Here’s a list of 100 potential questions and answers based on the content provided.

These
questions are designed to prepare you for university exams and real-world applications, derived
from renowned textbooks like Computer Organization and Design by David A. Patterson & John
L. Hennessy, and Structured Computer Organization by Andrew S. Tanenbaum, along with
practical sources.

UNIT 3: Computer Organization and Architecture

External Devices

1. Q: What are input devices?

A: Input devices are hardware components used to provide data and control signals to a
computer system. Examples include a keyboard, mouse, and scanner.
2. Q: List the types of output devices.
A: Output devices include monitors, printers, speakers, and projectors.
3. Q: What are the main types of storage devices?
A: Storage devices include primary storage (RAM, cache), secondary storage (HDD,
SSD), and tertiary storage (optical discs, tapes).

I/O Modules

4. Q: What are the functions of I/O modules?

A: I/O modules handle data transfer between the CPU and external devices, provide
buffering, error detection, and device control.
5. Q: Define the term programmed I/O.
A: Programmed I/O is a data transfer method where the CPU continuously monitors a
device's status and performs data transfer.
6. Q: What are the drawbacks of programmed I/O?
A: High CPU involvement, inefficient resource utilization, and increased latency.
7. Q: Explain interrupt-driven I/O.
A: In interrupt-driven I/O, the CPU executes other tasks until the I/O module signals
completion via an interrupt.
8. Q: What is the role of the Intel 82C59A Programmable Interrupt Controller?
A: It manages hardware interrupts and allows priority handling of multiple interrupting
devices.

Direct Memory Access (DMA)

9. Q: What is the function of a DMA controller?

A: A DMA controller facilitates data transfer directly between memory and peripherals
without CPU intervention.
10. Q: Describe the drawbacks of programmed and interrupt-driven I/O.
A: Both require CPU intervention for data transfer, reducing overall system efficiency.
11. Q: What are the uses of the Intel 8237A DMA controller?
A: It supports high-speed data transfer for devices like hard drives and network adapters.
I/O Channels & Processors

12. Q: What problem do I/O channels solve?

A: They offload the CPU by managing data transfers between memory and peripherals.
13. Q: Explain the Thunderbolt external interface.
A: Thunderbolt is a high-speed interface supporting data transfer, video output, and
power delivery.
14. Q: What are the characteristics of in-band I/O?
A: In-band I/O allows data and control signals to share the same communication channel.

UNIT 4: Machine Instruction Characteristics

Instruction Characteristics

15. Q: What is an opcode?

A: An opcode is a part of an instruction that specifies the operation to be performed.
16. Q: Define operand in the context of machine instructions.
A: Operands are the data or memory locations on which operations are performed.
17. Q: What are the types of addressing modes?
A: Addressing modes include immediate, direct, indirect, register, and indexed.
18. Q: What factors influence instruction length?
A: Instruction length depends on the processor's word size, addressing modes, and
opcode size.

Types of Operations

19. Q: List the main types of data transfer operations.

A: Data transfer operations include load, store, and move instructions.
20. Q: Give an example of a logical operation in Intel 8086.
A: The AND operation is used for bitwise logical conjunction.
21. Q: Explain transfer of control operations.
A: These instructions alter the program's flow, e.g., jumps (JMP) and calls (CALL).
22. Q: How are I/O operations performed in the Intel 8086?
A: Through IN and OUT instructions, which transfer data to/from ports.

Addressing Modes & Formats

23. Q: What is direct addressing mode?

A: The operand's address is explicitly stated in the instruction.
24. Q: Explain indexed addressing mode.
A: An index register is added to a base address to determine the effective address.
UNIT 5: Register Organization
Register Organization

25. Q: What is the role of registers in a CPU?

A: Registers temporarily hold data, instructions, and addresses for quick access by the
CPU.
26. Q: Describe the register organization in the Intel 8086.
A: The 8086 has general-purpose registers (e.g., AX, BX), segment registers (e.g., CS,
DS), and control registers.

Instruction Cycle

27. Q: Define the machine cycle.

A: The machine cycle consists of fetching, decoding, and executing an instruction.
28. Q: What is instruction pipelining?
A: It is a technique where multiple instruction phases overlap, improving CPU
throughput.
29. Q: What are the benefits of instruction pipelining in the Pentium processor?
A: Increased parallelism and better instruction throughput.

Parallelism

30. Q: Define instruction-level parallelism.

A: The ability of a processor to execute multiple instructions simultaneously.
31. Q: What is a superscalar processor?
A: A processor that can issue and execute multiple instructions per clock cycle.
32. Q: Contrast superscalar and super-pipelined architectures.
A: Superscalar focuses on executing multiple instructions in parallel, while super-
pipelined increases the number of pipeline stages.

