Summary WGU C952 Computer Architecture Study Guide
() (Verified)
Register File - ANSWERA state element that consists of a set of registers that can be read and written by
supplying a register number to be accessed.
provides 1024 scalar 32-bit registers for up to 64 threads.
machine language - ANSWERThe language made up of binary-coded instructions that is used directly by
the computer
system software - ANSWERThe set of programs that enables a computer's hardware devices and
application software to work together; it includes the operating system and utility programs.
operating system - ANSWER(computer science) software that controls the execution of computer
programs and may provide various services
Assembly Language - ANSWERProgramming language that has the same structure and set of commands
as machine languages but allows programmers to use symbolic representations of numeric machine
code.
IBM 360/91 - ANSWERIntroduced many new concepts, including dynamic detection of memory hazards,
generalized forwarding, and reservation stations. Tomasulo's algorithm
The internal organization of the 360/91 shares many features with the Pentium III and Pentium 4, as
well as with several other microprocessors. One major difference was that there was no branch
prediction in the 360/91 and hence no speculation. Another major difference was that there was no
commit unit, so once the instructions finished execution, they updated the registers.
,Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM) - ANSWERMemory built as an integrated circuit; it provides
random access to any location. Access times are 50 nanoseconds and cost per gigabyte in 2012 was $5
to $10.
Multiple DRAMs are used together to contain the instructions and data of a program. In contrast to
sequential access memories, such as magnetic tapes, the RAM portion of the term DRAM means that
memory accesses take basically the same amount of time no matter what portion of the memory is
read.
Modern DRAMS consist of rows in each bank
frame buffering - ANSWERA portion of RAM containing a bitmap that drives a video display. It is a
memory buffer containing a complete frame of data.
The image to be represented onscreen is stored in the frame buffer, and the bit pattern per pixel is read
out to the graphics display at the refresh rate. The animation below shows a frame buffer with a
simplified design of just 4 bits per pixel.
Datapath - ANSWERThe component of the processor that performs arithmetic operations
Control - ANSWERThe component of the processor that commands the datapath, memory, and I/O
devices according to the instructions of the program.
Integrated circuit - ANSWERAlso called a chip. A device combining dozens to millions of transistors.
Central processor unit (CPU) - ANSWERAlso called processor. The active part of the computer, which
contains the datapath and control and which adds numbers, tests numbers, signals I/O devices to
activate, and so on.
,Static random access memory (SRAM) - ANSWERAlso memory built as an integrated circuit, but faster
and less dense than DRAM.
Instruction set architecture - ANSWERAlso called architecture. An abstract interface between the
hardware and the lowest-level software that encompasses all the information necessary to write a
machine language program that will run correctly, including instructions, registers, memory access, I/O,
and so on.
Application binary interface (ABI) - ANSWERThe user portion of the instruction set plus the operating
system interfaces used by application programmers. It defines a standard for binary portability across
computers.
Volatile memory - ANSWERStorage, such as DRAM, that retains data only if it is receiving power.
Nonvolatile Memory - ANSWERA form of memory that retains data even in the absence of a power
source and that is used to store programs between runs. A DVD disk is nonvolatile.
Magnetic disk - ANSWERAlso called hard disk. A form of nonvolatile secondary memory composed of
rotating platters coated with a magnetic recording material. Because they are rotating mechanical
devices, access times are about 5 to 20 milliseconds and cost per gigabyte in 2012 was $0.05 to $0.10
Main memory - ANSWERAlso called primary memory. Memory used to hold programs while they are
running; typically consists of DRAM in today's computers.
Secondary memory - ANSWERNonvolatile memory used to store programs and data between runs;
typically consists of flash memory in PMDs and magnetic disks in servers.
Flash memory - ANSWERA nonvolatile semiconductor memory. It is cheaper and slower than DRAM but
more expensive per bit and faster than magnetic disks. Access times are about 5 to 50 microseconds and
cost per gigabyte in 2012 was $0.75 to $1.00.
, Single Instruction Single Data (SISD) - ANSWERA uniprocessor
Multiple Instruction Multiple Data (MIMD) - ANSWERA multiprocessor.
Single Program, Multiple Data Streams (SPMD) - ANSWERThe conventional MIMD programming model,
where a single program runs across all processors.
Single Instruction Stream, Multiple Data Streams (SIMD) - ANSWERThe same instruction is applied to
many data streams, as in a vector processor.
