NATIONAL OPEN UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA

UNIVERSITY VILLAGE, PLOT 91, CASDASTRAL ZONE, NNAMDI AZIKIWE EXPRESS WAY, JABI, ABUJA.
FACULTY OF SCIENCES
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2013 EXAMINATION

COURSE CODE:        CIT 309

COURSE TITLE:       COMPUTER ARCHITECTURE

CREDIT UNIT:         3 CREDIT UNITS

TIME:                         3 HOURS

INSTRUCTION:        ANSWER ANY FOUR QUESTIONS IN ALL

1a.       List and briefly explain the four (4) types of parallel processor system.                 [10 marks]

1b.       Using the Instruction: ADD, R, Y to explain the following:

1. ADD, R, Y
2. Y
3. R                                                                                                                     [7¹/₂   marks]

2a.       Highlight the features and functionality of a multi programming system to accommodate multiple             processor.                                                                                                                    [7¹/₂  marks]

2b.       Define the following:

1. Dual core processor chip.                                                                               [3 marks]
2. L2 cache.                                                                                                         [3 marks]
3. System control element (SCE).                                                                      [2 marks]

iv.        Main store control (MSC).                                                                             [2 marks]

v.         Memory card.                                                                                                 [2 marks]

3a.       List and discuss four (4) basic functions that a computer can perform.                   [13 marks]

3b.       Explain what is meant by Micro-operation?                                                             [4¹/₂   marks]

4a.       Define the following:

1. processors instruction.                                                                                               [4 marks]
2. Instruction.                                                                                                     [4 marks]
3. Data types.                                                                                                     [2 marks]      

4b        Discuss how the A.L.U is interconnected with the rest of the processor.                [7¹/₂   marks]

5a.       Briefly state how the 2s complement operation can be perform on the given integer numbers.

                                                                                                                                                [5¹/₂    marks]

5b.       Define the following acronym:

1. MAR.
2. MBR.
3. IR.
4. PC.
5. Interrupt.
6. Timer.                                                                                                             [12 marks]

6a.       Explain the following:

            i.          Clock.                                                                                                              [5 marks]

            ii.         Flags                                                                                                               [5 marks]      

6b.       Write short note on the simultaneous execution of the action: Read word from memory and Increment PC.                                                                                                                        [7¹/₂ marks]