Computer Architecture (IT-402) - Important Questions

Compare and discuss Bus Transfer and Memory Transfer operations and how they aid data movement within the CPU.

Explain the characteristics and evolution of the first to fifth computer generations and their influence on modern computer architecture.

Differentiate between computer architecture and computer organization

Draw the functional units of a digital computer and describe their functions

Describe Register Transfer Language (RTL) with suitable examples.

Write the instruction cycle with the help of a flow diagram.

Explain how coordination of control signals affects register transfers within the system.

Describe the Von Neumann model of computer architecture. What are its main components?

Discuss the basic Register Transfer operations and how they contribute to instruction execution.

Explain the concept of memory-mapped I/O and how it utilizes the memory bus for data transfer.

Explain computer architecture vs computer organization with examples and draw the Von Neumann architecture diagram

What is the Register Transfer Language (RTL)? Explain the Arithmetic logic shift unit.

Explain the differences between hardwired and microprogrammed control units.

Explain the concept of control memory and its role and advantages in simplifying instruction execution in micro-programmed control units.

Explain sign-magnitude, 1's complement and 2's complement representations and define their range.

Describe various fixed-point number representations with advantages and disadvantages.

Describe the architecture and functionality of an ALU in a CPU.

Describe the structure and functioning of a hardwired / microprogrammed control unit.

Explain the process of multiplication using BOOTH method. Solve $-4 \times 3$ using Booth method.

Draw and explain flow charts for additional and subtraction of floating points number.

Explain stack organization in CPUs and its applications in function calling, recursion and memory management.

Explain the different addressing modes with suitable examples, including those commonly found in RISC and CISC architectures.

Explain the working principle of Direct Memory Access (DMA) and discuss its benefits/advantages over programmed I/O.

Explain zero, one, two and three address instruction formats with examples.

Differentiate between RISC and CISC instruction sets in design philosophy and execution, with examples.

Differentiate between Priority Interrupt and Daisy Chaining.

Explain major components of CPU.

Calculate the minimum number of DMA bus acquisitions required to transfer a given file size with a 16-bit count register.

What is virtual memory? Explain paging and segmentation with suitable diagrams.

Explain the memory hierarchy with a neat diagram.

Describe associative memory and its applications.

Define page fault and explain Translation Lookaside Buffer (TLB) and Effective Access Time (EAT).

Analyze the factors affecting effective memory access time.

Compare associative memory with main memory and state its advantages.

Write a short notes on:

What is a TLB, and what is its role in virtual memory management?

Consider a 2-way set associative mapped cache of size 16KB with block size 256 bytes. The size of main memory is 128 KB. Find the number of bits in the tag directory size.

Explain parallel processing and its advantages.

Describe the design/concept of an arithmetic pipeline and explain how it improves computational speed/performance of arithmetic operations.

Explain the concept of Instruction Pipelining with its advantages and limitations

Discuss Memory interleaving. How does it reduce access conflicts in multiprocessors?

Discuss the different types of parallel processing architectures commonly used in computer systems.

Write short notes on any two: Virtual memory, Characteristics of Multiprocessors, Instruction Pipeline