Anna University Chennai 2006 Diploma Information Technology Computer Architecture - Question Paper

NOV/DEC 2006
Computer Architecture
IT.

ans ALL ques.
(PART A-10*2=20 marks)

1.What is a bus? elaborate the various buses in a CPU?
2.What are the 4 basic kinds of operations that need to be supported by an instruction set?
3.Draw the symbolic representation of the full adder and provide the expression for the sum.
4.In conforming to the IEEE standard mention any 4 situations under which a processor sets exception flag.
5.What are the address sequencing capabilities needed in a control memory?
6.What is meant by super scalar processor?
7.What do you understand by Hit ratio?
8.Define locality of reference. elaborate its types?
9.What is DMA operation? State its advantages.
10.What is the necessity of an interface?

(PART A-5*16=80 marks)
11.(a).i).Give the various instruction formats of a CPU in general.
ii).Define addressing modes. Classify addressing modes and discuss every kind with examples..
(Or)
11.(b).i).Write an assembly language to obtain the biggest number among provided 3 numbers.
ii).Explain instruction set and instruction sequencing.

12.(a).i).What is the disadvantage in using a ripple carry adder?
ii).Draw the diagram of a carry look ahead adder and discuss the carry look ahead principle.
(Or)
12.(b).i).Give the IEEE standard double precision floating point format.
ii).Explain the floating point Add/Subtract rules. With a detailed flowchart discuss how floating point addition/subtraction is performed.

13.(a).i).With a neat diagram discuss the basic organization of a micro programmed control unit. discuss the operation of this control unit with a typical set of microinstructions.
(Or)
13.(b).i).Explain the different design methods of hardwired control unit.
ii).Explain the basic concepts of pipelining and comparing it with sequential processing. Draw needed diagrams.

14.(a).i).Draw a neat sketch of memory hierarchy and discuss the need of cache memory.
ii).Explain the different mapping functions used for mapping main memory blocks into cache memory.
(Or)
14.(b).i).Explain the virtual memory translation and TLB with necessary diagram.
ii).Discuss the concept of memory interleaving and provide its advantages.

15.(a).i).Discuss the general steps involved in interrupt driven data transfer.
ii).Explain how DMA transfer is accomplished with a neat diagram..
(Or)
15.(b).Write short notes on:
i).PCI
ii).Advantages of USB over older I/O bus architecture.

Earning:   Approval pending.