Computer Architecture Fundamentals: A Comprehensive Guide for Beginners

Question 1

Which component is NOT essential for a computer system to function?

Accepted Answer

Monitor

Answer

Memory

Answer

Processor

Answer

Storage

Question 2

Which of the following is NOT a physical component of a computer system?

Accepted Answer

Operating system

Answer

Processor

Answer

Memory

Answer

Input/Output devices

Question 3

In computer architecture design, how do architects balance performance considerations with cost constraints?

Accepted Answer

Architects carefully balance performance and cost, making trade-offs to achieve optimal results.

Answer

Architects prioritize performance, disregarding cost to ensure optimal system performance.

Answer

Architects focus primarily on minimizing costs, compromising performance to meet budget limitations.

Question 4

Which of the following is not considered a fundamental component of the von Neumann architecture?

Accepted Answer

Graphics Processing Unit (GPU)

Answer

Central Processing Unit (CPU)

Answer

Main Memory

Answer

Input/Output (I/O) devices

Question 5

Which characteristic is associated with a Reduced Instruction Set Computer (RISC) architecture?

Accepted Answer

A limited number of general-purpose registers

Answer

Emphasis on elaborate addressing modes

Answer

Reliance on a microcode engine

Answer

Optimized for extensive memory bandwidth

Question 6

What is the primary objective of a memory hierarchy in a computer system?

Accepted Answer

To enhance performance by reducing the average memory access time

Answer

To minimize the overall cost of the memory system

Answer

To provide enhanced security by isolating different memory sections

Answer

To simplify the design and implementation of the operating system

Question 7

When designing a superscalar processor, which of the following is a crucial consideration?

Accepted Answer

Exploiting instruction-level parallelism

Answer

Prioritizing energy efficiency

Answer

Optimizing cost-effectiveness

Answer

Ensuring high levels of reliability

Question 8

What is the main function of an instruction decoder in a computer system?

Accepted Answer

Translating machine instructions into micro-operation sequences

Answer

Allocating registers to store operands and results

Answer

Calculating memory addresses for operands and instructions

Answer

Executing arithmetic and logical operations on data

Question 9

What is a significant advantage of using a multi-core processor architecture?

Accepted Answer

Enhanced performance capabilities

Answer

Reduced power consumption

Answer

Improved reliability and fault tolerance

Answer

Lower overall system cost

Question 10

Which principle is central to the design of a computer's instruction set architecture (ISA)?

Accepted Answer

Simplicity and orthogonality

Answer

Preservation of backward compatibility

Answer

Maximizing performance and throughput

Answer

Minimizing cost and energy consumption

Question 11

Within a computer architecture, which component is responsible for executing instructions and performing calculations?

Accepted Answer

Processor

Answer

Memory

Answer

Input/Output devices

Answer

Storage device

Question 12

In a computer architecture, what is the purpose of a bus?

Accepted Answer

To facilitate communication and data transfer between different components

Answer

To store data and instructions for direct access

Answer

To perform arithmetic and logical operations

Answer

To provide input and output capabilities

Question 13

Which of the following is a primary design goal of computer architecture?

Accepted Answer

Optimizing system performance and resource utilization

Answer

Minimizing production costs and maximizing profits

Answer

Ensuring compatibility with all software applications

Answer

Reducing the number of components used in the design

Question 14

What is the key distinction between CISC and RISC architectures?

Accepted Answer

CISC architectures employ complex instructions, while RISC architectures use a simpler instruction set.

Answer

RISC architectures utilize complex instructions, whereas CISC architectures rely on simpler instructions.

Answer

CISC architectures are inherently more efficient than RISC architectures.

Answer

RISC architectures offer better performance and efficiency compared to CISC architectures.

Question 15

Which of the following is NOT a commonly used performance metric in computer architecture evaluations?

Accepted Answer

Cost: Expense associated with building and maintaining the system

Answer

Throughput: Amount of work completed in a specific time

Answer

Latency: Time taken to perform a specific operation

Answer

Reliability: Resistance to failures and errors

Question 16

In a computer architecture, what is the primary function of a cache?

Accepted Answer

Storing frequently accessed data and instructions for rapid retrieval

Answer

Expanding the capacity of the main memory

Answer

Improving the performance of input/output operations

Answer

Eliminating the need for a secondary storage device

Question 17

In a computer architecture, what is the primary responsibility of an operating system?

Accepted Answer

Managing system resources and providing services to applications

Answer

Executing user-level instructions directly

Answer

Translating high-level programming languages into machine code

Answer

Storing data and files on storage devices

Question 18

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

Accepted Answer

Creating the illusion of a larger main memory than physically available

Answer

Enhancing the performance of virtualization technologies

Answer

Eliminating the need for a secondary storage device

Answer

Protecting user programs from unauthorized access

Question 19

Which component is NOT part of the von Neumann architecture, a foundational model for modern computers?

