A-Level Glossary - 01 Computer Architecture
Uploaded by
Mugerwa CharlesA-Level Glossary - 01 Computer Architecture
Uploaded by
Mugerwa CharlesTeach Computer Science
A-level
Computer
architecture
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Glossary
Register that stores the result of arithmetic
Accumulator and logical operations performed by the
processor.
A part of a processor that is responsible for
Arithmetic and logic arithmetic functions such as addition,
unit subtraction, multiplication, etc. and logic
operations such as AND, OR, NOT, etc.
The connections between the processor,
Buses memory and input-output devices
responsible for transferring data and signals.
CPU consists of a control unit, ALU and cache
Central Processing
memory. It is responsible for processing the
Unit (CPU)
instructions given to a computer.
A part of the processor that is responsible
Control Unit (CU) for controlling the memory, processor and
input-output devices.
CIR (Current A register that contains the current
Instruction Register) instruction carried out by the processor.
The processor of fetching data and
instructions from the memory and storing it
Fetch-decode-
in suitable registers, decoding them and
execute cycle
executing them that the CPU performs
continuously.
A device that converts the signals sent by
Input device humans into a form that can be understood
by the computer.
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A standardised form of connection defining the
Interface properties of connection such as number of pins,
voltage required and different signals.
A signal sent from a device or software to the
Interrupt processor which temporarily stops the current
process and initiates an interrupt service routine.
Memory Address A register that stores the address of data for READ or
Register (MAR) WRITE operations.
Memory Data A register that stores the data for READ or WRITE
Register (MDR) operations.
A device that converts the information from the
Output device computer into a form that is understandable by
humans.
Processor contains ALU (Arithmetic and Logic unit)
Processor
and Control Unit (CU).
PC (Program A register that contains the location of the instruction
Counter) that is to be executed next.
Register High-speed data storage areas in the computer.
A method of interrupt processing by pointing to the
Vectored interrupt
address where the instructions for interrupt service
mechanism
routine start.
An architecture that shows the components and
von Neumann connections of a computer in detail. This architecture
architecture represents a shared memory space for program and
data.
Memory is divided into several fixed segments called
Word
words.
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