Data-level parallelism - ANSWERParallelism achieved by performing the same operation on independent
data
vector-based code - ANSWER
conventional code - ANSWER
LEGv8 - ANSWERassembly instructions
multimedia extensions (MMX) - ANSWERAn expanded set of instructions supported by a processor that
provides multimedia-specific functions.
data hazard (pipeline data hazard) - ANSWERWhen a planned instruction cannot execute in the proper
clock cycle because data that is needed to execute the instruction are not yet available.
forwarding (bypassing) - ANSWERA method of resolving a data hazard by retrieving the missing data
element from internal buffers rather than waiting for it to arrive from programmer-visible registers or
memory
() (Verified)
Register File - ANSWERA state element that consists of a set of registers that can be read and written by
supplying a register number to be accessed.
provides 1024 scalar 32-bit registers for up to 64 threads.
machine language - ANSWERThe language made up of binary-coded instructions that is used directly by
the computer
system software - ANSWERThe set of programs that enables a computer's hardware devices and
application software to work together; it includes the operating system and utility programs.
operating system - ANSWER(computer science) software that controls the execution of computer
programs and may provide various services
Assembly Language - ANSWERProgramming language that has the same structure and set of commands
as machine languages but allows programmers to use symbolic representations of numeric machine
code.
IBM 360/91 - ANSWERIntroduced many new concepts, including dynamic detection of memory hazards,
generalized forwarding, and reservation stations. Tomasulo's algorithm
The internal organization of the 360/91 shares many features with the Pentium III and Pentium 4, as
well as with several other microprocessors. One major difference was that there was no branch
prediction in the 360/91 and hence no speculation. Another major difference was that there was no
commit unit, so once the instructions finished execution, they updated the registers.
,Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM) - ANSWERMemory built as an integrated circuit; it provides
random access to any location. Access times are 50 nanoseconds and cost per gigabyte in 2012 was $5
to $10.
Multiple DRAMs are used together to contain the instructions and data of a program. In contrast to
sequential access memories, such as magnetic tapes, the RAM portion of the term DRAM means that
memory accesses take basically the same amount of time no matter what portion of the memory is
read.
Modern DRAMS consist of rows in each bank
frame buffering - ANSWERA portion of RAM containing a bitmap that drives a video display. It is a
memory buffer containing a complete frame of data.
The image to be represented onscreen is stored in the frame buffer, and the bit pattern per pixel is read
out to the graphics display at the refresh rate. The animation below shows a frame buffer with a
simplified design of just 4 bits per pixel.
Datapath - ANSWERThe component of the processor that performs arithmetic operations
Control - ANSWERThe component of the processor that commands the datapath, memory, and I/O
devices according to the instructions of the program.
Integrated circuit - ANSWERAlso called a chip. A device combining dozens to millions of transistors.
Central processor unit (CPU) - ANSWERAlso called processor. The active part of the computer, which
contains the datapath and control and which adds numbers, tests numbers, signals I/O devices to
activate, and so on.
,Static random access memory (SRAM) - ANSWERAlso memory built as an integrated circuit, but faster
and less dense than DRAM.
Instruction set architecture - ANSWERAlso called architecture. An abstract interface between the
hardware and the lowest-level software that encompasses all the information necessary to write a
machine language program that will run correctly, including instructions, registers, memory access, I/O,
and so on.
Application binary interface (ABI) - ANSWERThe user portion of the instruction set plus the operating
system interfaces used by application programmers. It defines a standard for binary portability across
computers.
Volatile memory - ANSWERStorage, such as DRAM, that retains data only if it is receiving power.
Nonvolatile Memory - ANSWERA form of memory that retains data even in the absence of a power
source and that is used to store programs between runs. A DVD disk is nonvolatile.
Magnetic disk - ANSWERAlso called hard disk. A form of nonvolatile secondary memory composed of
rotating platters coated with a magnetic recording material. Because they are rotating mechanical
devices, access times are about 5 to 20 milliseconds and cost per gigabyte in 2012 was $0.05 to $0.10
Main memory - ANSWERAlso called primary memory. Memory used to hold programs while they are
running; typically consists of DRAM in today's computers.
Secondary memory - ANSWERNonvolatile memory used to store programs and data between runs;
typically consists of flash memory in PMDs and magnetic disks in servers.
Flash memory - ANSWERA nonvolatile semiconductor memory. It is cheaper and slower than DRAM but
more expensive per bit and faster than magnetic disks. Access times are about 5 to 50 microseconds and
cost per gigabyte in 2012 was $0.75 to $1.00.
, Single Instruction Single Data (SISD) - ANSWERA uniprocessor
Multiple Instruction Multiple Data (MIMD) - ANSWERA multiprocessor.
Single Program, Multiple Data Streams (SPMD) - ANSWERThe conventional MIMD programming model,
where a single program runs across all processors.
Single Instruction Stream, Multiple Data Streams (SIMD) - ANSWERThe same instruction is applied to
many data streams, as in a vector processor.
Data-level parallelism - ANSWERParallelism achieved by performing the same operation on independent
data
vector-based code - ANSWER
conventional code - ANSWER
LEGv8 - ANSWERassembly instructions
multimedia extensions (MMX) - ANSWERAn expanded set of instructions supported by a processor that
provides multimedia-specific functions.
data hazard (pipeline data hazard) - ANSWERWhen a planned instruction cannot execute in the proper
clock cycle because data that is needed to execute the instruction are not yet available.
forwarding (bypassing) - ANSWERA method of resolving a data hazard by retrieving the missing data
element from internal buffers rather than waiting for it to arrive from programmer-visible registers or
memory
