Module 1

2marks questions
1. What is Input unit?
Computers accept coded information through input units, which read the data. The most
well-known input device is keyboard. Whenever a key is pressed, the corresponding
letter or digit is automatically translated into its corresponding binary code and
transmitted over a cable to either the memory or the processor.
2. Write the function of control unit.
The Control Unit is used to co-ordinate the operations of memory, ALU, input and
output units. The Control Unit can be said as the nerve center that sends control signals
to other units and senses their states.
3. What is the use of instruction register and program counter?
The instruction register (IR):- Holds the instructions that is currently being executed.
Its output is available for the control circuits which generates the timing signals that
control the various processing elements in one execution of instruction.
The program counter PC:- This is another specialized register that keeps track of
execution of a program. It contains the memory address of the next instruction to be
fetched and executed.
4. Give the difference between MAR and MDR.
MAR – (Memory Address Register):- It holds the address of the location to be
accessed.
MDR – (Memory Data Register):- It contains the data to be written into or read out
of the address location.
5. What is instruction code?
An instruction code is a group of bits that instruct the computer to perform a specific
task..
Two parts-
Operation code-specifies the operation
Address-specifies operands, registers or memory word
The most basic part of an instruction code is its operation part. The Operation Code
(OpCode) of an instruction is a group of bits that define each operation such add,
subtract, multiply, shift, and complement. The control unit decode the OpCode and do
the required operation
6. Explain the three instruction code formats.
The three instruction code formats are:
• Memory - Reference Instruction
• Register - reference Instruction
• Input - Output Operation
Explain each point in two or three sentences.
5 marks questions
1. Explain the steps in the instruction cycle.
 An instruction cycle, also known as fetch-decode-execute cycle is the basic
operational process of a computer. This process is repeated continuously by CPU from
boot up to shut down of computer.
Following are the steps that occur during an instruction cycle:
• Fetch the Instruction
• Decode the Instruction
• Read the Effective Address
• Execute the Instruction
Explain each point in two or three sentences and give the figure.
2. Explain Bus Organization.
Bus is a subsystem that is used to transfer data and other information between devices.
Means various devices in computer like(Memory, CPU, I/O and Other) are
communicate with each other through buses.In general, a bus is said to be as the
communication pathway connecting two or more devices.
A key characteristics of a bus is that it is a shared transmission medium,as multiple
devices are attached to a bus.
Data Lines
Address Lines
Control Lines

Types Of Bus
System Bus:
Peripheral Bus(I/O Bus /External Bus)
Local Bus. Explain each point in two or three sentences and give the figure.
15 marks questions

1. Explain the different functional units of the computer.

A computer has five functionally independent main parts:

Input Unit

Memory Unit

Arithmetic and logic Unit

Output Unit

Control unit. Explain each unit in detailed. With the support of figure.
Module 2

2 marks questions

1. What is Control Word?

The combined value of a binary selection inputs specifies the control word.
It consist of four fields SELA,SELB,and SELD or SELREG contains three bit each and
SELOPR field contains four bits thus the total bits in the control word are 13-bits.
2. What is the purpose of using addressing modes in instructions?
The purpose of using addressing modes is as follows:
• To give the programming versatility to the user.
• To reduce the number of bits in addressing field of instruction.
3. Explain stack organization.
• A useful feature that is included in the CPU of most computers is a stack or last
in, first out (LIFO) list.
• The stack in digital computers is essentially a memory unit with an address
register that can only( after an initial value is loaded in to it).The register that
hold the address for the stack is called a stack pointer (SP) because its value
always points at the top item in stack.
• The two operation of stack are the insertion and deletion of items.
• The operation of insertion is called PUSH because it can be thought of as the
result of pushing a new item on top.
• The operation of deletion is called POP because it can be thought of as the result
of removing one item so that the stack pops up.
5 marks questions
1. Explain about register stack and the steps to push and pop item in the stack.
Give the point in the register stack topic.
2. Explain the different types of instruction formats.
• Zero Address Instructions
• One Address Instructions
• Two Address Instructions
• Three Address Instructions. Explain each type in detail.
15 marks questions
1. Explain about general register CPU organization.
Give a detailed explanation about bus organization with examples and figure.
2. Explain the different addressing modes.
o Immediate Mode
o Register Mode
o Register Indirect Mode
o Auto Increment/Decrement Mode
o Direct Addressing Mode
o Indirect Addressing Mode
o Displacement Addressing Mode
o Relative Addressing Mode
 o Base Register Addressing Mode
o Stack Addressing Mode

Module 3
2 marks questions
1. Define memory.
A memory unit is the collection of storage units or devices together. The memory unit
stores the binary information in the form of bits. Generally, memory/storage is
classified into 2 categories:
• Volatile Memory: This loses its data, when power is switched off.
• Non-Volatile Memory: This is a permanent storage and does not lose any data
when power is switched off.
2. Give the difference between RAM and ROM

3. Give the difference between SRAM and DR

 4. Explain the difference memory access methods.
To access data from any memory, first it must be located and then the data is read from the
memory location. Following are the methods to access information from memory locations:
• Random Access
• Sequential Access
• Direct Access. Explain each method.
5. What is Hit Ratio?
The performance of cache memory is measured in terms of a quantity called hit ratio.
When the CPU refers to memory and finds the word in cache it is said to produce a hit. If
the word is not found in cache, it is in main memory then it counts as a miss.The ratio of
the number of hits to the total CPU references to memory is called hit ratio.
Hit Ratio = Hit/(Hit + Miss)

5 marks questions
1. Explain the different types of memory.
• Random Access Memory (RAM)
• Read Only Memory (ROM)
• Types of RAM and ROM. Explain each type and its sub types
15 marks question
1. What is memory mapping? Explain the different types of memory mapping.
The transformation of data from main memory to cache memory is called mapping. There
are 3 main types of mapping:
• Associative Mapping
• Direct Mapping
• Set Associative Mapping. Explain each method in detailed.

