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Computer Architecture And Design

Instructions:

Answer 38 questions in 15 minutes.
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Match each statement with the correct term.
Don't refresh. All questions and answers are randomly picked and ordered every time you load a test.

This is a study tool. The 3 wrong answers for each question are randomly chosen from answers to other questions. So, you might find at times the answers obvious, but you will see it re-enforces your understanding as you take the test each time.

1. What is the $sp register used for?
Points to the current top of the stack
(1) pipelining (2) multiple instruction issue
Computers that are lodged in other devices where their presence is not immediately obvious.
Non - volatile memory used to store programs and data between executions.

2. What is a supercomputer?
10^9 cycles per sec
The most expensive computers - costing tens of millions of dollars. They emphasize floating- point performance.
Points to the current top of the stack
Non - volatile memory used to store programs and data between executions.

3. What does hardware refer to?
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.)
Magnetic disk - flash memory are examples of this type of memory.
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

4. Moore's Law
10^9 cycles per sec
The combination of performance (measured primarily in therms of compute performance and graphics performance) and the price of a system.
Computer speeds double every 18-24 months
Points to the address of an instruction that caused an exception

5. What are the five classic components of a computer?
The specifics of a computer - including the detailed logic design and the packaging technology of the computer
Input - output - memory - datapath - control
DRAM - RAM - Cache are examples of this type of memory.
1- response time 2- throughput - response time and throughput are directly proportional or only interrelated - Interrelated only.

6. What is instruction - level parallelism?
DRAM - RAM - Cache 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.
Procedure call. Copies PC to $ra - # push $t0 - Subu $sp - $sp - 4 - sw $t0 - ($sp) - # pop $t0 - Lw $t0 - ($sp) - addu $sp - $sp - 4
Desktop computer / laptop computer - server - super computer - embedded computer - mobile computing

7. An example of non - volatile memory
Memory used to hold program while they are executing.
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.
Magnetic disk - flash memory are examples of this type of memory.
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

8. What is response time?
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.
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 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.)

9. What is included in the term organization?

10. What are embedded computers?
Non - volatile memory used to store programs and data between executions.
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
Add memory - additional processors to handle more tasks in a given time.
Computers that are lodged in other devices where their presence is not immediately obvious.

11. What are the classes of computing applications (five)?
Desktop computer / laptop computer - server - super computer - embedded computer - mobile computing
Points to the address of an instruction that caused an exception
There does not exist the case of negative zero. - Can perform a- b as a+ (- b) without adjustments inside the CPU.
The most expensive computers - costing tens of millions of dollars. They emphasize floating- point performance.

12. What is an Instruction Set Architecture (ISA)?
Memory used to hold program while they are executing.
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.
Storage that retains data only if it is receiving power
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.)

13. What is main/primary memory?
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.
Magnetic disk - flash memory are examples of this type of memory.
Memory used to hold program while they are executing.

14. What is thread- level parallelism?
Also called ILP. This is the potential overlap among instructions. There are two approaches: (1) hardware - and (2) software.
The combination of performance (measured primarily in therms of compute performance and graphics performance) and the price of a system.
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
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.

15. What does jal <proc> do?
10^9 cycles per sec
When a segment of the application has an absolute maximum execution time.
Points to the next instruction to be executed.
Procedure call. Copies PC to $ra - # push $t0 - Subu $sp - $sp - 4 - sw $t0 - ($sp) - # pop $t0 - Lw $t0 - ($sp) - addu $sp - $sp - 4

16. What is throughput?
DRAM - RAM - Cache are examples of this type of memory.
The number of tasks completed per unit of time.
The combination of performance (measured primarily in therms of compute performance and graphics performance) and the price of a system.
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

17. 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.
Computers that are lodged in other devices where their presence is not immediately obvious.
DRAM - RAM - Cache 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

18. How is CPU performance measured?
Non - volatile memory used to store programs and data between executions.
10^9 cycles per sec
Algorithm - programming language - compiler - instruction set architecture
Instructions/unit time (e.g. - instructions/sec) - equal to 1/execution time

19. What are two examples of instruction - level parallelism?
(1) pipelining (2) multiple instruction issue
Points to the address of an instruction that caused an exception
The most expensive computers - costing tens of millions of dollars. They emphasize floating- point performance.
Storage that retains data even in the absence of a power source.

