CPU Architecture Quiz

What are the two different instruction sets used by computer CPUs?

• A. CISC and RISC

• B. ARM and MSP

• C. x86 and MIPS

• D. VLIW and EPIC

What are the four stages used in pipelining to keep a CPU as busy as possible?

• A. Load, Store, Compute, Write

• B. Fetch, Decode, Execute, Write-back

• C. Read, Process, Write, Flush

• D. Input, Process, Output, Store

What is meant by pre-fetching in CPU architecture?

• A. Storing data in RAM before the CPU needs it

• B. Bringing more data than immediately wanted by the CPU and loading it in CPU cache

• C. Executing instructions before they are needed

• D. Saving frequently used instructions for faster access

In what unit is CPU clock speed expressed?

• A. Megabytes (MB)

• B. Terahertz (THz)

• C. Gigahertz (GHz)

• D. Kilohertz (kHz)

Which CPU is likely to be faster: a dual-core or a quad-core?

• A. Dual-core

• B. Quad-core

• C. Single-core

• D. Triple-core

What are the three different ways multi-processing can be implemented?

• A. Single-threading, Multi-threading, Hyper-threading

• B. Several cores in one CPU, several CPUs on one motherboard, many CPUs in a larger system

• C. Pipelining, Parallel processing, Distributed computing

• D. Synchronous processing, Asynchronous processing, Concurrent processing

Give an example of an application that can use multi-threading.

• A. Web browser

• B. Word processor

• C. Database management system

• D. Operating system

What is a System on a Chip (SoC), and give two examples of its use?

• A. A chip with a single function; used in calculators and remote controls

• B. A functioning computer system on a single chip; used in domestic appliances and industrial robots

• C. A chip that handles only graphical data; used in GPUs and display controllers

List three adaptations used as features of server CPU architecture.

• Redundancy through duplicated power supplies, Increased amount of RAM, Backing storage configured in RAID

• Faster clock speed, Increased number of cores, Improved thermal management

• Enhanced graphics processing, Larger cache, Energy-efficient design

• Advanced cooling systems, Overclocking capabilities, Virtualisation support

Where is the accumulator in a CPU, and what data can it hold?

• In the Control Unit; it holds instructions

• In the Memory Unit; it holds cache data

• In the Arithmetic and Logic Unit (ALU); it holds one of the values used before an operation and the result after the operation

• In the Input/Output Unit; it holds input and output data