CSci281/finalexamreview.html was last edited by Randolph Bentson, on 2007/04/30T13:03:52-07:00
What distinguishes an assembler from a compiler?
(Note that although you can invoke the C compiler "gcc" to process
assembler source, it uses an assembler internally, not a compiler
when it processes assembler source.)
Why is dynamic RAM access slower than register access? (Cite the most
significant factor.)
How would you best express the operation performed by the SRC
instruction "shc" using SPARC instruction(s)?
What is the decimal value of the hexadecimal number 0xCAFE?
How would you multiply a number in R1 by the constant value 5
using the fewest number of SRC instructions?
Using conventional symbols, show the circuit which evaluates
A AND (B XOR C).
Outline how register file in figure 4.4 must be changed to support
the three bus design of figure 4.17.
How does the "delayed branch" improve system performance?
Why might we get the wrong answer when adding 123,456,789.0 with
0.123,456,789? (Describe in terms of the format and limitations
of floating point numbers.)
What architectural features are being considered when one considers
a 32-bit computer? (Many features are involved, you should list them
from most significant to least significant.)
How do we represent -99 in 8-bit, two's complement form?
What are "pseudo ops", and why are they part of assembly
language programming?
What are "synthetic instructions", and what role do they play
in assembly language programming?
Draw a RS flip-flop using NOR gates.
Draw a one-bit full-adder as a simple box. Label the inputs
and outputs, and write a truth table showing the relationship
of inputs to outputs.
What role do "stack frames" play in managing program data? What
data typically reside in stack frames?
What are "pipeline hazards"? What causes them, and how can they
be managed?
Describe the storage needed to implement a simple direct mapping cache
memory. How is this storage different from ordinary RAM memory? (Both in
construction and use.) Explain how memory read operations are improved
by the use of this special storage.