ECE3073 Computer Systems
Practice Questions
Introduction
i) This computer architecture has higher memory bandwidth because it has separate data and
instruction memory spaces:
Harvard architecture
von Neumann architecture .
Put a cross against the correct answer
ii) Considering a computer with separate I/O space, mark the following attributes as A for
an advantage and D for a disadvantage:
A separate (smaller) I/O address space requires less address decoding logic
A separate I/O address space requires its own read and write instructions .
A separate I/O address space means that there is more space for instructions and data
in the memory space .
A separate I/O address space requires additional bus control signals .
iii) For the following software architecture attributes indicate with a C if this is true of CISC
architecture or R if it is true of RISC architecture:
Results in simpler computer hardware
Is simpler to produce a compiler to support this architecture ..
Is easier for humans to write in the associated assembler code .
Individual instructions run faster .
Individual instructions are more powerful ..
The processor tends to have more registers ..
Although the following material does not involve practice questions I think that is valuable
information to help you answer test/exam questions
How to answer exam questions
Presentation
Although the marker should not be influenced by the presentation of your answer it is
inevitable that a neatly set out answer, concisely written, with a minimum of grammatical and
spelling errors will create a good impression.
Content
There are basically two kinds of examination questions, descriptive and those requiring
calculation. The requirements of these two kinds of questions are different:
1) Answering descriptive questions
First of all, what is your target audience? You must not think that you are writing your answer
to be read by your lecturer who (presumably) knows all the answers. This approach may lead
you to leave out details because the lecturer knows what I am saying. Your answer should
be targeted at someone who has the same level of knowledge that you had when you started
the subject. When you started you had no detailed knowledge of the subject content. So, when
you have written an answer you should reread it and ask yourself if I didnt know anything
specific about the topic would I understand the answer to the question after reading my
answer?
Example
Question
By referring to Intel 8086 microprocessor, explain the sequence of events which takes place
during the servicing of an interrupt. You should assume that the interrupting device causes an
INTR type interrupt.
A possible answer
An interrupting device signals that it requests service by pulling the wired-or line INTR low.
When the 8086 has completed its next instruction and provided interrupts are enabled the
microprocessor starts to service the INTR interrupt. The state of the microprocessor is saved
by pushing the instruction pointer (ip), code segment register (cs) and flag register onto the
stack. Interrupts are now disabled by clearing the IF (INTR interrupt) and TF (single step
interrupt) flags. By performing two interrupt acknowledge cycles (a bit like I/O reads) the
interrupting device transfers its interrupt type to the 8086. The interrupt type is one byte and
has a value between 0 and 255. This is multiplied by 4 to give an address in the interrupt
vector table where the microprocessor can find a new instruction pointer and code segment
register contents. Code segment and instruction pointer registers are loaded with the new
values which point to the interrupt service routine. At the start of the interrupt service
routine all registers which are used in the service routine are pushed onto the stack to save
their current value. When the interrupt service routine finishes these registers are restored by
popping them off the stack. The IRET instruction restores original cs, ip and flags and the
microprocessor reverts to processing the code as it was before the interrupt.
2) Answering questions that require the derivation of an equation or a numerical calculation
In either of these two cases you should provide all of the intermediate steps in the calculation
and enough of a description to understand what you have done. This will convince the marker
that you do understand how to do the derivation/calculation and if you make a mistake you
can still get some marks for the correct method.
Example
Question
The MLX90246C is a thermopile sensor that measures infrared radiation. It can indicate the
temperature difference between ambient or room temperature and the temperature of an
object placed in front of the sensor. The following illustration shows a functional diagram of
the sensor:
For the MLX90246C sensor what will be the output voltage if the temperature difference
between sensed object radiation and ambient is 50C?
Answer
Output voltage = (voltage change per K) * change in temperature
40*10-6 * 50 = 2*10-3V
Note that your exam will not contain the two questions discussed above.
Mistakes in the questions
It may happen that you find an error or an omission in an exam question. If the invigilators
cannot get an answer to your query then if possible you should make a reasonable assumption
about the missing/incorrect material and explain this in your answer.
Zero Mark
If students do not know the answer to an exam question then some of them think that they
should write down the answer to another question (the one they would have preferred to be
asked). This kind of answer will be awarded zero marks.
Marking of your examination paper
The answers you give to the written examination will be marked and checked very
thoroughly. This is particularly the case if your mark is less than 50% where additional
checking is applied. Every year a number of students feel that the mark they achieved is very
much out of line with their expectation. This is not uncommon and can be an example of the
Kruger-Dunning effect where poorly performing students are unable to accurately assess their
own capabilities.
Andy Russell (March 3, 2013)
