1.1 System Architecture - Keywords

“The complete process of retrieving an instruction from storage, decoding it and carrying it out. Also known as the instruction cycle.”

• Operation cycle
• Fetch-decode-execute cycle

• Execution cycle
• Processing cycle

“Performs calculations (e.g., x = 2 + 3) and logical comparisons (e.g., IF x > 3) in the CPU.”

• GPU
• Motherboard
• RAM
• ALU

: “The main part of the computer, consisting of the registers, ALU and control unit.”

• Mainframe Processing Unit (MPU)
• Primary Processing Unit (PPU)
• Central Processing Unit (CPU)
• Random Processing Unit (RPU)

Decodes instructions. Sends signals to control how data moves around the CPU.”

• Arithmetic Logic Unit
• Control Unit
• Input/Output Controller
• Random Access Memory

“Memory in the processor that provides fast access to frequently used instructions and data.”

• ROM
• Cache
• RAM
• CPU

“Tiny areas of extremely fast memory located in the CPU, normally designed for a specific purpose where data or control information is stored temporarily – e.g., MAR, MDR, etc.”

• Stack
• ALU
• Registers
• Cache

“Traditional computer architecture that forms the basis of most digital computer systems. Instructions are fetched, decoded and executed one at a time.”

• Harvard architecture
• Turing architecture
• Von Neumann architecture
• Boolean architecture

“Holds the address of data ready to be used by the memory data register or the address of an instruction passed from the program counter. Step two of the fetch-decode-execute cycle.”

• Memory Data Register
• Instruction Address Register
• Data Address Register
• Memory Address Register

“Holds data fetched from or to be written to memory. Step three of the fetch-decode-execute cycle.”

• Memory Data Register

• Control Unit
• Memory Address Register

• 
  Instruction Address Register

“Holds the address of the next instruction to be executed. Step one of the fetch-decode-execute cycle.”

• Memory Address Register
• Program Counter
• Arithmetic Logic Unit
• Instruction Register