C952 Computer Architecture - Set 5 - Part 1

Correct Answer: Least Recently Used (LRU)

LRU replacement policy removes the block that has not been accessed for the longest time, assuming it is least likely to be used soon.

Correct Answer: Points to the beginning of the current function’s stack frame

The frame pointer holds the base of the stack frame for the current function, aiding in the organization of function calls and local variables.

Correct Answer: RAID 5

RAID 5 uses both parity for fault tolerance and striping for performance, balancing redundancy and speed.

Correct Answer: Transistor

A transistor acts as an electronic switch within a computer, controlled by signals to manage data flow in logic circuits.

Correct Answer: The time to access main memory after a cache miss

Miss penalty is the time needed to fetch data from main memory when it is not found in the cache, impacting performance.

Correct Answer: Split cache

Split caches dedicate separate storage for instructions and data, reducing access conflicts and improving processing efficiency.

Correct Answer: Synchronization

Synchronization ensures that shared data is accessed in a controlled manner, preventing conflicts in multiprocessor environments.

Correct Answer: Random-access memory (RAM)

RAM allows data to be accessed at any physical location directly, irrespective of the data’s content.

Correct Answer: Supervisor mode

In supervisor (or kernel) mode, the CPU has unrestricted access to all system resources, essential for executing OS functions.

Correct Answer: Stores instructions until they can be safely executed

The reorder buffer holds out-of-order instructions until it is safe to commit them, ensuring correct program execution order.

Correct Answer: A positive exponent that is too large to represent

Overflow in floating-point occurs when an exponent exceeds the representable range, leading to calculation errors.

Correct Answer: Storing instructions and data in the same memory

The stored-program concept allows both instructions and data to be stored in memory, enabling flexibility in program execution.

Correct Answer: Uses disk storage as an extension of RAM

Virtual memory extends RAM by using disk space to store data not immediately needed, allowing larger programs to run.

Correct Answer: The type of operation to be performed

The opcode specifies the operation (like addition or load) that the CPU will execute, crucial for instruction interpretation.

Correct Answer: Private

The private keyword limits method access to within its own class, enhancing data encapsulation and security.

Correct Answer: Performing the same operation on different data sets

Data-level parallelism involves applying the same operation to multiple data elements simultaneously, maximizing processing efficiency.

Correct Answer: Device drivers

Device drivers are specialized programs that manage the operations of I/O devices, facilitating interaction between hardware and software.

Correct Answer: Parallel processing program

Parallel processing allows a single program to run across multiple processors, enabling faster execution by dividing tasks.

Correct Answer: The time for one complete clock cycle

The clock period defines the duration of one clock cycle, regulating the speed of CPU operations.

Correct Answer: L1 cache

The L1 cache is directly accessible by the CPU and has the lowest access time, providing the fastest data retrieval in memory hierarchy.