Cache are examples of this type of memory.
Memory used to hold program while they are executing.

5. What is an Instruction Set Architecture (ISA)?
An abstract interface between the hardware and the lowest level software that encompasses all the information necessary to write a machine language program that will run correctly - including instructions - registers - memory access - I/O - etc.
The performance enhancement possible with a given improvement is limited by the amount that the improvement feature is used.
Points to the current top of the stack
A faster processor to complete task sooner - a better algorithm to complete the program/task sooner.

6. What is non - volatile memory?
Storage that retains data even in the absence of a power source.
There does not exist the case of negative zero. - Can perform a- b as a+ (- b) without adjustments inside the CPU.
(1) pipelining (2) multiple instruction issue
Also called ILP. This is the potential overlap among instructions. There are two approaches: (1) hardware - and (2) software.

7. What is soft real- time?
The combination of performance (measured primarily in therms of compute performance and graphics performance) and the price of a system.
When it is possible to occasionally miss the time constraint on an event - as long as not too many are missed.
Algorithm - programming language - compiler - instruction set architecture
The performance enhancement possible with a given improvement is limited by the amount that the improvement feature is used.

8. What is volatile memory?
Algorithm - programming language - compiler - instruction set architecture
When a segment of the application has an absolute maximum execution time.
Storage that retains data only if it is receiving power
The performance enhancement possible with a given improvement is limited by the amount that the improvement feature is used.

9. What are the base units of GHz?
10^9 cycles per sec
1- response time 2- throughput - response time and throughput are directly proportional or only interrelated - Interrelated only.
Points to the current top of the stack
Instructions and data are stored in memory as numbers

10. What is the $epc register used for?
The most expensive computers - costing tens of millions of dollars. They emphasize floating- point performance.
Dedicated argument registers to reduce stack usage during procedure calls - consistently sized opcodes - separate instructions for store and load - improved linkage (jal and jr save $ra without using stack)
There does not exist the case of negative zero. - Can perform a- b as a+ (- b) without adjustments inside the CPU.
Points to the address of an instruction that caused an exception

11. An example of an improvement that would impact throughput (but not response time).
1- response time 2- throughput - response time and throughput are directly proportional or only interrelated - Interrelated only.
Storage that retains data only if it is receiving power
Non - volatile memory used to store programs and data between executions.
Add memory - additional processors to handle more tasks in a given time.

12. What are embedded computers?
Computers that are lodged in other devices where their presence is not immediately obvious.
(1) pipelining (2) multiple instruction issue
The specifics of a computer - including the detailed logic design and the packaging technology of the computer
Instructions and data are stored in memory as numbers

13. An example of non - volatile memory
Points to the current top of the stack
Magnetic disk - flash memory are examples of this type of memory.
Points to the next instruction to be executed.
Non - volatile memory used to store programs and data between executions.

14. What is secondary memory?
Non - volatile memory used to store programs and data between executions.
The number of tasks completed per unit of time.
High- level aspects of a computer's design - such as the memory system - the memory interconnect - and the design of the internal processor or CPU (central processing unit
1- response time 2- throughput - response time and throughput are directly proportional or only interrelated - Interrelated only.

15. How can you encode an ISA?
Points to the next instruction to be executed.
The performance enhancement possible with a given improvement is limited by the amount that the improvement feature is used.
10^9 cycles per sec
Using fixed or variable length encoding.

16. What is the $pc register used for?
High- level aspects of a computer's design - such as the memory system - the memory interconnect - and the design of the internal processor or CPU (central processing unit
Using fixed or variable length encoding.
Points to the next instruction to be executed.
When it is possible to occasionally miss the time constraint on an event - as long as not too many are missed.

17. What is main/primary memory?
Memory used to hold program while they are executing.
The combination of performance (measured primarily in therms of compute performance and graphics performance) and the price of a system.
A faster processor to complete task sooner - a better algorithm to complete the program/task sooner.
When a segment of the application has an absolute maximum execution time.