Accepted Answer

Graphics Processing Unit (GPU)

Answer

Central Processing Unit (CPU)

Answer

Main Memory

Answer

Input/Output (I/O) devices

Question 20

What is the primary function of the instruction register in a processor?

Accepted Answer

Stores the instruction currently being executed

Answer

Stores the result of the most recent instruction

Answer

Controls the flow of data within the processor

Answer

Decodes the opcode of the next instruction

Question 21

What is the primary benefit of pipelining in a processor?

Accepted Answer

Increased instruction execution speed

Answer

Reduced power consumption

Answer

Improved data accuracy

Answer

Simplified processor design

Question 22

Which of the following is a distinctive feature of the ARM architecture, a widely used processor design for mobile devices?

Accepted Answer

Reduced instruction set

Answer

High clock speed

Answer

Complex instruction set

Answer

High power consumption

Question 23

In computer architecture design, which factors are primarily taken into account by architects?

Accepted Answer

Cost, performance, reliability, and power consumption

Answer

Processor speed and memory capacity

Answer

User interface and operating system

Question 24

In a computer system, which component is responsible for fetching and executing instructions?

Accepted Answer

Control Unit

Answer

Arithmetic Logic Unit

Answer

Memory Unit

Answer

Input/Output Unit

Question 25

What is the main purpose of a Register File in a computer architecture?

Accepted Answer

To store frequently accessed data and instructions temporarily

Answer

To perform arithmetic and logical operations

Answer

To manage the allocation and deallocation of memory

Answer

To control the flow of data between components

Question 26

Which of the following components is NOT part of a traditional von Neumann architecture?

Accepted Answer

Graphics Processing Unit

Answer

Control Unit

Answer

Arithmetic Logic Unit

Answer

Memory Unit

Question 27

What is the primary function of the Address Bus in a computer system?

Accepted Answer

To specify the location of data or instructions in memory

Answer

To transfer data between components

Answer

To control the execution of instructions

Answer

To synchronize operations between different components

Question 28

What is the key distinction between RISC and CISC architectures?

Accepted Answer

RISC uses a smaller set of simpler instructions, while CISC uses a larger set of more complex instructions

Answer

RISC instructions execute more quickly than CISC instructions

Answer

RISC architectures are inherently more reliable than CISC architectures

Answer

RISC architectures are better suited for high-performance computing applications

Question 29

What is the main responsibility of the I/O processor in a computer system?

Accepted Answer

To manage the communication between the computer and external devices

Answer

To execute arithmetic and logical operations

Answer

To control the sequencing of instructions

Answer

To store data and instructions long-term

Question 30

Which of the following is NOT a level in the computer architecture hierarchy?

Accepted Answer

Operating System

Answer

Instruction Set Architecture

Answer

Microarchitecture

Answer

System Architecture

Question 31

What is the main purpose of using cache memory in a computer system?

Accepted Answer

To reduce the average memory access time

Answer

To increase the total amount of available memory

Answer

To improve the reliability of memory operations

Answer

To manage virtual memory

Question 32

Explain the functions of the three primary buses in computer architecture: system bus, memory bus, and expansion bus.

Accepted Answer

System bus: Facilitates data and control signal exchange between the processor, memory, and peripherals.

Accepted Answer

Memory bus: Enables data and address transfer specifically between the processor and memory.

Accepted Answer

Expansion bus: Provides a connection pathway for additional peripherals to be added to the system.

Answer

Peripheral bus: Connects multiple peripherals to form a dedicated network for peripheral communication.

Question 33

Which of the following is NOT a fundamental component of computer architecture?

Accepted Answer

Operating System

Answer

Processor

Answer

Memory

Answer

Input/Output devices

Question 34

What is the primary function of the instruction set architecture (ISA)?

Accepted Answer

Defines the set of instructions that a processor can execute

Answer

Controls the flow of data between memory and the processor

Answer

Provides an interface for communication between peripherals

Answer

Manages the allocation of system resources

Question 35

Which of the following memory types is characterized by its fast data access speeds?

Accepted Answer

Static Random-Access Memory (SRAM)

Answer

Dynamic Random-Access Memory (DRAM)

Answer

Flash memory

Answer

Hard Disk Drive (HDD)

Question 36

What is the main difference between a load instruction and a store instruction in a processor?

Accepted Answer

Load copies data from memory to a register, while store copies data from a register to memory

Answer

Load reads data from a register, while store writes data to a register

Answer

Load is used to initialize variables, while store is used to save results

Answer

Load is faster than store, while store is more reliable

Question 37

Which of the following describes the process of converting high-level instructions into machine code?

Accepted Answer

Compilation

Answer

Interpretation

Answer

Assembling

Answer

Linking

Question 38

What is the main advantage of using a virtual memory scheme?

Accepted Answer

Increases the available memory capacity beyond the physical memory size

Answer

Makes memory management more efficient

Answer

Improves the security of the system

Answer

Reduces the cost of memory chips

Question 39

Which component is not a fundamental part of a modern CPU?

