Computer Viva

7/28/2019 Computer Viva

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1. On which model is based the basic architecture of a digital computer?2. What is meant by distributed processing?

3. What is a microprocessor?

4. What is the technology used in microprocessor?

5. What are the 3 main units of a digital computer?

6. How microprocessor does communicate with the memory and I/O devices?

7. What is mnemonics?

8. What is machine language programming?

9. What is meant by assembly language programming?

10. What are meant by low level and high level language?

11. What is meant by word length of computer?

12. What is meant by instructions?

13. How many different instructions 8085 have?

14. What is an instruction set?

15. What an instruction consists of?

16. Give one example each of different types of instructions?

17. What language a microprocessor understands?

18. How an assembler translates programs written in mnemonics to binary?

19. What are the types of mnemonics possible?

20. What are source codes and object codes?

21. How are high level languages converted into binary?

22. Difference between a compiler and an interpreter?

23. What is a statement?

24. What are the names given to instructions written in high and low

levellanguages?


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25. What is the another name of a microprocessor?

26. What is a microcomputer?

27. What is a bus?

28. What are the different buses and what jobs they do in a microprocessor?

29. Why are the different buses buffered?

30. In how many ways computers are divided?

31. In how many ways computer soft wares are categorized?

32. Explain the two types of software?

33. What is an editor?3

4. What is an OS and what are its functions?

35. What are the different types of assemblers used?

36. What is a linker?

37. What is a locator?

38. What is coprocessor?

39. What is a coprocessor trap?

40. What is a debugger?

41. In how many groups can the signals of 8085 be classified?

42. What is meant by the statement that 8085 is a 8 bit microprocessor?

43. What is the operating frequency of 8085?

44. What is the purpose of CLK signals of 8085?

45. What are the widths of data bus (DB) and address bus (AB) of 8085?

46. What is the distinguishing feature of DB and AB?

47. The address capability of 8085 is 64 KB.Explain?

48. Does 8085 have serial I/O control?

49. Mention the addressing modes of 8085?


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Ques 3. What is Asynchronous SRAM?

Ans.

Static random-access memory (SRAM) is a type of semiconductor memory thatuses bistable latching circuitry to store each bit. The term static differentiates itfrom dynamic RAM (DRAM) which must be periodically refreshed. SRAMexhibits data remanence,[1] but is still volatile in the conventional sense that data

is eventually lost when the memory is not powered. Asynchronous SRAMare available from 4 Kb to 64 Mb. The fast access time of

SRAM makes asynchronous SRAM appropriate as main memory for small cache-less embedded processors used in everything from industrial electronics andmeasurement systems to hard disks and networking equipment, among manyother applications. They are used in various applications like switches androuters, IP-Phones, IC-Testers, DSLAM Cards, to Automotive Electronics.

Ques 4. What is BIOS (Basic Input and Output Software)?

Ans.BIOS stands for Basic Input and Output Software. The BIOS is software thatcontrols the most fundamental operations of a computer and a BIOS is necessary inorder to start a computer. Without a BIOS, a computer would not know how tocommunicate with its hard disk and other devices. The BIOS is stored on a ROM (Read-Only Memory) computer chip inside the computer. Many computers in the past fewyears use "Flash EPROM" chips, which means the BIOS chip can be reprogrammed withan updated BIOS. A BIOS may need to be updated to fix bugs, such as the year 2000bug, or an update may be necessary in order to support new hardware protocols.

Ques 5. What is Bit?

Ans.A bit(short for binary digit) is the smallest unit of data in a computer. A bit has a singlebinary value, either 0 or 1. Although computers usually provide instructions that cantest and manipulate bits, they generally are designed to store data and executeinstructions in bit multiples called bytes. In most computer systems, there are eight bitsin a byte. The value of a bit is usually stored as either above or below a designated levelof electrical charge in a single capacitor within a memory device.

Half a byte (four bits) is called a nibble. In some systems, the term octet is used for aneight-bit unit instead of byte. In many systems, four eight-bit bytes or octets form a 32-bit word. In such systems, instruction lengths are sometimes expressed as full-word (32bits in length) or half-word (16 bits in length).