18. An example of something typically associated with RISC architecture that is not typical in CISC architecture.
A faster processor to complete task sooner - a better algorithm to complete the program/task sooner.
Dedicated argument registers to reduce stack usage during procedure calls - consistently sized opcodes - separate instructions for store and load - improved linkage (jal and jr save $ra without using stack)
An abstract interface between the hardware and the lowest level software that encompasses all the information necessary to write a machine language program that will run correctly - including instructions - registers - memory access - I/O - etc.
Computers that are lodged in other devices where their presence is not immediately obvious.

19. Stored Program Concept
Using fixed or variable length encoding.
DRAM - RAM - Cache are examples of this type of memory.
Instructions and data are stored in memory as numbers
Procedure call. Copies PC to $ra - # push $t0 - Subu $sp - $sp - 4 - sw $t0 - ($sp) - # pop $t0 - Lw $t0 - ($sp) - addu $sp - $sp - 4

20. What is a supercomputer?
Instructions and data are stored in memory as numbers
Input - output - memory - datapath - control
The most expensive computers - costing tens of millions of dollars. They emphasize floating- point performance.
Also called TLP. A form of parallelization of computer code across multiple processors in parallel computing environments - which focuses on distributing execution processes (threads) across different parallel computing nodes.

21. An example of an improvement that would impact response time (but not throughput).
A faster processor to complete task sooner - a better algorithm to complete the program/task sooner.
Input - output - memory - datapath - control
Also called TLP. A form of parallelization of computer code across multiple processors in parallel computing environments - which focuses on distributing execution processes (threads) across different parallel computing nodes.
Points to the next instruction to be executed.

22. Amdahl's Law
Magnetic disk - flash memory are examples of this type of memory.
Also called ILP. This is the potential overlap among instructions. There are two approaches: (1) hardware - and (2) software.
High- level aspects of a computer's design - such as the memory system - the memory interconnect - and the design of the internal processor or CPU (central processing unit
The performance enhancement possible with a given improvement is limited by the amount that the improvement feature is used.

23. What is data- level parallelism?
Computers that are lodged in other devices where their presence is not immediately obvious.
A faster processor to complete task sooner - a better algorithm to complete the program/task sooner.
Also called DLP. A form of parallelization of computing across multiple processors in parallel computing environments - which focuses on distributing the data across different parallel computing nodes.
Points to the address of an instruction that caused an exception

24. What are the hardware/software components affecting program performance?
Points to the address of an instruction that caused an exception
Algorithm - programming language - compiler - instruction set architecture
Storage that retains data even in the absence of a power source.
Desktop computer / laptop computer - server - super computer - embedded computer - mobile computing

25. What are the five classic components of a computer?
Input - output - memory - datapath - control
Instructions and data are stored in memory as numbers
The performance enhancement possible with a given improvement is limited by the amount that the improvement feature is used.
Computer speeds double every 18-24 months

26. What does hardware refer to?
Points to the current top of the stack
High- level aspects of a computer's design - such as the memory system - the memory interconnect - and the design of the internal processor or CPU (central processing unit
A faster processor to complete task sooner - a better algorithm to complete the program/task sooner.
The specifics of a computer - including the detailed logic design and the packaging technology of the computer

27. What is price performance?
Instructions and data are stored in memory as numbers
The combination of performance (measured primarily in therms of compute performance and graphics performance) and the price of a system.
Also called ILP. This is the potential overlap among instructions. There are two approaches: (1) hardware - and (2) software.
Storage that retains data only if it is receiving power

28. An example of volatile memory
Storage that retains data only if it is receiving power
DRAM - RAM - Cache are examples of this type of memory.
Non - volatile memory used to store programs and data between executions.
Computers that are lodged in other devices where their presence is not immediately obvious.