Branch Prediction

33. Q: Why is branch prediction important?

A: It reduces pipeline stalls by predicting the outcome of conditional branches.
34. Q: What is register renaming?
A: It eliminates false data dependencies by dynamically assigning physical registers.

Let me know if you'd like the remaining 66 questions or if you want further elaboration on any
section!

Here’s the continuation with the remaining 66 potential questions and answers:
UNIT 3: Computer Organization and Architecture (Continued)
External Devices

35. Q: What is the function of a scanner?

A: A scanner digitizes physical documents and images into electronic formats.
36. Q: Differentiate between primary and secondary storage.
A: Primary storage (e.g., RAM) is fast but volatile, while secondary storage (e.g., HDD)
is slower but non-volatile.
37. Q: What are the types of communication interfaces for external devices?
A: Serial interfaces (e.g., USB) and parallel interfaces (e.g., PCI).
38. Q: What is the role of an output device in a computer system?
A: It converts processed data from the computer into a human-readable format.

I/O Modules (Continued)

39. Q: What is buffering in an I/O module?

A: Buffering temporarily stores data during transfers to match device and CPU speeds.
40. Q: List the main responsibilities of I/O control logic.
A: Decoding commands, handling data flow, and managing device operations.
41. Q: What are the benefits of interrupt-driven I/O over programmed I/O?
A: Reduces CPU idle time and improves multitasking.
42. Q: Explain vectored interrupts.
A: Vectored interrupts assign a unique address to each interrupt, enabling faster handling.
43. Q: How does the Intel 82C59A prioritize interrupts?
A: It uses a priority resolver to select the highest-priority pending interrupt.

Direct Memory Access (DMA) (Continued)

44. Q: What are the advantages of DMA?

A: Reduces CPU overhead, increases data transfer speed, and supports large data
transfers.
45. Q: Describe burst mode in DMA.
A: In burst mode, the DMA controller transfers a block of data without releasing control
of the bus.
46. Q: What are the typical applications of DMA?
A: Used in disk controllers, network interfaces, and audio/video systems.
47. Q: Compare cycle stealing and burst mode in DMA.
A: Cycle stealing transfers small amounts of data, while burst mode transfers large blocks
at once.
48. Q: What are the challenges in implementing DMA?
A: Bus arbitration, ensuring data consistency, and managing priority among devices.
49. Q: How does the Intel 8237A DMA controller support multiple devices?
A: It has four independent channels for managing multiple data transfers.
I/O Channels and Processors (Continued)

50. Q: What are the advantages of using an I/O processor?

A: Offloads data transfer tasks from the CPU and improves overall system performance.
51. Q: What is the significance of Thunderbolt’s daisy-chaining capability?
A: It allows multiple devices to connect in series using a single port.
52. Q: Differentiate between in-band and out-of-band interfaces.
A: In-band interfaces use the same channel for data and control signals, while out-of-
band interfaces use separate channels.

UNIT 4: Machine Instruction Characteristics (Continued)

Instruction Characteristics (Continued)

53. Q: What factors influence instruction format design?

A: Word size, opcode length, and addressing mode requirements.
54. Q: Define immediate addressing mode.
A: The operand value is directly specified in the instruction.
55. Q: What is the purpose of stack-based addressing?
A: It uses the stack for data storage and retrieval, simplifying instruction encoding.
56. Q: Why is the instruction set architecture important?
A: It defines the hardware-software interface and influences system performance.

Types of Operations (Continued)

57. Q: Explain arithmetic operations in the Intel 8086.

A: These include addition (ADD), subtraction (SUB), multiplication (MUL), and division
(DIV).
58. Q: What are logical shift operations?
A: Logical shifts move bits left or right, filling with zeros.
59. Q: What is the role of conversion operations?
A: They change data formats, such as ASCII to binary conversion.
60. Q: Describe control transfer instructions in the Intel 8086.
A: These include CALL, RET, and conditional jumps like JE (jump if equal).
61. Q: What are I/O instructions used for in the Intel 8086?
A: To transfer data between the processor and peripheral devices (IN and OUT).

Addressing Modes and Formats (Continued)

62. Q: Explain indirect addressing mode.

A: The address of the operand is specified by a pointer stored in a register.
63. Q: Why is indexed addressing mode useful?
A: It supports efficient array and table operations.
64. Q: How does relative addressing mode work?
A: It calculates the effective address by adding an offset to the program counter.
UNIT 5: Register Organization (Continued)
Register Organization (Continued)

65. Q: What is the role of the program counter (PC)?

A: It stores the address of the next instruction to be executed.
66. Q: List the types of segment registers in the Intel 8086.
A: Code Segment (CS), Data Segment (DS), Stack Segment (SS), and Extra Segment
(ES).
67. Q: Why are flag registers important?
A: They indicate the status of the CPU and the outcome of arithmetic or logical
operations.
68. Q: How are general-purpose registers used?
A: For data storage, arithmetic operations, and addressing.

