Component 1

Component 1

1. Architecture of the CPU (1.1.1)

   • The Purpose of the CPU
     • The fetch-execute cycle
       • Fetch, decode, execute
   • Common CPU components and their function
     • Arithmetic logic unit (ALU)
       • Peformas arithmetic and logic operations like additions and choices
     • Control unit (CU)
       • Controls everything in the CPU
     • Cache
       • Saves frequently used information so it can be accessed quickly and easilly
     • Registers
   • Von Neumann Architecture
     • Memory address register (MAR)
       • Holds the memory address to be accessed
     • Memory data register (MDR)
       • Holds the data read from secondary storage
     • Accumulator
       • Holds results from the ALU
     • Program counter (PC)
       • Hold the memory address to be accessed next

2. CPU peformance (1.1.2)

   • How common characteristics of CPUs affect their peformance
     • Clock speed
       • How many times it can fetch, decode and execute an instruction every second
     • Cache size
     • Number of cores
       • Some softwar allows different programs to be run on different cores

3. Embedded systems (1.1.3)

   • The purpose and characteristics of embedded systems
     • Computers within other machine systems or a coputer.
   • Examples of embedded systems
     • User interfaces on printers, machinery etc
     • Computers in vehicles