20. What is a real- time performance requirement?
When a segment of the application has an absolute maximum execution time.
Storage that retains data only if it is receiving power
The combination of performance (measured primarily in therms of compute performance and graphics performance) and the price of a system.
Points to the address of an instruction that caused an exception

21. What are the hardware/software components affecting program 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)
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.)
Storage that retains data even in the absence of a power source.
Algorithm - programming language - compiler - instruction set architecture

22. An example of volatile memory
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.
Points to the address of an instruction that caused an exception
Non - volatile memory used to store programs and data between executions.

23. What is the $epc register used for?
Points to the address of an instruction that caused an exception
Algorithm - programming language - compiler - instruction set architecture
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.
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

24. What is soft real- time?
10^9 cycles per sec
When it is possible to occasionally miss the time constraint on an event - as long as not too many are missed.
DRAM - RAM - Cache are examples of this type of memory.
The performance enhancement possible with a given improvement is limited by the amount that the improvement feature is used.

25. How can you encode an ISA?
The performance enhancement possible with a given improvement is limited by the amount that the improvement feature is used.
The specifics of a computer - including the detailed logic design and the packaging technology of the computer
Using fixed or variable length encoding.
10^9 cycles per sec

26. Stored Program Concept
Memory used to hold program while they are executing.
1- response time 2- throughput - response time and throughput are directly proportional or only interrelated - Interrelated only.
Instructions and data are stored in memory as numbers
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.

27. One reason why two's compliment is used as opposed to signed magnitude or one's compliment?
The most expensive computers - costing tens of millions of dollars. They emphasize floating- point performance.
There does not exist the case of negative zero. - Can perform a- b as a+ (- b) without adjustments inside the CPU.
DRAM - RAM - Cache are examples of this type of memory.
Computer speeds double every 18-24 months

28. What is data- level parallelism?
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.
(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.
Procedure call. Copies PC to $ra - # push $t0 - Subu $sp - $sp - 4 - sw $t0 - ($sp) - # pop $t0 - Lw $t0 - ($sp) - addu $sp - $sp - 4

29. An example of an improvement that would impact throughput (but not response time).
Points to the next instruction to be executed.
Add memory - additional processors to handle more tasks in a given time.
Desktop computer / laptop computer - server - super computer - embedded computer - mobile computing
When a segment of the application has an absolute maximum execution time.

30. What is secondary memory?
Non - volatile memory used to store programs and data between executions.
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 most expensive computers - costing tens of millions of dollars. They emphasize floating- point performance.
The specifics of a computer - including the detailed logic design and the packaging technology of the computer

31. What is volatile memory?
Points to the next instruction to be executed.
Storage that retains data only if it is receiving power
10^9 cycles per sec
Points to the current top of the stack

32. Amdahl's Law
Storage that retains data only if it is receiving power
Non - volatile memory used to store programs and data between executions.
Points to the address of an instruction that caused an exception
The performance enhancement possible with a given improvement is limited by the amount that the improvement feature is used.

33. What is non - volatile memory?
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.
Instructions and data are stored in memory as numbers
The most expensive computers - costing tens of millions of dollars. They emphasize floating- point performance.
Storage that retains data even in the absence of a power source.

34. What is price performance?
The specifics of a computer - including the detailed logic design and the packaging technology of the computer
Points to the next instruction to be executed.
The combination of performance (measured primarily in therms of compute performance and graphics performance) and the price of a system.
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.)

35. What are the base units of GHz?
10^9 cycles per sec
When it is possible to occasionally miss the time constraint on an event - as long as not too many are missed.
When a segment of the application has an absolute maximum execution time.
A faster processor to complete task sooner - a better algorithm to complete the program/task sooner.

36. What is the $pc register used for?
The performance enhancement possible with a given improvement is limited by the amount that the improvement feature is used.
Points to the next instruction to be executed.
When a segment of the application has an absolute maximum execution time.
The most expensive computers - costing tens of millions of dollars. They emphasize floating- point performance.

37. An example of something typically associated with RISC architecture that is not typical in CISC architecture.
Add memory - additional processors to handle more tasks in a given time.
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)
Instructions/unit time (e.g. - instructions/sec) - equal to 1/execution time
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.

38. What are the industry standard benchmarks to measure performance (e.g. - with different vendor chips)?
When a segment of the application has an absolute maximum execution time.
1- response time 2- throughput - response time and throughput are directly proportional or only interrelated - Interrelated only.
Computers that are lodged in other devices where their presence is not immediately obvious.
The number of tasks completed per unit of time.