Instruction Cycle (Continued)

69. Q: What are the stages of the instruction cycle?

A: Fetch, Decode, Execute, and Write Back.
70. Q: Explain the concept of fetch-decode overlap in pipelining.
A: The CPU fetches the next instruction while decoding the current one.
71. Q: What are pipeline hazards?
A: Conditions that stall the pipeline, including data, control, and structural hazards.
72. Q: How does Pentium handle pipeline hazards?
A: Through techniques like branch prediction and out-of-order execution.

Parallelism (Continued)

73. Q: What is dual pipeline architecture?

A: It consists of two parallel pipelines to execute instructions concurrently.
74. Q: What are the constraints of superscalar architecture?
A: Limited parallelism in instruction streams and hardware resource contention.
75. Q: Define branch misprediction.
A: When the CPU predicts the wrong execution path, causing pipeline flushing.
76. Q: What is out-of-order execution?
A: Instructions are executed based on data availability, not their original order.
77. Q: Compare superscalar and vector processors.
A: Superscalar processors focus on instruction-level parallelism, while vector processors
specialize in data-level parallelism.
78. Q: What is speculative execution?
A: Executing instructions before the branch outcome is confirmed.
Branch Prediction (Continued)

79. Q: What is dynamic branch prediction?

A: It uses runtime information to predict branches more accurately.
80. Q: How does Pentium implement branch prediction?
A: Using branch target buffers and history-based algorithms.
81. Q: What is register renaming's role in avoiding hazards?
A: It prevents false dependencies by giving each value a unique register.

Case Studies

82. Q: What is the significance of the Intel 8086 in computer architecture?

A: It introduced a 16-bit architecture with segment-based memory management.
83. Q: How does the Intel 82C59A improve interrupt handling?
A: By supporting priority and cascading configurations.
84. Q: What are the key features of the Intel 8237A DMA controller?
A: Support for multiple channels, transfer modes, and memory addressing.
85. Q: Explain Pentium's pipeline design.
A: Pentium introduced dual pipelines with super-scalar execution and branch prediction.
86. Q: How does Pentium handle instruction-level parallelism?
A: Through multiple execution units and advanced scheduling.
87. Q: What are the characteristics of Thunderbolt as an external interface?
A: High-speed data transfer (up to 40 Gbps), low latency, and power delivery.

Let me know if you'd like additional topics or explanations on any of these questions!

Here’s an additional set of questions and answers focusing on Unit 3, Unit 4, and Unit 5 topics
to further your understanding:

UNIT 3: Computer Organization and Architecture

External Devices (Continued)

88. Q: What are the characteristics of secondary storage devices?

A: Secondary storage is non-volatile, larger in capacity than primary memory, and slower
in access speed.
89. Q: What is the primary purpose of tertiary storage?
A: Tertiary storage is used for archiving and long-term data backup, such as tape drives.
90. Q: How do USB devices function as I/O devices?
A: USB devices use a universal interface to communicate with the CPU via a USB
controller, enabling data transfer and device connectivity.
 91. Q: What is the difference between optical and magnetic storage?
A: Optical storage (e.g., CDs, DVDs) uses lasers to read/write data, while magnetic
storage (e.g., HDDs) relies on magnetized surfaces.
92. Q: What are the limitations of mechanical input devices?
A: Mechanical devices like keyboards may wear out over time, have slower response
rates, and are less durable compared to electronic input devices.

I/O Modules (Continued)

93. Q: Why is device independence important in I/O modules?

A: Device independence allows the CPU to interact with I/O devices without needing
specific hardware configurations or commands.
94. Q: What are polling techniques in programmed I/O?
A: Polling involves the CPU continuously checking the status of an I/O device to
determine if it is ready for data transfer.
95. Q: Explain the concept of daisy chaining in interrupt handling.
A: Daisy chaining is a method where multiple devices share a single interrupt line, and
priority is determined by the device's physical order.
96. Q: What is the primary function of an I/O bridge?
A: An I/O bridge connects the CPU and main memory to peripheral devices, handling
data translation and communication.

Direct Memory Access (DMA) (Continued)

97. Q: What is the role of the data bus in DMA operations?

A: The data bus carries data between the DMA controller, memory, and peripherals
during data transfers.
98. Q: Explain fly-by mode in the Intel 8237A DMA controller.
A: In fly-by mode, the data is directly transferred from the source to the destination
without temporary storage in the DMA controller.
99. Q: How does bus arbitration work in DMA?
A: Bus arbitration ensures only one device has control of the bus at a time, avoiding
conflicts during DMA operations.

