C952 - Computer Architecture with 100%
correct answers
embedded computer
a computer embedded inside a device, used for a specific purpose
Ex: computer embedded in a Smart TV
how is performance improved today?
by utilizing parallel processing and hierarchical memory
moore's law
integrated circuit resources double every ~2 years
abstraction
simplify a model by hiding low-level details
Ex: hiding memory management in Java
common case
common uses/needs
make the common case fast
making the most common uses of a system fast will enhance performance more than enhancing the
less common cases
parallel computing
a model in which programs are broken into small pieces, some of which are run simultaneously
pipelining
moving multiple operations through hardware units that each do a piece of an operation
it's faster to have many small units helping than have one monolithic unit to do everything
predictive processing
processing data ahead of when it's needed by predicting the outcome of another operation
if predictions are frequently accurate, this can speed up processing
hierarchical memory
using a combination of fast, small memory and larger, slower tiers of memory to support it.
Ex: CPU cache, RAM, SSD, HDD (in that order)
dependability via redundancy
introducing redundancy allows systems to continue in the event failures
,systems software
operating system, BIOS, other software that runs on top of the hardware
assembler
a program that translates symbolic versions of instructions to their binary version
assembly language
a symbolic representation of machine instructions
machine language
the binary representation of machine instructions
high-level programming language
a language composed of words and algebraic notation that can be translated into assembly
control (computer organization)
sends signals that determine instructions for other components to perform
datapath (computer organization)
performs instructions and calculations on data
raster refresh buffer (frame buffer)
memory that stores the bitmap for the frame to display on the screen
dynamic random access memory (DRAM)
A type of memory that is used to provide random access to any location in memory
static random access memory (SRAM)
faster than DRAM but stores less in the same area
cache memory
small, fast memory that keeps a redundant copy of data in larger, slower memory
instruction set architecture (architecture)
An abstract interface between the hardware and the lowest-level software that encompasses all the
information necessary to write a machine language program that will run correctly, including
instructions, registers, memory access, I/O, and so on.
Ex: x86, RISC-V
application binary interface (ABI)
the user portion of the instruction set plus OS interfaces used by application programmers
defines a standard for binary portability across computers
, implementation
hardware that obeys the architecture abstraction
volatile memory
storage in which data is only retained while it's receiving power
Ex: DRAM
nonvolatile memory
memory that retains data even in the absence of power
Ex: HDD
main/primary memory
memory used to hold programs while they're running
Ex: DRAM
secondary memory
nonvolatile memory used to store programs/data
Ex: SSD/HDD
very large-scale integrated (VLSI) circuit
a device containing hundreds of thousands to millions of transistors
semiconductor
a substance that doesn't conduct electricity well
chip manufacturing process
ingot -> wafer -> pattered wafer -> test -> dies -> packaged dies -> test -> shipping
defect
a microscopic flaw in a wafer or patterning steps that can result in the failure of the die containing the
defect
die
individual rectangular section cut from a wafer
response/execution time
the total time required for a computer to complete a task, including all convoluting factors
throughput/bandwidth
a measure of performance - the number of tasks completed per unit time
correct answers
embedded computer
a computer embedded inside a device, used for a specific purpose
Ex: computer embedded in a Smart TV
how is performance improved today?
by utilizing parallel processing and hierarchical memory
moore's law
integrated circuit resources double every ~2 years
abstraction
simplify a model by hiding low-level details
Ex: hiding memory management in Java
common case
common uses/needs
make the common case fast
making the most common uses of a system fast will enhance performance more than enhancing the
less common cases
parallel computing
a model in which programs are broken into small pieces, some of which are run simultaneously
pipelining
moving multiple operations through hardware units that each do a piece of an operation
it's faster to have many small units helping than have one monolithic unit to do everything
predictive processing
processing data ahead of when it's needed by predicting the outcome of another operation
if predictions are frequently accurate, this can speed up processing
hierarchical memory
using a combination of fast, small memory and larger, slower tiers of memory to support it.
Ex: CPU cache, RAM, SSD, HDD (in that order)
dependability via redundancy
introducing redundancy allows systems to continue in the event failures
,systems software
operating system, BIOS, other software that runs on top of the hardware
assembler
a program that translates symbolic versions of instructions to their binary version
assembly language
a symbolic representation of machine instructions
machine language
the binary representation of machine instructions
high-level programming language
a language composed of words and algebraic notation that can be translated into assembly
control (computer organization)
sends signals that determine instructions for other components to perform
datapath (computer organization)
performs instructions and calculations on data
raster refresh buffer (frame buffer)
memory that stores the bitmap for the frame to display on the screen
dynamic random access memory (DRAM)
A type of memory that is used to provide random access to any location in memory
static random access memory (SRAM)
faster than DRAM but stores less in the same area
cache memory
small, fast memory that keeps a redundant copy of data in larger, slower memory
instruction set architecture (architecture)
An abstract interface between the hardware and the lowest-level software that encompasses all the
information necessary to write a machine language program that will run correctly, including
instructions, registers, memory access, I/O, and so on.
Ex: x86, RISC-V
application binary interface (ABI)
the user portion of the instruction set plus OS interfaces used by application programmers
defines a standard for binary portability across computers
, implementation
hardware that obeys the architecture abstraction
volatile memory
storage in which data is only retained while it's receiving power
Ex: DRAM
nonvolatile memory
memory that retains data even in the absence of power
Ex: HDD
main/primary memory
memory used to hold programs while they're running
Ex: DRAM
secondary memory
nonvolatile memory used to store programs/data
Ex: SSD/HDD
very large-scale integrated (VLSI) circuit
a device containing hundreds of thousands to millions of transistors
semiconductor
a substance that doesn't conduct electricity well
chip manufacturing process
ingot -> wafer -> pattered wafer -> test -> dies -> packaged dies -> test -> shipping
defect
a microscopic flaw in a wafer or patterning steps that can result in the failure of the die containing the
defect
die
individual rectangular section cut from a wafer
response/execution time
the total time required for a computer to complete a task, including all convoluting factors
throughput/bandwidth
a measure of performance - the number of tasks completed per unit time
