lOMoARcPSD|16248954
Answer the following items shown below. Answers can be computerized (font style Arial with
font size 11) or hand-written. The document size should be A4 and in PDF format.
1. Explain the difference between primary and secondary memory storage. (5 pts.)
Primary memory is directly accessed by the processing unit whereas Secondary
memory cannot be accessed directly by the processor. Primary memory is both
volatile & nonvolatile whereas Secondary memory is always a non-volatile memory.
2. Explain the relationship between the speed that a microprocessor executes an
instruction and the clock frequency of the microprocessor. (5 pts.)
The relationship between them is that the speed at which the microprocessor
executes instructions is called clock speed. Clock speeds are measured in MHz or
GHz where 1 MHz means 1 million cycles per second whereas 1 GHz equals to 1
billion cycles per second. Generally speaking, the higher number of pulses per
second, the faster the computer processor will be able to process information.
3. Explain the difference between RISC and CISC. (5 pts.)
RISC needs more RAM, whereas CISC has an emphasis on smaller code size and
uses less RAM overall than RISC. RISC emphasizes on software to optimize the
instruction set. CISC emphasizes on hardware to optimize the instruction set.
4. Explain the difference between Von Neumann and Harvard architecture. (5 pts.)
Von Neumann architecture which employs a single bus to both fetch instructions from
memory and transfer data from one part of a computer to another, Harvard
architecture has separate memory space for data and instruction. Both the concepts
are similar except the way they access memories.
5. Describe the advantage of high-level languages compared to assembly and
machine language. (5 pts.)
High level languages are similar to the human language. Unlike low level languages,
high level languages are programmers friendly, easy to code, debug and maintain. It
also provides higher level of abstraction from machine language. They do not interact
directly with the hardware. Rather, they focus more on the complex arithmetic
operations, optimal program efficiency and easiness in coding.
Type or paste an image of your solutions and answers below:
Answer the following items shown below. Answers can be computerized (font style Arial with
font size 11) or hand-written. The document size should be A4 and in PDF format.
1. Explain the difference between primary and secondary memory storage. (5 pts.)
Primary memory is directly accessed by the processing unit whereas Secondary
memory cannot be accessed directly by the processor. Primary memory is both
volatile & nonvolatile whereas Secondary memory is always a non-volatile memory.
2. Explain the relationship between the speed that a microprocessor executes an
instruction and the clock frequency of the microprocessor. (5 pts.)
The relationship between them is that the speed at which the microprocessor
executes instructions is called clock speed. Clock speeds are measured in MHz or
GHz where 1 MHz means 1 million cycles per second whereas 1 GHz equals to 1
billion cycles per second. Generally speaking, the higher number of pulses per
second, the faster the computer processor will be able to process information.
3. Explain the difference between RISC and CISC. (5 pts.)
RISC needs more RAM, whereas CISC has an emphasis on smaller code size and
uses less RAM overall than RISC. RISC emphasizes on software to optimize the
instruction set. CISC emphasizes on hardware to optimize the instruction set.
4. Explain the difference between Von Neumann and Harvard architecture. (5 pts.)
Von Neumann architecture which employs a single bus to both fetch instructions from
memory and transfer data from one part of a computer to another, Harvard
architecture has separate memory space for data and instruction. Both the concepts
are similar except the way they access memories.
5. Describe the advantage of high-level languages compared to assembly and
machine language. (5 pts.)
High level languages are similar to the human language. Unlike low level languages,
high level languages are programmers friendly, easy to code, debug and maintain. It
also provides higher level of abstraction from machine language. They do not interact
directly with the hardware. Rather, they focus more on the complex arithmetic
operations, optimal program efficiency and easiness in coding.
Type or paste an image of your solutions and answers below:
