Computer Architecture Quizzes: Master the Fundamentals of Computer Design

Question 1

Which component is **not** part of the CPU?

Accepted Answer

Memory

Answer

Control unit

Answer

Arithmetic logic unit

Answer

Registers

Question 2

Which memory technology has the fastest data access speed?

Accepted Answer

SRAM

Answer

DRAM

Answer

ROM

Answer

Flash memory

Question 3

Which addressing mode calculates the effective address by adding a constant to the base address?

Accepted Answer

Indexed

Answer

Register direct

Answer

Immediate

Answer

Indirect

Question 4

What is the purpose of the fetch-decode-execute cycle?

Accepted Answer

To execute a single instruction

Answer

To translate high-level code into machine code

Answer

To store data in memory

Answer

To retrieve data from memory

Question 5

Which memory type is typically used for main memory, offering a balance between cost and performance?

Accepted Answer

DRAM

Answer

SRAM

Answer

EEPROM

Answer

Flash memory

Question 6

What is the primary purpose of using virtual memory in a computer system?

Accepted Answer

To extend the physical memory size, allowing for larger programs and data sets

Answer

To improve memory access efficiency by keeping frequently used data in faster memory

Answer

To isolate processes from each other, enhancing security and stability

Answer

To store frequently accessed data in non-volatile memory

Question 7

What is the primary function of a system bus in a computer system?

Accepted Answer

To connect the various components of the system, including the processor, memory, and peripherals

Answer

To store data and instructions for processing

Answer

To perform input/output operations

Answer

To process data and perform calculations

Question 8

What is a key benefit of using cache memory in a computer system?

Accepted Answer

Reduced memory access time, improving overall system performance

Answer

Increased memory capacity, allowing for larger programs and data sets

Answer

Lower power consumption

Answer

Improved data integrity, preventing data corruption

Question 9

Which addressing mode allows instructions to directly access operands stored in registers?

Accepted Answer

Register addressing

Answer

Direct addressing

Answer

Indirect addressing

Answer

Immediate addressing

Question 10

What is the primary purpose of a branch predictor in a processor?

Accepted Answer

To speculate on the outcome of conditional branch instructions

Answer

To enhance floating-point calculation accuracy

Answer

To mitigate memory access latency

Answer

To manage exceptions and interrupt handling

Question 11

Which type of I/O interface enables a peripheral device to communicate with the CPU without interrupting program execution?

Accepted Answer

Direct memory access (DMA)

Answer

Polling

Answer

Interrupt-driven I/O

Answer

Memory-mapped I/O

Question 12

What is the primary role of a compiler in computer architecture?

Accepted Answer

To translate high-level code into executable machine code

Answer

To optimize machine code for improved performance

Answer

To allocate memory for program execution

Answer

To debug software applications

Question 13

What is the main advantage of using a multi-core processor compared to a single-core processor?

Accepted Answer

Increased parallelism and potential performance boost

Answer

Higher clock speed

Answer

Reduced power consumption

Answer

Enhanced security against cyber threats

Question 14

Which component is NOT considered a fundamental element of a computer architecture?

Accepted Answer

Operating System

Answer

Processor

Answer

Memory

Answer

Input/Output System

Question 15

What is the primary purpose of a cache memory within a computer system?

Accepted Answer

To store frequently accessed data and instructions for faster retrieval

Answer

To provide ample storage capacity for large datasets

Answer

To grant direct memory access to the processor

Answer

To enhance the speed of memory access

Question 16

What is the main function of a register file in a processor?

Accepted Answer

To store temporary data and intermediate results for rapid access

Answer

To hold the program counter that keeps track of the next instruction to be executed

Answer

To decode instructions and determine their operations

Answer

To execute instructions and perform calculations

Question 17

Which of the following benefits is associated with implementing a pipelined architecture in a processor?

Accepted Answer

Increased efficiency in instruction processing, leading to higher throughput

Answer

Reduced energy consumption due to optimized instruction execution

Answer

Simplified control logic, making the processor easier to design and implement

Answer

Improved cache performance as pipelines can prefetch data more effectively

Question 18

What is the purpose of a DMA controller in a computer system?

Accepted Answer

To facilitate direct data transfer between memory and I/O devices, bypassing the CPU

Answer

To translate and decode I/O instructions for execution

Answer

To handle and manage interrupt requests from I/O devices

Answer

To provide a graphical user interface for configuring I/O operations

Question 19

Which component is NOT part of the classic von Neumann architecture?

Accepted Answer

Graphics Processing Unit (GPU)

Answer

Input/Output devices

Answer

Central Processing Unit (CPU)

Answer

Memory

Question 20

What is the primary function of a multiplexer in a computer system?

Accepted Answer

To select one input from multiple sources

Answer

To store data temporarily

Answer

To perform arithmetic operations

Answer

To control the flow of data

Question 21

Which benefit is associated with pipelining in a processor?

Accepted Answer

Increased throughput

Answer

Reduced latency

Answer

Lower power consumption

Answer

Improved reliability

Question 22

What is the main purpose of a branch predictor in a processor?

Accepted Answer

To predict the outcome of branch instructions

Answer

To handle memory management

Answer

To store frequently accessed data

Answer

To perform floating-point operations

Question 23

Name a type of cache coherence protocol

Accepted Answer

MESI protocol

Answer

LRU algorithm

Answer

First-come, first-served scheme

Answer

Round-robin arbitration

Question 24

Which metric is commonly used to measure processor speed?

Accepted Answer

Clock speed

Answer

Cache size

Answer

Bus width

Answer

Number of cores

Question 25

What is the purpose of a register file in a processor?

Accepted Answer

To store a limited number of frequently accessed data values

Answer

To store the complete set of instructions for a program

Answer

To perform arithmetic and logical operations