Computer Architecture Fundamentals: Bits, Bytes, and Components

Computer Architecture Basics

Item 1: Is that a bit?

1. What is a Bit?

The binary digit.

2. What values can a bit take?

1 or 0.

5. How many bits is a nibble?

4 bits.

6. How many bits is a byte?

8 bits.

7. How many bits is a word?

16 bits.

8. How many bits has a doubleword?

32 bits.

9. How many bits has a quadword?

64 bits.

Central Processing Units and Computers

10. What is a microprocessor?

One central processing unit (CPU) integrated into a single chip.

11. What is a microcomputer?

A printed circuit board with a microprocessor, memory, and ports.

12. What is a microcomputer (alternative definition)?

A printed circuit board with a microprocessor where cards can be added or removed.

13. What is a computer?

A printed circuit board with a central microprocessor, where cards, each carrying its own microprocessor, can be connected.

14. What is a microcontroller?

A microcomputer on a single chip.

Microprocessor Buses and Addressing

16. Which three buses has a microprocessor?

Direction, control, and data.

17. What is a unidirectional bus in a microprocessor?

Address bus.

18. What are bidirectional buses in a microprocessor?

Data and control buses.

25. Which is the formula for addressing capability in a microprocessor?

Capacity = 2^{number of address bits}.

26. What is the maximum addressing capability of a chip with a 64-bit address bus?

16 exabytes (Note: Corrected 'hexabites' to 'exabytes' for standard terminology).

27. What parameters indicate the size of a memory?

Capacity and length of word.

Common Computer Ports and Connectors

29. What type of connector has a serial port?

DB9, DB25 male.

30. What type of connector and pin number has a parallel port?

DB25 female.

31. What type of connectors can be found on a video card?

DB15 female in 3 rows, DVI, HDMI, SuperVideo (VGA).

32. What type of connectors can be found in a sound card?

Jack, DB15 female, and joystick port.

33. What type of connectors can be found in a network card?

RJ45, BNC, or AVI port (likely referring to a specific video/media port, context dependent).

34. How many pins has a USB port?

4 (for USB 1.x/2.0 standard).

35. How many pins has a FireWire port?

4 or 6 pins (depending on generation).

36. What type of connector and pin number has a game port?

DB15 female.

37. What type of connector and pin number of a modem?

RJ11, 4-pin.

38. How many types of connectors may have a keyboard port?

DIN 5-pin, DIN 6-pin, or USB Mini-DIN.

Peripheral Memory Classification

45. Can external memory be considered a peripheral?

Yes, if the peripheral is not directly connected to the micro (CPU).

48. What are three groups of peripherals?

• Input
• Output
• Input-Output