WGU C952 - OA Questions with 100% Correct Answers
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Register File - ANSWER-A state element that consists of a set of registers that can be read and
written by supplying a register number to be accessed.
provides 1024 scalar 32-bit registers for up to 64 threads.
machine language - ANSWER-The language made up of binary-coded instructions that is used
directly by the computer
system software - ANSWER-The set of programs that enables a computer's hardware devices and
application software to work together; it includes the operating system and utility programs.
operating system - ANSWER-(computer science) software that controls the execution of computer
programs and may provide various services
Assembly Language - ANSWER-Programming language that has the same structure and set of
commands as machine languages but allows programmers to use symbolic representations of
numeric machine code.
IBM 360/91 - ANSWER-Introduced many new concepts, including dynamic detection of memory
hazards, generalized forwarding, and reservation stations. Tomasulo's algorithm
The internal organization of the 360/91 shares many features with the Pentium III and Pentium 4, as
well as with several other microprocessors. One major difference was that there was no branch
prediction in the 360/91 and hence no speculation. Another major difference was that there was no
commit unit, so once the instructions finished execution, they updated the registers.
Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM) - ANSWER-Memory built as an integrated circuit; it
provides random access to any location. Access times are 50 nanoseconds and cost per gigabyte in
2012 was $5 to $10.
,Multiple DRAMs are used together to contain the instructions and data of a program. In contrast to
sequential access memories, such as magnetic tapes, the RAM portion of the term DRAM means that
memory accesses take basically the same amount of time no matter what portion of the memory is
read.
Modern DRAMS consist of rows in each bank
frame buffering - ANSWER-A portion of RAM containing a bitmap that drives a video display. It is a
memory buffer containing a complete frame of data.
The image to be represented onscreen is stored in the frame buffer, and the bit pattern per pixel is
read out to the graphics display at the refresh rate. The animation below shows a frame buffer with a
simplified design of just 4 bits per pixel.
Datapath - ANSWER-The component of the processor that performs arithmetic operations
Control - ANSWER-The component of the processor that commands the datapath, memory, and
I/O devices according to the instructions of the program.
Integrated circuit - ANSWER-Also called a chip. A device combining dozens to millions of
transistors.
Central processor unit (CPU) - ANSWER-Also called processor. The active part of the computer,
which contains the datapath and control and which adds numbers, tests numbers, signals I/O devices
to activate, and so on.
Static random access memory (SRAM) - ANSWER-Also memory built as an integrated circuit, but
faster and less dense than DRAM.
Instruction set architecture - ANSWER-Also called architecture. An abstract interface between the
hardware and the lowest-level software that encompasses all the information necessary to write a
machine language program that will run correctly, including instructions, registers, memory access,
I/O, and so on.
, Application binary interface (ABI) - ANSWER-The user portion of the instruction set plus the
operating system interfaces used by application programmers. It defines a standard for binary
portability across computers.
Volatile memory - ANSWER-Storage, such as DRAM, that retains data only if it is receiving power.
Nonvolatile Memory - ANSWER-A form of memory that retains data even in the absence of a
power source and that is used to store programs between runs. A DVD disk is nonvolatile.
Magnetic disk - ANSWER-Also called hard disk. A form of nonvolatile secondary memory
composed of rotating platters coated with a magnetic recording material. Because they are rotating
mechanical devices, access times are about 5 to 20 milliseconds and cost per gigabyte in 2012 was
$0.05 to $0.10
Main memory - ANSWER-Also called primary memory. Memory used to hold programs while they
are running; typically consists of DRAM in today's computers.
Secondary memory - ANSWER-Nonvolatile memory used to store programs and data between
runs; typically consists of flash memory in PMDs and magnetic disks in servers.
Flash memory - ANSWER-A nonvolatile semiconductor memory. It is cheaper and slower than
DRAM but more expensive per bit and faster than magnetic disks. Access times are about 5 to 50
microseconds and cost per gigabyte in 2012 was $0.75 to $1.00.
Single Instruction Single Data (SISD) - ANSWER-A uniprocessor
Multiple Instruction Multiple Data (MIMD) - ANSWER-A multiprocessor.
Single Program, Multiple Data Streams (SPMD) - ANSWER-The conventional MIMD programming
model, where a single program runs across all processors.
