Computer Organisation
Assignment ‐ 3
1. Explain the Characteristics of a Microprocessor.
a) Clock speed
b) Instruction set
c) Word size
a) Clock Speed
• Every microprocessor has an internal clock that regulates the speed at which it executes instructions.
• The speed at which the microprocessor executes instructions is called the clock speed.
• Clock speed is measured in MHz (Mega Hertz) or in GHz (Giga Hertz).
b) Instruction Set
• A command which is given to a computer to perform an operation on data is called an instruction.
• Basic set of machine level instructions that a microprocessor is designed to execute is called as an instruction set.
This instruction set carries out the following types of operations:
• Data transfer
• Arithmetic operations
• Logical operations
• Control flow
• Input/output
c) Word Size
• The number of bits that can be processed by a processor in a single instruction is called its word size.
• Word size determines the amount of RAM that can be accessed by a microprocessor at one time and the total
number of pins on the microprocessor.
• Total number of input and output pins in turn determines the architecture of the microprocessor.
2. How the read and write operations are performed by a processor ? Explain.
The Central Processing Unit(CPU) has ‐ Memory Data Register (MDR) and Memory Address Register (MAR).
• The Memory Data Register (MDR) keeps the data which is transferred between the Memory and the CPU.
• The Program Counter (PC) is a special register in the CPU which always keeps the address of the next
instruction to be executed.
• A bus is a collection of wires used for communication between the internal components of a computer.
• A decoder, a digital circuit is used to point to the specific memory location where the word can be located.
• The Arithmetic and Logic unit of CPU places the address of the memory to be fetched, into the Memory
Address Register.
• The address bus is used to point a memory location.
• The address register is connected with the address bus, which provides the address of the instruction.
• A data bus is used to transfer data between the memory and the CPU.
• The data bus is bidirectional and the address bus is unidirectional.
• The control bus controls both read and write operations. The read operation fetches data from memory and
transfers to MDR. A single control line performs two operations like Read/Write using 1or 0. Also, the write
operation transfers data from the MDR to memory.
• The word in the RAM has the same size (no. of bits) as the Memory Data Register (MDR).
• Eg. If the processor is an 8‐bit processor like Intel 8085, its MDR and the word in the RAM both have 8 bits.
• The data bus has eight parallel wires to transfer data either from MDR to word or word to MDR based on the
control(Read (1)or write(0)).
Read & Write Operation:
• The read operation transfers the data(bits) from word to Memory Data Register.
• The write operation transfers the data(bits) from Memory Data Register to word
3. Explain the types of ROM.
Read Only Memory (ROM)
• Read Only Memory refers to special memory in a computer with pre‐recorded data at manufacturing time which cannot
be modified.
• The stored programs that start the computer and perform diagnostics are available in ROMs.
• ROM stores critical programs such as the program that boots the computer.
• Once the data has been written onto a ROM chip, it cannot be modified or removed and can only be read. non‐volatile
memory.
Programmable Read Only Memory (PROM)
• Programmable read only memory is also a non‐volatile memory on which data can be written only once.
• A program has been written onto a PROM, it remains there forever. Unlike the main memory, PROMs retain their
contents even when the computer is turned off.
• The PROM differs from ROM.
• PROM is manufactured as a blank memory, whereas a ROM is programmed during the manufacturing process itself.
• PROM programmer or a PROM burner is used to write data to a PROM chip.
• The process of programming a PROM is called burning the PROM.
Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory (EPROM)
• Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory is a special type of memory which serves as a PROM, but the content can be
erased using ultraviolet rays.
• EPROM retains its contents until it is exposed to ultraviolet light.
• The ultraviolet light clears its contents, making it possible to reprogram the memory.
• An EPROM differs from a PROM, PROM can be written only once and cannot be erased.
Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory (EEPROM)
• Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory is a special type of PROM that can be erased by exposing it to
an electrical charge.
• Like other types of PROM, EEPROM retains its contents even when the power is turned off.
• Comparing with all other types of ROM, EEPROM is slower in performance.
