- What is computer architecture?
Computer architecture refers to the design and organization of a computer's components and systems, focusing on the functionality, performance, and efficiency of the hardware and software. - What is the CPU?
The Central Processing Unit (CPU) is the primary component of a computer that executes instructions from programs by performing arithmetic, logical, control, and input/output operations. - What is a microprocessor?
A microprocessor is an integrated circuit that contains the functions of a central processing unit (CPU) on a single chip, used in computers and other digital devices. - What is a bus?
A bus is a communication system that transfers data between computer components, such as the CPU, memory, and input/output devices. - What are registers?
Registers are small, fast storage locations within the CPU used to hold temporary data and instructions during processing. - What is an instruction set architecture (ISA)?
An instruction set architecture (ISA) is the part of the computer architecture that defines the set of instructions that the CPU can execute. - What is pipelining?
Pipelining is a technique used in CPU design to increase instruction throughput by overlapping the execution of multiple instructions. - What is a cache?
A cache is a small, fast memory storage area that holds frequently accessed data to speed up processing. - What is memory hierarchy?
Memory hierarchy is the organization of different types of memory (registers, cache, RAM, and storage) in a computer system based on speed, cost, and size. - What is an ALU?
The Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU) is a component of the CPU that performs arithmetic and logical operations on data. - What is a control unit?
The control unit is a part of the CPU that manages the execution of instructions by directing the operation of the ALU, memory, and input/output devices. - What is a motherboard?
The motherboard is the main circuit board of a computer that connects and allows communication between the CPU, memory, and other hardware components. - What is an interrupt?
An interrupt is a signal that temporarily halts the CPU's current operations to attend to a higher-priority task or event. - What is parallel processing?
Parallel processing is the simultaneous execution of multiple instructions or tasks to improve computing performance and speed. - What is a multicore processor?
A multicore processor is a single chip that contains two or more independent processing units (cores) that can execute instructions simultaneously. - What is an input/output (I/O) system?
An input/output (I/O) system is a subsystem of a computer that manages communication between the CPU and external devices, such as keyboards, printers, and storage devices. - What is memory addressing?
Memory addressing is the process of assigning and accessing specific memory locations in a computer system. - What is a stack?
A stack is a data structure used in computer memory to store and manage data in a last-in, first-out (LIFO) order. - What is virtual memory?
Virtual memory is a memory management technique that uses a portion of the hard drive as an extension of RAM to increase the available memory for programs. - What is a system bus?
A system bus is a set of parallel wires that connect the CPU, memory, and input/output devices, allowing data transfer between them. - What is cache memory?
Cache memory is a small, high-speed memory that stores frequently accessed data and instructions to speed up retrieval.
- What are cache lines?
Cache lines are the units of data transfer between the main memory and the cache, containing a fixed number of bytes. - What is cache coherence?
Cache coherence refers to the consistency of data stored in multiple caches within a multi-processor system, ensuring all caches reflect the most recent write. - What is Direct Memory Access (DMA)?
DMA allows peripherals to access main memory directly without CPU intervention, increasing data transfer speed and efficiency. - What is an interrupt?
An interrupt is a signal to the CPU that requires immediate attention, temporarily halting the current execution to address the interrupt. - What is an interrupt handler?
An interrupt handler (or interrupt service routine) is a software routine that is executed in response to an interrupt, managing the specific event. - What is a Memory Management Unit (MMU)?
The MMU is a hardware component responsible for handling memory access and translating virtual addresses to physical addresses. - What is virtual memory?
Virtual memory is a memory management technique that uses hard disk space as an extension of RAM, allowing programs to use more memory than physically available. - What is paging?
Paging is a memory management scheme that divides memory into fixed-size blocks called pages, facilitating virtual memory. - What is segmentation?
Segmentation is a memory management scheme that divides memory into variable-size blocks called segments, each with a logical function. - What is a Translation Lookaside Buffer (TLB)?
A TLB is a cache for the MMU that stores recent virtual-to-physical address translations, speeding up memory access. - What is bus width?
Bus width refers to the number of bits that can be transmitted simultaneously over a bus, affecting data transfer rates. - What is bus clock speed?
Bus clock speed determines the rate at which data can be transferred over a bus, measured in Hertz (Hz). - What is a chipset?
A chipset is a group of integrated circuits designed to work together, controlling communication between the CPU, memory, and peripherals. - What is a front-side bus (FSB)?
The FSB connects the CPU to the northbridge chipset, managing communication with the memory and other high-speed components. - What is a back-side bus (BSB)?
The BSB connects the CPU to the L2 cache, facilitating faster access to frequently used data. - What is a northbridge?
The northbridge chipset handles communication between the CPU, RAM, and graphics card, managing high-speed interactions. - What is a southbridge?
The southbridge chipset manages communication with slower peripherals such as hard drives, USB ports, and audio devices. - What is a system on a chip (SoC)?
An SoC integrates all or most components of a computer system onto a single integrated circuit, optimizing space and power efficiency. - What is Amdahl's Law?
Amdahl's Law states that the potential speedup of a program using multiple processors is limited by the portion of the program that cannot be parallelized, highlighting diminishing returns.
