Test bank for Computer Architecture Latest edition 7th edition Authors: John L. Hennessy,
David A. Patterson, Christos Kozyrakis
,Chapter 1: Fundamentals of Quantitative Design and Analysis – MCQs
1. What is the primary goal of quantitative analysis in computer architecture?
A. To design aesthetically pleasing processors
B. To measure and compare performance and cost of architectures
C. To create complex instruction sets
D. To standardize software programming languages
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Quantitative analysis evaluates architecture decisions using performance
metrics, cost, and trade-offs to guide design.
2. Amdahl’s Law is used to:
A. Calculate maximum speedup of a system with a given enhancement
B. Determine energy consumption in circuits
C. Measure memory latency
D. Optimize compiler design
Correct Answer: A
Explanation: Amdahl’s Law shows how system speedup is limited by the fraction of
execution time affected by an improvement.
3. If a processor spends 40% of its time executing a loop that can be sped up by 2×, the
maximum overall speedup is:
A. 1.4×
B. 1.33×
C. 2×
D. 1.6×
Correct Answer: D
Explanation: Speedup = 1 / [(1 – 0.4) + (0.)] = 1 / (0.6 + 0.2) = .8 = 1.25× — Wait, let’s
compute carefully:
Step by step:
,Fraction affected = 0.4
Speedup of that fraction = 2×
Overall speedup = 1 / [(1 – fraction) + (fraction / speedup)]
= 1 / [(1 – 0.4) + (0.)]
= 1 / [0.6 + 0.2]
= .8
= 1.25×
Correct answer should be 1.25×, not 1.6×.
Correct Answer: — Not listed, need to adjust options. Let’s correct:
A. 1.25×
B. 1.33×
C. 1.5×
D. 2×
Correct Answer: A
Explanation: Using Amdahl’s Law, overall speedup = 1 / [(1 – 0.4) + (0.)] = 1.25×.
4. In computer performance measurement, CPI stands for:
A. Cycles Per Instruction
B. Computations Per Iteration
C. Clock Performance Indicator
D. Cycles Per Iteration
Correct Answer: A
Explanation: CPI measures the average number of clock cycles each instruction takes to
execute, a key metric in performance analysis.
5. Which factor does NOT directly affect CPU performance?
A. Instruction count
B. CPI
, C. Clock cycle time
D. Screen resolution
Correct Answer: D
Explanation: Screen resolution does not impact processor speed; performance depends
on instruction count, CPI, and clock cycle.
6. The performance of a computer can be expressed as:
A. Performance = 1 / Execution Time
B. Performance = Clock Frequency × CPI
C. Performance = Execution Time × Power
D. Performance = Instruction Count + CPI
Correct Answer: A
Explanation: Higher performance corresponds to lower execution time; performance is the
reciprocal of execution time.
7. Instruction count depends on:
A. Program, ISA, and compiler efficiency
B. Processor speed alone
C. Memory hierarchy only
D. Operating system version
Correct Answer: A
Explanation: Different programs, ISAs, and compiler optimizations affect the number of
instructions executed.
8. Which unit is commonly used to measure clock frequency?
A. Hertz (Hz)
B. Byte
C. Watt
D. Pascal
Correct Answer: A
David A. Patterson, Christos Kozyrakis
,Chapter 1: Fundamentals of Quantitative Design and Analysis – MCQs
1. What is the primary goal of quantitative analysis in computer architecture?
A. To design aesthetically pleasing processors
B. To measure and compare performance and cost of architectures
C. To create complex instruction sets
D. To standardize software programming languages
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Quantitative analysis evaluates architecture decisions using performance
metrics, cost, and trade-offs to guide design.
2. Amdahl’s Law is used to:
A. Calculate maximum speedup of a system with a given enhancement
B. Determine energy consumption in circuits
C. Measure memory latency
D. Optimize compiler design
Correct Answer: A
Explanation: Amdahl’s Law shows how system speedup is limited by the fraction of
execution time affected by an improvement.
3. If a processor spends 40% of its time executing a loop that can be sped up by 2×, the
maximum overall speedup is:
A. 1.4×
B. 1.33×
C. 2×
D. 1.6×
Correct Answer: D
Explanation: Speedup = 1 / [(1 – 0.4) + (0.)] = 1 / (0.6 + 0.2) = .8 = 1.25× — Wait, let’s
compute carefully:
Step by step:
,Fraction affected = 0.4
Speedup of that fraction = 2×
Overall speedup = 1 / [(1 – fraction) + (fraction / speedup)]
= 1 / [(1 – 0.4) + (0.)]
= 1 / [0.6 + 0.2]
= .8
= 1.25×
Correct answer should be 1.25×, not 1.6×.
Correct Answer: — Not listed, need to adjust options. Let’s correct:
A. 1.25×
B. 1.33×
C. 1.5×
D. 2×
Correct Answer: A
Explanation: Using Amdahl’s Law, overall speedup = 1 / [(1 – 0.4) + (0.)] = 1.25×.
4. In computer performance measurement, CPI stands for:
A. Cycles Per Instruction
B. Computations Per Iteration
C. Clock Performance Indicator
D. Cycles Per Iteration
Correct Answer: A
Explanation: CPI measures the average number of clock cycles each instruction takes to
execute, a key metric in performance analysis.
5. Which factor does NOT directly affect CPU performance?
A. Instruction count
B. CPI
, C. Clock cycle time
D. Screen resolution
Correct Answer: D
Explanation: Screen resolution does not impact processor speed; performance depends
on instruction count, CPI, and clock cycle.
6. The performance of a computer can be expressed as:
A. Performance = 1 / Execution Time
B. Performance = Clock Frequency × CPI
C. Performance = Execution Time × Power
D. Performance = Instruction Count + CPI
Correct Answer: A
Explanation: Higher performance corresponds to lower execution time; performance is the
reciprocal of execution time.
7. Instruction count depends on:
A. Program, ISA, and compiler efficiency
B. Processor speed alone
C. Memory hierarchy only
D. Operating system version
Correct Answer: A
Explanation: Different programs, ISAs, and compiler optimizations affect the number of
instructions executed.
8. Which unit is commonly used to measure clock frequency?
A. Hertz (Hz)
B. Byte
C. Watt
D. Pascal
Correct Answer: A
