Computer Architecture (CSCS2205)
Mathematics and Computer Science - MCS
Semester: Second Semester
Level: 200
Year: 2016
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REPUBLIC OF CAMEROON REPUBLIQUE DU CAMEROUN
Peace- Work- Fatherland
Paix - Travail - Patrie
MINISTRY OF HIGHER EDUCATION MINISTRE DE L’ENSEIGNEMENT
SUPERIEURE
THE UNIVERSITY OF BAMENDA UNIVERSITE DE BAMENDA
FACULTY OF SCIENCE FACULTE DES SCIENCE
P.0 Box 39 BAMBILI
TEL: (+23) 22 81 63 50
FIRST SEMESTER EXAMINATION-2015/2016
SESSION DEPARTMENT OF MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTER SCIENCE
COURSE TITLE: COMPUTER ARCHITECTURE I
COURSE CODE: CSCS2205 Lecturer: Dr SC Forbacha
For the multiple choice questions, please choose from options a-d and note that only one of these options is the correct answer
NB: Please answer all questions Section A
1) The entity that is accountable for fetching instructions to be executed from the main memory' plus decoding
as well as executing them is referred to as the: 1 mark
(a)
Logic unit
(b)
Register unit
(c)
Fetching unit
(d)
Control unit
2) A process whereby data is moved over long distances to or from a remote device is known l mark
(a) Data communications
(b)
Device communications
(c)
Remote communications
(d)
Destination communications
3) The data rate between the CPU and the memory can be increased through the elimination of: 1 mark
(a) Clock signals
(b)
Cycle signals
(c)
Chips signals
(d)
Control signals
4) The process in which the CPU continually monitors each register while waiting for data to arrive is
known as: 1 mark
(a)
Pooling
(b)
Poling
(c)
Polling
(d)
Pulling
5) A situation in which one is prevented from accomplishing the goal of executing one instruction per clock
cycle is known as: 1 mark
(a) Pipeline conflict
(b)
Instructionline conflict
(c)
Proportionalline conflict
(d)
Processingline conflict
6) A procedure whereby an address is used to established a memory location from which a word is to be
retrieved from the memory is known as: 1 mark
(a) Memory write operation
(b) Memory read operation
(c) Memory search operation
(d) Memory retrieve operation
Section B
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1) Explain the concept of overlapped register windows. 8 marks
2) External devices can be broadly classified into three categories. State them plus give a brief
explanation of it providing an example of a device for each of the categories. 3 (3,3,3) marks
3) Discuss in detail the concept of pipelining and clearly state the significance of this concept on
today’s modem CPUs. 10 marks
4) Explain the concept of a memory hierarchy. 5 marks
5) Name any four key functions or requirements for an input/out (I/O) module and give a brief
explanation of each. 8(2,2,2,2) marks
6) What is a stack? Please state the scenario in which a stack is applicable. 2 marks
7) Give an explanation of what impact does the using of memories within computers that are as fast as
the CPUs if they have to run at full speed. 5 marks
8) Name any 3 characteristics of the memory system plus briefly explain each of them. 9 (3,3,3) marks
9) Give the difference between computer architecture and computer organisation. 4 marks
10) If the size of a memory is 2048 M (i.e. 2048 megawords), calculate the number of bits that are
found in this address. 2 mark
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