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MULTIPROGRAMMING AND MULTI PROCESSING


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Multiprogramming is basically a type of parallel processing that can be used in manydifferent environments. It makes it possible for a few programs to work at the sametime.Multiprocessing is a method of computing in which different parts of a task aredistributed between two or more similar central processing units, allowing thecomputer to complete operations more quickly and to handle larger, more complexprocedures.

In multiprogramming, more than one program lies in the memory i.e. in terms ofoperating system, the scheduler selects the jobs to be placed in ready queue from anumber of programs. The ready queue is placed in memory and the existence of morethan one program in main memory is known as multiprogramming.

Example of multiprogramming, we open word, excel, access and other applicationstogether but while we type in word other applications such as excel and access are justpresent in main memory but they are not performing any task or work. Or we can saythat are not being used at the same time.

Whereas multitasking means performing multiple tasks in parallel. Usually, CPUprocesses only one task at a time but the switching of CPU between the processes (alsoknown as Context Switching) is so fast that it looks like CPU(or processor) is executingmultiple processes at a time.

Example of multitasking, we listen to music and do internet browsing at the same time(they execute parallely).

Also a task (or process) is a part of program under execution. In other words, task is anactive entity where as program is passive entity.

Multiprocessing means the use of two or more Central Processing Units (CPU) at thesame time. Most of new computers have dual-core processors, or feature two or moreprocessors, therefore they are called multiprocessor computers.

Difference

multi - programming : multiple programs can be run on thesame systemmuti tasking : an logical extension of multi pprogrammingto perform multiple task at a same time or at different time

multi user : multiple users can work on time time ordifferent timemulti processing : multiple jobs by several cpustimesharing : different tasks can share different rsources


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Hard Disk Basics

Hard disks were invented in the 1950s. They started as large disks up to 20 inches indiameter holding just a fewmegabytes. They were originally called "fixed disks" or"Winchesters" (a code name used for a popular IBM product). They later became knownas "hard disks" to distinguish them from "floppy disks." Hard disks have a hard platterthat holds the magnetic medium, as opposed to the flexible plastic film found in tapesand floppies.

At the simplest level, a hard disk is not that different from acassette tape. Both harddisks and cassette tapes use the same magnetic recording techniques described inHowTape Recorders Work. Hard disks and cassette tapes also share the major benefits ofmagnetic storage -- the magnetic medium can be easily erased and rewritten, and it will"remember" the magnetic flux patterns stored onto the medium for many years.

Virtual memory is a common part of mostoperating systemsondesktop computers. It

has become so common because it provides a big benefit for users at a very low cost.

In this article, you will learn exactly what virtual memory is, what your computer usesit for and how to configure it on your own machine to achieve optimal performance.

Most computers today have something like 32 or 64megabytesof RAM available for theCPUto use (seeHow RAM Worksfor details on RAM). Unfortunately, that amount ofRAM is not enough to run all of the programs that most users expect to run at once.

For example, if you load theoperating system, ane-mail program, a Web browser and

word processor into RAM simultaneously, 32 megabytes is not enough to hold it all. Ifthere were no such thing as virtual memory, then once you filled up the available RAMyour computer would have to say, "Sorry, you can not load any more applications.Please close another application to load a new one." With virtual memory, what thecomputer can do is look at RAM for areas that have not been used recently and copythem onto thehard disk. This frees up space in RAM to load the new application.

Because this copyinghappens automatically, you don't even know it is happening, andit makes your computer feel like is has unlimited RAM space even though it only has 32megabytes installed. Because hard disk space is so much cheaper than RAM chips, italso has a nice economic benefit.

The read/write speed of a hard drive is much slower than RAM, and the technology ofa hard drive is not geared toward accessing small pieces of data at a time. If yoursystem has to rely too heavily on virtual memory, you will notice a significantperformance drop. The key is to have enough RAM to handle everything you tend towork on simultaneously -- then, the only time you "feel" the slowness of virtual memoryis is when there's a slight pause when you're changing tasks. When that's the case,virtual memory is perfect.
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3. Define compiler and interpreter. Compiler is a set of program which converts the whole high level languageprogram to machine language program. Interpreter is a set of programs which converts high level language programto machine language program line by line.

4. Define loader.Loader is a set of program that loads the machine language translated by thetranslator into the main memory and makes it ready for execution

5.What is the need of MAR register?MAR (memory address register) is used to store the address of the memory fromwhich the data is to be read or to which the data is to be written.

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Computer Viva