BRAINSCAPE1
CSCI 3120 Midterm Exam with
complete solutions latest version
Four components of a computer system - CORRECT ANSWER-hardware, operating
system, application programs, users
Computer Architecture - CORRECT ANSWER-Logical aspects of system
implementation as seen by the programmer
Computer Organization - CORRECT ANSWER-Deals with the physical aspects of a
computer
do multiprocessor systems share a bus? - CORRECT ANSWER-true
Multicore vs Multiprocessor - CORRECT ANSWER-multiprocessor has multiple
processes with a core inside and multicore is multiple cores inside one processor
why is multicore more efficient - CORRECT ANSWER-better on chip communication
speed and uses less power
what type of cache is inside a core - CORRECT ANSWER-L1 cache
what type of cache connects multicores - CORRECT ANSWER-L2
problem with adding too many CPUs? - CORRECT ANSWER-the bus becomes a
bottleneck
what is non-uniform memory access - CORRECT ANSWER-every CPU gets its own
local memory that is accessed by its own local bus. multi CPU numa systems have all
the CPUs all connected to eachother
BRAINSCAPE1
, BRAINSCAPE1
what is a clustered system? - CORRECT ANSWER--two or more individual computers
-considered loosely coupled
what is an interrupt? - CORRECT ANSWER-Signal from hardware or software
indicating that an event has occurred or that a process needs attention.
what are the two types of interrupts? - CORRECT ANSWER-hardware and software
what is another term for a system interrupt - CORRECT ANSWER-trap or exception
give an example of a hardware and a software interrupt - CORRECT ANSWER-
software: error in a program
hardware: I/O
Main memory is non-volatile t/f - CORRECT ANSWER-false
What is special about the main memory? - CORRECT ANSWER-CPU can access
directly and is volatile
what is secondary storage - CORRECT ANSWER-A device intended to permanently
hold (store) data. non volatile
3 types of volatile memory - CORRECT ANSWER-registers, cache, main memory
what is the first program to run when a computer is turned on? - CORRECT ANSWER-
bootstrap program
what does the bootstrap program do? - CORRECT ANSWER--initializes all aspects of
system
-loads operating system kernel and starts execution
What is multiprogramming? - CORRECT ANSWER-Several programs run at the same
time sharing the machine
what happens to the CPU when a process has to wait - CORRECT ANSWER-it
switches to a different process
how many processes does a CPU work on at a time in multiprogramming? - CORRECT
ANSWER-one but there are many in memory
Multitasking vs Multiprocessing - CORRECT ANSWER-multiprocessing only switches
during waits where as multitasking switches frequently to work on all tasks at once
benefit of multitasking - CORRECT ANSWER-one task does not hold up the system
What is dual-mode operation? - CORRECT ANSWER-Hardware provides at least 2
modes: user mode and kernel (aka: supervisor, protected) mode.
BRAINSCAPE1
CSCI 3120 Midterm Exam with
complete solutions latest version
Four components of a computer system - CORRECT ANSWER-hardware, operating
system, application programs, users
Computer Architecture - CORRECT ANSWER-Logical aspects of system
implementation as seen by the programmer
Computer Organization - CORRECT ANSWER-Deals with the physical aspects of a
computer
do multiprocessor systems share a bus? - CORRECT ANSWER-true
Multicore vs Multiprocessor - CORRECT ANSWER-multiprocessor has multiple
processes with a core inside and multicore is multiple cores inside one processor
why is multicore more efficient - CORRECT ANSWER-better on chip communication
speed and uses less power
what type of cache is inside a core - CORRECT ANSWER-L1 cache
what type of cache connects multicores - CORRECT ANSWER-L2
problem with adding too many CPUs? - CORRECT ANSWER-the bus becomes a
bottleneck
what is non-uniform memory access - CORRECT ANSWER-every CPU gets its own
local memory that is accessed by its own local bus. multi CPU numa systems have all
the CPUs all connected to eachother
BRAINSCAPE1
, BRAINSCAPE1
what is a clustered system? - CORRECT ANSWER--two or more individual computers
-considered loosely coupled
what is an interrupt? - CORRECT ANSWER-Signal from hardware or software
indicating that an event has occurred or that a process needs attention.
what are the two types of interrupts? - CORRECT ANSWER-hardware and software
what is another term for a system interrupt - CORRECT ANSWER-trap or exception
give an example of a hardware and a software interrupt - CORRECT ANSWER-
software: error in a program
hardware: I/O
Main memory is non-volatile t/f - CORRECT ANSWER-false
What is special about the main memory? - CORRECT ANSWER-CPU can access
directly and is volatile
what is secondary storage - CORRECT ANSWER-A device intended to permanently
hold (store) data. non volatile
3 types of volatile memory - CORRECT ANSWER-registers, cache, main memory
what is the first program to run when a computer is turned on? - CORRECT ANSWER-
bootstrap program
what does the bootstrap program do? - CORRECT ANSWER--initializes all aspects of
system
-loads operating system kernel and starts execution
What is multiprogramming? - CORRECT ANSWER-Several programs run at the same
time sharing the machine
what happens to the CPU when a process has to wait - CORRECT ANSWER-it
switches to a different process
how many processes does a CPU work on at a time in multiprogramming? - CORRECT
ANSWER-one but there are many in memory
Multitasking vs Multiprocessing - CORRECT ANSWER-multiprocessing only switches
during waits where as multitasking switches frequently to work on all tasks at once
benefit of multitasking - CORRECT ANSWER-one task does not hold up the system
What is dual-mode operation? - CORRECT ANSWER-Hardware provides at least 2
modes: user mode and kernel (aka: supervisor, protected) mode.
BRAINSCAPE1