Accepted Answer

Network card

Answer

Control unit

Answer

Arithmetic logic unit (ALU)

Answer

Registers

Question 40

In the von Neumann architecture, which component is NOT considered a fundamental element of a computer system?

Accepted Answer

Network Interface Card (NIC)

Answer

Control Unit

Answer

Processing Unit (CPU)

Answer

Memory Unit

Question 41

Which of the following accurately describes the primary function of the control unit in a computer system?

Accepted Answer

Directs the execution of instructions by fetching, decoding, and executing them.

Answer

Performs arithmetic and logical operations on data.

Answer

Provides a means of communication with external devices like printers and storage.

Answer

Stores data and instructions for processing.

Question 42

Which component is NOT a fundamental part of the von Neumann architecture, a widely used computer architecture model?

Accepted Answer

Parallel processing unit

Answer

Central processing unit

Answer

Input/output devices

Answer

Memory

Question 43

What is the main purpose of using registers in a computer system?

Accepted Answer

To temporarily store frequently used data and instructions, providing faster access than main memory.

Answer

To control the flow of data and instructions within the computer system.

Answer

To connect different components of the computer system, such as the CPU and memory.

Answer

To perform complex calculations, such as multiplication and division.

Question 44

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

Accepted Answer

To act as a communication pathway, interconnecting various components like the CPU, memory, and input/output devices.

Answer

To execute user programs and handle their instructions.

Answer

To store the operating system and its essential files.

Question 45

Which of the following is a significant advantage of using a multi-core processor?

Accepted Answer

It allows for parallel processing, improving overall performance and efficiency by handling multiple tasks simultaneously.

Answer

Multi-core processors are typically less expensive to manufacture compared to single-core processors.

Answer

Multi-core processors consume less power, leading to increased energy efficiency.

Question 46

What is the primary purpose of a memory management unit (MMU) in a computer system?

Accepted Answer

To manage the allocation, protection, and mapping of memory addresses, ensuring efficient and secure memory usage.

Answer

To control the input and output devices connected to the computer system.

Answer

To retrieve instructions from memory and feed them to the processor.

Answer

To perform arithmetic operations on data stored in memory.

Question 47

Which of the following is a type of cache memory commonly found in computer systems?

Accepted Answer

Level 1 (L1) cache

Answer

RAM

Answer

Hard disk drive

Answer

Optical drive

Question 48

What is the fundamental difference between a 32-bit and a 64-bit computer architecture?

Accepted Answer

The size of the address space and data registers, which affects the amount of memory and data that can be handled.

Answer

The speed of the system bus, which affects the overall data transfer rate.

Answer

The type of operating system used, as it determines the compatibility with different software.

Answer

The number of cores in the processor, which impacts multi-tasking capabilities.

Question 49

Which of the following is a key design principle in modern computer architecture?

Accepted Answer

Optimizing performance through techniques like pipelining and parallelism, which improve instruction execution efficiency.

Answer

Minimizing the number of components in the system to reduce complexity and cost.

Answer

Using large and complex instruction sets to enhance the functionality of each instruction.

Question 50

Which of the following provides the most accurate definition of computer architecture?

Accepted Answer

The organization and design principles of a computer system's hardware and software components.

Answer

The physical arrangement of a computer's internal parts.

Answer

The programming language used to develop software for a specific type of computer.

Question 51

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

Accepted Answer

Executing instructions and performing mathematical calculations.

Answer

Storing data and programs.

Answer

Providing input and output for the user.

Question 52

Which of the following is NOT a commonly used type of memory in computer systems?

Accepted Answer

Hard disk drive

Answer

Read-only memory (ROM)

Answer

Cache memory

Answer

Random access memory (RAM)

Question 53

What is the purpose of a bus in a computer system?

Accepted Answer

Transferring data and control signals among components.

Answer

Storing data and programs.

Answer

Executing instructions and performing calculations.

Question 54

What is the key distinction between RISC and CISC instruction sets?

Accepted Answer

RISC instructions are simpler and more numerous, whereas CISC instructions are complex and fewer in number.

Answer

RISC instructions are used in high-performance computers while CISC instructions are used in embedded systems.

Answer

RISC instructions are complex and fewer in number, whereas CISC instructions are simpler and more numerous.

Question 55

Which of the following is a fundamental design principle of computer architecture?

Accepted Answer

Modularity

Answer

Redundancy

Answer

Complexity

Question 56

What is the primary purpose of a cache in a computer system?

Accepted Answer

Enhancing performance by storing frequently accessed data and instructions in a faster memory.

Answer

Storing data that is not currently being used.

Answer

Protecting data from unauthorized access.

Question 57

Which of the following is a common performance metric used in computer architecture?

Accepted Answer

Instructions per second (IPS)

Answer

Frames per second (FPS)

Answer

Lines of code per minute (LPM)

Answer

Disk space utilization (DSU)