Module 4
2 marks questions

1. Define Parallel Processing.

Parallel processing system may have two or more ALU's and should be able to execute
two or more instructions at the same time. The purpose of parallel processing is to speed
up the computer processing capability and increase its throughput.
Throughput is the number of instructions that can be executed in a unit of time.
2. Give the benefits of parallel processing.
• Save time.
• Solve larger problems.
• Taking advantage of non local resources –using available resources on WAN/
Internet when local resources are scarce.
• Cost savings.
• Overcoming memory constraints.
5 marks questions
1. What is multiprocessor? Explain the different types of multiprocessor.
Multiprocessor or parallel systems are increasing in importance nowadays.
Multiprocessor systems have multiple processors working in parallel that share the
computer clock, memory, bus, peripheral devices etc.

Types of Multiprocessors
• Symmetric Multiprocessors
• Asymmetric Multiprocessors. Explain each type.
2. Give the advantages and disadvantages of multiprocessor.
Advantages to multiprocessor systems
• More reliable Systems
• Enhanced Throughput
• More Economic Systems
Disadvantages of Multiprocessor Systems
• Increased Expense
• Complicated Operating System Required
• Large Main Memory Required. Explain each point.
15 marks questions
1. Explain Flynn’s Classification of parallel processing.
Flynn’s taxonomy is based on the notion of a stream of information. Two types of
information flow into a processor : data and instructions.The instruction stream is
defined as a sequence of instruction performed by the processing unit.The data stream
is defined as the data traffic exchanged between the memory and the processing unit.
Flynn’s classification is based on multiplicity of instruction streams and data streams
observed by the CPU during program execution. Let Is and Ds are minimum number
of streams flowing at any point in the execution, then the computer organisation can be
categorized as follows:
o SISD (Single Instruction and Single Data stream)
o SIMD (Single Instruction Stream, Multiple Data Stream)
o MISD (Multiple Instruction Stream, Single Data Stream)
o MIMD (Multiple Instruction Stream, Multiple Data Stream).
Explain each computer organisation with figure.

Module 5
2 marks questions.
1. What is Pipelining?
Pipelining is the process of accumulating instruction from the processor through a
pipeline. It allows storing and executing instructions in an orderly process.
It is also known as pipeline processing. Pipelining is a technique where multiple
instructions are overlapped during execution. Pipeline is divided into stages and these
stages are connected with one another to form a pipe like structure. Instructions enter
from one end and exit from another end. Pipelining increases the overall instruction
throughput. In pipeline system, each segment consists of an input register followed by
a combinational circuit. The register is used to hold data and combinational circuit
performs operations on it. The output of combinational circuit is applied to the input
register of the next segment.

2. Give the applications of vector processing.

Computer with vector processing capabilities are in demand in specialized applications.
The following are some areas where vector processing is used:
• Petroleum exploration.
• Medical diagnosis.
• Data analysis.
• Weather forecasting.
• Aerodynamics and space flight simulations.
• Image processing.
• Artificial intelligence.
3. What are the classifications of vector instruction?
Vector-Vector instructions : In this type, vector operands are fetched from the vector
register and stored in another vector register. Such instructions are denoted with the
following function mappings :
f1 : V -> V
Vector-Scalar instructions : In this type, the combination of scalar and vector
fetched and stored in vector register
.f2 : V x S -> V
4. What is priority interrupt?
A priority interrupt is a system which decides the priority at which various devices,
which generates the interrupt signal at the same time, will be serviced by the CPU. The
system has authority to decide which conditions are allowed to interrupt the CPU, while
some other interrupt is being serviced. Generally, devices with high speed transfer such
 as magnetic disks are given high priority and slow devices such as keyboards are given
low priority.
When two or more devices interrupt the computer simultaneously, the computer
services the device with the higher priority first.

5 marks questions

1. Explain the different types of Pipeline.

• Arithmetic Pipeline
• Instruction Pipeline
Explain each type with examples and figures.
2. Explain the various factors that cause the pipeline to deviate its normal performance
(Pipeline conflicts)
• Timing Variations
• Data Hazards
• Branching
• Interrupts
• Data Dependency
• Hardware interlocks.
Explain each point
3. Give the advantage and disadvantage of Pipeline.
Advantages of Pipelining
• The cycle time of the processor is reduced.
• It increases the throughput of the system
• It makes the system reliable.
Disadvantages of Pipelining

• The design of pipelined processor is complex and costly to manufacture.

• The instruction latency is more.
4. Explain Computer Architecture: Interrupts.
Data transfer between the CPU and the peripherals is initiated by the CPU. But the CPU
cannot start the transfer unless the peripheral is ready to communicate with the CPU.
When a device is ready to communicate with the CPU, it generates an interrupt signal.
A number of input-output devices are attached to the computer and each device is able
to generate an interrupt request.
The main job of the interrupt system is to identify the source of the interrupt. There is
also a possibility that several devices will request simultaneously for CPU
communication. Then, the interrupt system has to decide which device is to be serviced
first.

15 marks questions
1. Explain vector processor and its types.
Array processors are also known as multiprocessors or vector processors. They perform
computations on large arrays of data. Thus, they are used to improve the performance
of the computer.
Array Processors
There are basically two types of array processors:
o Attached Array Processors
o SIMD Array Processors
Explain each type in detail with figures.