Computer Architecture Exam Questions and Answers Latest Update 2025 (Already Passed)
What are the components of a computer system? - Answers consists of hardware and software
components and follows the input, process, output, and storage model.
What does the CPU do? - Answers performs the process phase, handling arithmetic, logical, and I/O
operations. It retrieves and saves data to storage.
What are the components of the CPU? - Answers The CPU contains:
- Control Unit (CU)
- Arithmetic & Logic Unit (ALU)
- Memory Address Register (MAR)
- Memory Data Register (MDR)
What is the function of the Control Unit (CU)? - Answers The CU controls the retrieval and execution of
instructions from primary memory and manages data for the ALU.
What is the role of the Arithmetic & Logic Unit (ALU)? - Answers The ALU performs arithmetic, logical,
and I/O operations.
What is the difference between RAM and ROM? - Answers RAM is volatile memory that stores data and
instructions that the CPU needs while performing tasks, while ROM is non-volatile and used for booting
the computer.
What does the Memory Address Register (MAR) do? - Answers The MAR holds the memory address of
data for the ALU to process and communicates with primary memory via the address bus.
What is the function of the Memory Data Register (MDR)? - Answers The MDR holds data to be
processed by the ALU, and stores results in RAM using the data bus.
What is primary memory? - Answers Primary memory holds data and instructions currently being used
by the computer and includes RAM and ROM.
What is the purpose of cache memory? - Answers Cache, aka Static RAM (SRAM), temporarily stores
frequently used data to speed up CPU access and reduce reliance on slower main memory.
What happens during the Fetch, Decode, Execute cycle? - Answers The CPU fetches, decodes, executes
instructions from primary memory, and stores the results.
What is secondary memory? - Answers Secondary memory is non-volatile, high-capacity storage used to
hold data persistently, even when the computer is off. It can be written into like RAM but is non-volatile
like ROM.
What are the components of a computer system? - Answers consists of hardware and software
components and follows the input, process, output, and storage model.
What does the CPU do? - Answers performs the process phase, handling arithmetic, logical, and I/O
operations. It retrieves and saves data to storage.
What are the components of the CPU? - Answers The CPU contains:
- Control Unit (CU)
- Arithmetic & Logic Unit (ALU)
- Memory Address Register (MAR)
- Memory Data Register (MDR)
What is the function of the Control Unit (CU)? - Answers The CU controls the retrieval and execution of
instructions from primary memory and manages data for the ALU.
What is the role of the Arithmetic & Logic Unit (ALU)? - Answers The ALU performs arithmetic, logical,
and I/O operations.
What is the difference between RAM and ROM? - Answers RAM is volatile memory that stores data and
instructions that the CPU needs while performing tasks, while ROM is non-volatile and used for booting
the computer.
What does the Memory Address Register (MAR) do? - Answers The MAR holds the memory address of
data for the ALU to process and communicates with primary memory via the address bus.
What is the function of the Memory Data Register (MDR)? - Answers The MDR holds data to be
processed by the ALU, and stores results in RAM using the data bus.
What is primary memory? - Answers Primary memory holds data and instructions currently being used
by the computer and includes RAM and ROM.
What is the purpose of cache memory? - Answers Cache, aka Static RAM (SRAM), temporarily stores
frequently used data to speed up CPU access and reduce reliance on slower main memory.
What happens during the Fetch, Decode, Execute cycle? - Answers The CPU fetches, decodes, executes
instructions from primary memory, and stores the results.
What is secondary memory? - Answers Secondary memory is non-volatile, high-capacity storage used to
hold data persistently, even when the computer is off. It can be written into like RAM but is non-volatile
like ROM.
