C952 ICSC 3120
Computer Architecture
Comprehensive Objective
Assessment
2024
,1. Multiple Choice: What is the primary advantage of a multi-threaded
processor?
a) Increased instruction set complexity
b) Reduced context switch time
c) Higher clock speed
d) Larger cache memory
Answer: b) Reduced context switch time
Rationale: Multi-threaded processors can switch between threads within a
single processor cycle, reducing the time and overhead associated with
context switching.
2. True/False: Superscalar processors can execute more than one
instruction per clock cycle.
Answer: True
Rationale: Superscalar processors have multiple execution units that allow
them to execute several instructions simultaneously, thus more than one
instruction per clock cycle.
3. Fill-in-the-Blank: The _______ is a small, fast memory located close to
the CPU to speed up the access to frequently used data.
Answer: Cache
Rationale: The cache is designed to speed up the access to data by storing
copies of frequently accessed memory locations.
, 4. Multiple Choice: In a direct-mapped cache, a memory block can be
mapped to how many locations?
a) One
b) Two
c) Four
d) Any location in the cache
Answer: a) One
Rationale: In a direct-mapped cache, each block of main memory maps
to exactly one cache line.
5. True/False: Out-of-order execution improves the CPU performance by
utilizing instruction cycles that would otherwise be wasted.
Answer: True
Rationale: Out-of-order execution allows the CPU to process instructions
as resources become available, rather than strictly sequentially, thus
improving efficiency.
6. Fill-in-the-Blank: A _______ predictor is a hardware mechanism that
attempts to guess the direction of a branch before it is known for sure.
Answer: Branch
Rationale: A branch predictor improves the flow in the instruction
pipeline by guessing the outcome of conditional branch instructions.
7. Multiple Choice: Which of the following is not a level of cache in
modern processors?
Computer Architecture
Comprehensive Objective
Assessment
2024
,1. Multiple Choice: What is the primary advantage of a multi-threaded
processor?
a) Increased instruction set complexity
b) Reduced context switch time
c) Higher clock speed
d) Larger cache memory
Answer: b) Reduced context switch time
Rationale: Multi-threaded processors can switch between threads within a
single processor cycle, reducing the time and overhead associated with
context switching.
2. True/False: Superscalar processors can execute more than one
instruction per clock cycle.
Answer: True
Rationale: Superscalar processors have multiple execution units that allow
them to execute several instructions simultaneously, thus more than one
instruction per clock cycle.
3. Fill-in-the-Blank: The _______ is a small, fast memory located close to
the CPU to speed up the access to frequently used data.
Answer: Cache
Rationale: The cache is designed to speed up the access to data by storing
copies of frequently accessed memory locations.
, 4. Multiple Choice: In a direct-mapped cache, a memory block can be
mapped to how many locations?
a) One
b) Two
c) Four
d) Any location in the cache
Answer: a) One
Rationale: In a direct-mapped cache, each block of main memory maps
to exactly one cache line.
5. True/False: Out-of-order execution improves the CPU performance by
utilizing instruction cycles that would otherwise be wasted.
Answer: True
Rationale: Out-of-order execution allows the CPU to process instructions
as resources become available, rather than strictly sequentially, thus
improving efficiency.
6. Fill-in-the-Blank: A _______ predictor is a hardware mechanism that
attempts to guess the direction of a branch before it is known for sure.
Answer: Branch
Rationale: A branch predictor improves the flow in the instruction
pipeline by guessing the outcome of conditional branch instructions.
7. Multiple Choice: Which of the following is not a level of cache in
modern processors?
