Computer Architecture Quiz

What is the primary function of the CPU in a computer system?

• To display graphics on the screen

• To store data in the hard drive

• To execute instructions and perform calculations

• To connect to the internet

Explain the concept of instruction set architecture (ISA) in CPU design.

• ISA is responsible for managing the power consumption of the CPU

• ISA determines the speed of the CPU

• ISA is the physical layout of the CPU components

• ISA defines the set of instructions that a CPU can execute.

Describe the difference between RISC and CISC architectures.

• RISC architecture uses a small set of simple instructions, while CISC architecture uses a larger set of complex instructions.

• RISC architecture is more suitable for general-purpose computing, while CISC architecture is more suitable for specialized tasks.

• RISC architecture is designed for high-performance computing, while CISC architecture is designed for low-power devices.

• RISC architecture uses a larger set of simple instructions, while CISC architecture uses a small set of complex instructions.

What are the different levels of memory in the memory hierarchy?

• CPU, GPU, PSU, motherboard

• registers, cache, main memory (RAM), and secondary storage

• keyboard, mouse, monitor, printer

• software, hardware, firmware, middleware

Explain the purpose of cache memory in the memory hierarchy.

• To slow down the access speed of the CPU

• To store frequently accessed data and instructions for faster access by the CPU

• To provide additional storage for the operating system

• To store old and unused data for long-term storage

What is virtual memory and how does it work in the memory hierarchy?

• Virtual memory is a type of physical memory used in virtual reality simulations

• Virtual memory is a memory management technique that provides an idealized abstraction of the storage resources that are actually available on a given machine, which creates the illusion to users of a very large (main) memory.

• Virtual memory is a type of memory that only exists in the cloud

• Virtual memory is a type of memory that can only be accessed by virtual machines

Describe the role of RAM in the memory hierarchy.

• RAM stores data and machine code that is not currently being used in the memory hierarchy.

• RAM is responsible for processing data in the memory hierarchy.

• RAM stores data and machine code currently being used in the memory hierarchy.

• RAM is used to permanently store data in the memory hierarchy.

What is the difference between volatile and non-volatile memory?

• Volatile memory loses its data when the power is turned off, while non-volatile memory retains its data even when the power is turned off.

• Volatile memory is faster than non-volatile memory.

• Volatile memory retains its data when the power is turned off, while non-volatile memory loses its data when the power is turned off.

• Volatile memory and non-volatile memory both lose their data when the power is turned off.

Explain the concept of memory latency and its impact on system performance.

• Memory latency is the time it takes for the CPU to access data from the memory, and it can cause delays in data retrieval and processing, leading to slower overall performance.

• Memory latency is the time it takes for the CPU to access data from the cache, and it has no impact on system performance.

• Memory latency is the time it takes for the CPU to access data from the network, and it can improve system performance.

• Memory latency is the time it takes for the CPU to access data from the hard drive, and it has no impact on system performance.

Discuss the importance of memory bandwidth in computer architecture.

• Memory bandwidth has no impact on computer performance

• Memory bandwidth is only important for gaming computers

• Memory bandwidth is only important for storing large files

• Memory bandwidth determines the speed at which data can be transferred between the CPU and memory.