4.7.2 Structure and role of the processor

4.7.2 Structure and role of the processor

1. Processor's role and operation

   • Processor components
     • Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU)
     • Control Unit
     • Clock
     • General-purpose registers
     • Dedicated registers
       • Program Counter (PC)
       • Current Instruction Register (CIR)
       • Memory Address Register (MAR)
       • Memory Buffer Register (MBR)
       • Status Register (SR)
   • Factors affecting Processor performance
     • Multiple cores
     • Cache memory
     • Clock speed
     • Word length
     • Address bus width
     • Data bus width

2. What is the stored program concept?

3. Use of Fetch-Execute cycle in executing machine code programs and role of registers

   • Decode
   • Fetch
   • Execute

4. Interrupts

   • What are they used for?
   • Role of Interrupt Service Routines (ISRs)
   • Effect on Fetch-Execute cycle
   • Need to save volatile environment while interrupt is being serviced