Q1. Describe the role and functionality of the CPU in a computer system.
👉 The CPU (Central Processing Unit) is called the “brain of the computer”.
It performs all the processing and controls the system.
Role:
Executes instructions from programs.
Performs arithmetic (like addition, subtraction) and logical operations (like comparison).
Controls input, output, and data flow inside the computer.
Main parts:
1. ALU (Arithmetic Logic Unit): Does calculations and logical decisions.
2. CU (Control Unit): Directs data flow, tells other parts what to do.
3. Registers: Small, fast storage inside CPU to hold temporary data.
Functionality:
Fetch → Get instruction from memory.
Decode → Understand the instruction.
Execute → Perform the task (calculation, data move, etc.).
Store → Save result back in memory/register.
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Q2. Explain the purpose and operation of cache memory in a computer system.
👉 Cache memory is very fast memory placed between CPU and RAM.
Purpose:
To reduce the time CPU waits for data.
Makes the system run faster.
Operation:
1. When CPU needs data, it first checks cache.
If data is found → this is called a cache hit.
If data is not found → this is a cache miss, so it goes to slower RAM.
2. Frequently used data is stored in cache for quick access.
Levels of Cache:
L1 (inside CPU, fastest but small).
L2 (larger, a bit slower).
L3 (shared by cores, slower than L1 & L2 but still faster than RAM).
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Q3. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of pipelining in CPU design.
👉 Pipelining means breaking instruction execution into steps (fetch, decode, execute, etc.) so
multiple instructions can be processed at the same time.
Advantages:
Increases CPU speed (more instructions per unit time).
Better CPU utilization.
Improves performance without increasing clock speed.
Disadvantages:
If instructions depend on each other → pipeline stalls (delay).
Branch instructions (if-else) may cause wrong instruction fetch → need correction.
More complex design → harder to implement.
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Q4. Describe the components and operation of a typical computer bus system.
👉 A bus system is the communication path for data between CPU, memory, and devices.
Components:
1. Data Bus → Transfers actual data.
2. Address Bus → Carries memory addresses (where to read/write).
3. Control Bus → Carries signals like Read/Write, Clock, Interrupt.
Operation:
CPU places address on Address Bus.
Sends Read/Write signal on Control Bus.
Data moves through Data Bus between CPU and memory/device.
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Q5. Discuss the role of the Memory Management Unit (MMU) in virtual memory systems.
👉 The MMU is a hardware unit in CPU that handles memory access.
Role:
Converts virtual addresses (used by programs) into physical addresses (actual RAM location).
Manages memory protection (programs can’t access each other’s memory).
Helps in paging and segmentation (dividing memory into parts).
In Virtual Memory:
If required data is not in RAM, MMU helps fetch it from disk (page fault handling).
Provides illusion of large memory to programs, even if RAM is small.
