Computing 1.1.1

1. Used to hold the data which ahs just been fetched from RAM or is about to be written to RAM (6, 4, 8)
5. A register used to hold the address of the next instruction to be executed. It is possible to switch tasks that the CPU is carrying out by changing the address held in the PC (7, 7)
6. The purpose of the CPU – the Fetch, Decode, Execute cycle. Happens continuously whilst power is on. The number of FDE cycles per second is called the “clock speed” and is measured in Ghz (Gigahertz) (3, 5)
7. Used to coordinate the actions of the CPU during the FDE cycle. Sends signals down the control bus to components. (7, 4)
9. Used to connect the various components in the CPU and also to RAM. Used to send control signals to co-ordinate the timing/workings of the CPU and also to tell RAM whether a read/write operation is needed. (7, 3)
10. Cache is a small amount of memory inside a CPU. Usually comes in different “levels” which differ in speed and size. L1 cache is the fastest and smallest, L3 is the slowest and largest. All are much, much faster than accessing RAM and therefore it is used (11, 5)

2. Used to connect the CPU and RAM so that addresses which need to be read from or written to can be sent to the memory controller. (7, 3)
3. A small, fixed width piece of memory inside the CPU. Usually between 16-128 bits wide. Registers are used to hold data or instructions as they are being worked on. Registers can also be used to represent the status of various CPU components. (8)
4. A general purpose register, usually used to hold the result of the last calculation or instruction carried out (11)
8. A core is a discrete processing unit inside a CPU – The more cores a CPU has, the more instructions can be executed simultaneously. Has a direct impact on the multitasking ability of a CPU (11, 5)

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