UNIT 4: Machine Instruction Characteristics

Instruction Characteristics (Continued)

100. Q: How does the length of an instruction impact system performance?

A: Shorter instructions reduce fetch and decode time, improving performance, but may
limit complexity and functionality.
101. Q: Why are variable-length instructions used in modern processors?
A: Variable-length instructions allow more flexibility in encoding complex operations,
optimizing memory usage.
 102. Q: What is a zero-address instruction?
A: It is an instruction that uses an implicit stack-based addressing mode, requiring no
explicit operands.
103. Q: Compare RISC and CISC instruction characteristics.
A: RISC uses a small set of simple instructions optimized for speed, while CISC uses a
more extensive set of complex instructions.
104. Q: How does instruction alignment affect performance?
A: Misaligned instructions may require additional memory cycles, reducing performance.

Types of Operations (Continued)

105. Q: What is a bit manipulation operation?

A: Bit manipulation operations modify specific bits in a word, such as setting, clearing,
toggling, or testing bits.
106. Q: Explain conditional jump instructions.
A: Conditional jumps transfer control to a new address if a specific condition, such as
zero or carry, is met.
107. Q: What is the purpose of shift and rotate operations?
A: Shift operations move bits left or right for multiplication or division, while rotate
operations circularly shift bits.
108. Q: How are logical operations applied in computing?
A: Logical operations like AND, OR, XOR, and NOT are used in decision-making,
masking, and data comparison.

Addressing Modes and Formats (Continued)

109. Q: What is memory-mapped I/O addressing?

A: Memory-mapped I/O treats device registers as memory locations, enabling the CPU to
use standard memory instructions for I/O.
110. Q: How does absolute addressing work?
A: In absolute addressing, the actual memory address of the operand is specified directly
in the instruction.
111. Q: Explain register indirect addressing.
A: The instruction specifies a register that contains the address of the operand.
112. Q: Why is addressing mode versatility important in modern processors?
A: It allows efficient implementation of complex algorithms and supports various
programming paradigms.

UNIT 5: Register Organization

Register Organization (Continued)

113. Q: What is the significance of the stack pointer (SP) in the Intel 8086?
A: The SP points to the top of the stack, enabling efficient management of subroutine
calls and local variables.
 114. Q: Explain the role of the instruction pointer (IP) in instruction execution.
A: The IP holds the address of the next instruction to be fetched and executed.
115. Q: How do segment registers contribute to memory management in the Intel
8086?
A: Segment registers divide memory into segments, facilitating efficient and modular
memory access.
116. Q: What is the difference between volatile and non-volatile registers?
A: Volatile registers lose their content after a system reset, while non-volatile registers
retain data.
117. Q: Why are status registers critical in program execution?
A: They store information about the results of operations (e.g., zero, carry, overflow),
influencing subsequent instructions.

Instruction Cycle (Continued)

118. Q: What is the role of the decode stage in the instruction cycle?
A: The decode stage interprets the opcode and identifies the required operations and
operands.
119. Q: Define micro-operations in the context of an instruction cycle.
A: Micro-operations are low-level operations that break down a machine instruction into
executable steps.
120. Q: What happens during the write-back stage?
A: The results of the instruction are written back to the CPU registers or memory.
121. Q: Why is instruction pipelining challenging in superscalar architectures?
A: Dependencies between instructions, resource conflicts, and branch mispredictions can
stall the pipeline.

Parallelism (Continued)

122. Q: What is fine-grained parallelism?

A: It focuses on parallel execution of smaller tasks or instructions within a single thread.
123. Q: How does hardware multithreading improve performance?
A: It allows the CPU to execute instructions from multiple threads concurrently, utilizing
idle cycles.
124. Q: Explain speculative execution in modern processors.
A: Speculative execution predicts and executes future instructions before knowing the
outcome of a branch.
125. Q: Why is instruction-level parallelism limited?
A: Data dependencies, control flow changes, and hardware resource constraints limit
parallelism.
126. Q: What are the advantages of out-of-order execution?
A: It improves CPU utilization by executing independent instructions in a non-sequential
order.
Branch Prediction (Continued)

127. Q: What is static branch prediction?

A: It assumes a fixed outcome for branches, such as always taking or not taking the
branch.
128. Q: Describe dynamic two-level branch prediction.
A: It uses a combination of global and local branch history to predict outcomes more
accurately.
129. Q: What is a branch target buffer?
A: A cache structure that stores the addresses of recently taken branches to speed up
branch prediction.

Let me know if you’d like further questions, explanations, or diagrams for specific sections!