Unit 4: Processor Fundamentals

4.1 Central Processing Unit (CPU) Architecture

1 Show understanding of the basic Von Neumann model for a computer system and the stored program concept

2 Show understanding of the purpose and role of registers, including the difference between general purpose and special purpose registers

3 Show understanding of the purpose and roles of the Arithmetic and Logic Unit (ALU), Control Unit (CU) and system clock, Immediate Access Store (IAS)

4 Show understanding of how data are transferred between various components of the computer system using the address bus, data bus and control bus

5 Show understanding of how factors contribute to the performance of the computer system

6 Understand how different ports provide connection to peripheral devices

7 Describe the stages of the Fetch-Execute (F-E) cycle

8 Show understanding of the purpose of interrupts

4.2 Assembly Language

1 Show understanding of the relationship between assembly language and machine code

2 Describe the different stages of the assembly process for a two-pass assembler

3 Trace a given simple assembly language program

4 Show understanding that a set of instructions are grouped

5 Show understanding of and be able to use different modes of addressing

4.3 Bit manipulation

1 Show understanding of and perform binary shifts

2 Show understanding of how bit manipulation can be used to monitor/control a device