29. What is response time?
The total time required for the computer to to complete a task. (Includes disk accesses - memory accesses - I/O activities - OS overhead - and CPU execution time.)
The combination of performance (measured primarily in therms of compute performance and graphics performance) and the price of a system.
Magnetic disk - flash memory are examples of this type of memory.
Procedure call. Copies PC to $ra - # push $t0 - Subu $sp - $sp - 4 - sw $t0 - ($sp) - # pop $t0 - Lw $t0 - ($sp) - addu $sp - $sp - 4

30. What does jal <proc> do?
Also called ILP. This is the potential overlap among instructions. There are two approaches: (1) hardware - and (2) software.
Procedure call. Copies PC to $ra - # push $t0 - Subu $sp - $sp - 4 - sw $t0 - ($sp) - # pop $t0 - Lw $t0 - ($sp) - addu $sp - $sp - 4
The number of tasks completed per unit of time.
Using fixed or variable length encoding.

31. What is throughput?
The number of tasks completed per unit of time.
(1) pipelining (2) multiple instruction issue
Magnetic disk - flash memory are examples of this type of memory.
Procedure call. Copies PC to $ra - # push $t0 - Subu $sp - $sp - 4 - sw $t0 - ($sp) - # pop $t0 - Lw $t0 - ($sp) - addu $sp - $sp - 4

32. One reason why two's compliment is used as opposed to signed magnitude or one's compliment?
There does not exist the case of negative zero. - Can perform a- b as a+ (- b) without adjustments inside the CPU.
A faster processor to complete task sooner - a better algorithm to complete the program/task sooner.
The most expensive computers - costing tens of millions of dollars. They emphasize floating- point performance.
10^9 cycles per sec

33. What is a real- time performance requirement?
(1) pipelining (2) multiple instruction issue
The most expensive computers - costing tens of millions of dollars. They emphasize floating- point performance.
When a segment of the application has an absolute maximum execution time.
Procedure call. Copies PC to $ra - # push $t0 - Subu $sp - $sp - 4 - sw $t0 - ($sp) - # pop $t0 - Lw $t0 - ($sp) - addu $sp - $sp - 4

34. What is instruction - level parallelism?
High- level aspects of a computer's design - such as the memory system - the memory interconnect - and the design of the internal processor or CPU (central processing unit
(1) pipelining (2) multiple instruction issue
Also called ILP. This is the potential overlap among instructions. There are two approaches: (1) hardware - and (2) software.
Non - volatile memory used to store programs and data between executions.

35. What is included in the term organization?

36. What are the classes of computing applications (five)?
Desktop computer / laptop computer - server - super computer - embedded computer - mobile computing
The specifics of a computer - including the detailed logic design and the packaging technology of the computer
Non - volatile memory used to store programs and data between executions.
The number of tasks completed per unit of time.

37. Moore's Law
Non - volatile memory used to store programs and data between executions.
The combination of performance (measured primarily in therms of compute performance and graphics performance) and the price of a system.
DRAM - RAM - Cache are examples of this type of memory.
Computer speeds double every 18-24 months

38. What are the industry standard benchmarks to measure performance (e.g. - with different vendor chips)?
The most expensive computers - costing tens of millions of dollars. They emphasize floating- point performance.
1- response time 2- throughput - response time and throughput are directly proportional or only interrelated - Interrelated only.
The specifics of a computer - including the detailed logic design and the packaging technology of the computer
10^9 cycles per sec

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Test your basic knowledge |

Computer Architecture And Design

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Search BasicVersity Tests

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3d Computer Modeling

Actionscript

Adobe Flash

Adobe Illustrator

Adobe Illustrator Shortcuts

Adobe Indesign Publishing

Adobe Photoshop CS 2 - CS 3

Adobe Photoshop CS 5

Adobe Photoshop CS 5 Keyboard Shortcuts

Adobe Photoshop Graphic Design

Adobe Photoshop Tools And Commands

Adobe Premiere Keyboard Shortcuts

Adobe Premiere Pro

After Effects Keyboard Shortcuts

Agile Development

Agile Scrum Methodology

Ajax

Android Programming

Animation

Asp.net Programming