Single Instruction Stream, Multiple Data Streams (SIMD) - ANSWER-The same instruction is
applied to many data streams, as in a vector processor.
| Latest Version (2024/2025) Expert Verified | Ace the
Test
Register File - ANSWER-A state element that consists of a set of registers that can be read and
written by supplying a register number to be accessed.
provides 1024 scalar 32-bit registers for up to 64 threads.
machine language - ANSWER-The language made up of binary-coded instructions that is used
directly by the computer
system software - ANSWER-The set of programs that enables a computer's hardware devices and
application software to work together; it includes the operating system and utility programs.
operating system - ANSWER-(computer science) software that controls the execution of computer
programs and may provide various services
Assembly Language - ANSWER-Programming language that has the same structure and set of
commands as machine languages but allows programmers to use symbolic representations of
numeric machine code.
IBM 360/91 - ANSWER-Introduced many new concepts, including dynamic detection of memory
hazards, generalized forwarding, and reservation stations. Tomasulo's algorithm
The internal organization of the 360/91 shares many features with the Pentium III and Pentium 4, as
well as with several other microprocessors. One major difference was that there was no branch
prediction in the 360/91 and hence no speculation. Another major difference was that there was no
commit unit, so once the instructions finished execution, they updated the registers.
Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM) - ANSWER-Memory built as an integrated circuit; it
provides random access to any location. Access times are 50 nanoseconds and cost per gigabyte in
2012 was $5 to $10.
,Multiple DRAMs are used together to contain the instructions and data of a program. In contrast to
sequential access memories, such as magnetic tapes, the RAM portion of the term DRAM means that
memory accesses take basically the same amount of time no matter what portion of the memory is
read.
Modern DRAMS consist of rows in each bank
frame buffering - ANSWER-A portion of RAM containing a bitmap that drives a video display. It is a
memory buffer containing a complete frame of data.
The image to be represented onscreen is stored in the frame buffer, and the bit pattern per pixel is
read out to the graphics display at the refresh rate. The animation below shows a frame buffer with a
simplified design of just 4 bits per pixel.
Datapath - ANSWER-The component of the processor that performs arithmetic operations
Control - ANSWER-The component of the processor that commands the datapath, memory, and
I/O devices according to the instructions of the program.
Integrated circuit - ANSWER-Also called a chip. A device combining dozens to millions of
transistors.
Central processor unit (CPU) - ANSWER-Also called processor. The active part of the computer,
which contains the datapath and control and which adds numbers, tests numbers, signals I/O devices
to activate, and so on.
Static random access memory (SRAM) - ANSWER-Also memory built as an integrated circuit, but
faster and less dense than DRAM.
Instruction set architecture - ANSWER-Also called architecture. An abstract interface between the
hardware and the lowest-level software that encompasses all the information necessary to write a
machine language program that will run correctly, including instructions, registers, memory access,
I/O, and so on.
, Application binary interface (ABI) - ANSWER-The user portion of the instruction set plus the
operating system interfaces used by application programmers. It defines a standard for binary
portability across computers.
Volatile memory - ANSWER-Storage, such as DRAM, that retains data only if it is receiving power.
Nonvolatile Memory - ANSWER-A form of memory that retains data even in the absence of a
power source and that is used to store programs between runs. A DVD disk is nonvolatile.
Magnetic disk - ANSWER-Also called hard disk. A form of nonvolatile secondary memory
composed of rotating platters coated with a magnetic recording material. Because they are rotating
mechanical devices, access times are about 5 to 20 milliseconds and cost per gigabyte in 2012 was
$0.05 to $0.10
Main memory - ANSWER-Also called primary memory. Memory used to hold programs while they
are running; typically consists of DRAM in today's computers.
Secondary memory - ANSWER-Nonvolatile memory used to store programs and data between
runs; typically consists of flash memory in PMDs and magnetic disks in servers.
Flash memory - ANSWER-A nonvolatile semiconductor memory. It is cheaper and slower than
DRAM but more expensive per bit and faster than magnetic disks. Access times are about 5 to 50
microseconds and cost per gigabyte in 2012 was $0.75 to $1.00.
Single Instruction Single Data (SISD) - ANSWER-A uniprocessor
Multiple Instruction Multiple Data (MIMD) - ANSWER-A multiprocessor.
Single Program, Multiple Data Streams (SPMD) - ANSWER-The conventional MIMD programming
model, where a single program runs across all processors.
Single Instruction Stream, Multiple Data Streams (SIMD) - ANSWER-The same instruction is
applied to many data streams, as in a vector processor.
