Chapter 2 (COMPUTER EVOLUTION AND PERFORMANCE )

2.1. What is a stored program computer?

Answer:

A stored program computer is a computer to use a stored-program concept.

A stored-program concept is the programming process could be facilitated if the program could be   represented in a form suitable for storing in memory alongside the data. Then, a computer could get its instructions by reading them from memory, and a program could be set or altered by setting the values of a portion of memory.

2.2. What are the four main components of any general-purpose computer?

Answer:

The four main components of any general-purpose computer:

·         Main memory (M)

·         I/O equipment (I,O)

·         Arithmetic-logic unit (CA)

·         Program control unit (CC)

2.3At the integrated circuit level, what are the three principal constituents of a computer system?

Answer:

The three principal constituents of a computer system are,

·         Transistors

·         Resistors

·         Capacitors

2.4. Explain Moore’s law.

Answer:

The famous Moore’s law, which was propounded by Gorton Moore, cofounder Intel, in 1965. Moore observed that,

The number of transistors that could be put on a single chip was doubling every year and correctly predicted that this pace would continue into the near future. To the surprise of many, including Moore, the pace continued year after year and decade after decade. The pace slowed to a doubling every 18 months in the 1970s, but has sustained that rate ever since.

2.5. List and explain the key characteristics of a computer family.

Answer:

The key characteristics of a computer family

·         Similar or identical instruction set: In many cases, the exact same set of machine is instructions are supported on all members of the family. Thus, a program that executes on one machine will also execute on any other. In some cases, the lower end of the family has an instruction set that is a subset of that of the top end of the family. This means that programs can move up but not down.

·         Similar or identical operation system: The same basic operating system is available for all family members. In some cases, additional features are added is the higher-end members.

·         Increasing speed: The rate of instruction execution increases in going from lower to higher family members.

·         Increasing number of I/O ports: In going from lower to higher family members.

·         Increasing memory size: In going from lower to higher family members.

·         Increasing cost: In going from lower to higher family members.

2.6. What is the key distinguishing feature of a microprocessor?

Answer:

The key distinguishing feature of a microprocessor is,

·         Clock speeds

·         Bus width

·         Number of transistors (microns)

·         Addressable memory

·         Virtual memory