Mou11t I<:enya

UNIVERSITY EXAMINATION 2018/2019

SCHOOL OF COMPUTING AND INFORMATICS

DEPARTMENT OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

BBIT/ BSC-IT/ BEDS/ BIS

REGULAR

UNIT TITLE: COMPUTER ARCIIlTECTURE

UNIT CODE: BITll0l
TIME: 2 HOURS
MAIN EXAM
DATE: APRIL, 2019

INSTRUCTIONS:
ANSWER QUESTION ONE AND ANY OTHER TWO QUESTIONS
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QUESTION ONE (30 MAR.KS)
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a) Explain the meaning of cmnputer architecture. (2Marks)

b) Distinguish h~are from s2,ftware giving valid ex,lill~J_k s of each.

(4 Marks)

(4 Marks)
c) Convert the following numbers into Binary
i) 3 53 (10)
ii) 25 1.-UOJ

d) Explain the term in:errupts and outline four main sources of interrupts.
(6 Marks)
e) Distinguish between:-
i. Memory aq,g_ress register and inemory buffer r egis..t.er (2 Marks)
ii. I/0 address register. and I/Q buffer register (2 Marks)

f) Using separate well labeled diagrams explain th e mstruction

. - . cycle,

Paper One Page 1

 L Without interrupts (2 Marks)
ii. Wi th interrupts (2 Marks)

g) Explain the contents that are stored by the following registers; (6 Marks)
i. Instruction register(IR)
ii. Program counter (PC)
ill. Accun1ulator(AC)

b) Outline any five types of system control activities. (5 Marks)

c) Discuss fi ve main functions of an operating system in a computer.

(10 Marks)

QUESTION THREE
a) Describe the features of each generation of computers from the l 5 1 to the
5th • (6 Marks)

b) Discuss any four main areas of fault diagnosis p erformed when there is
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c)
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Distinguish the between a assembler1 compiler and an mterpreter.....::>
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a) Describe the classification of software and give a valid example of each.

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b) Explain four benefits of sec~ndary storage devices and state an example or' '"'
such devices-. P~ - .... ....-< c.,,.J (4 Marks)
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c) Illustrate how data is organizea in a disk. (6 Marks)

d) Highlight f~e (5) parameters of classifying computer~. (6 Marks)

Paper One
Page 2