Burgos, Ric Charles R.
November 9, 2020
CPE 501
PART B. DISCUSSION (20 PTS)
1. Compare Direct Memory Access with I/O Processor. (4 pts)
Direct Memory Access
 A memory that can be accessed
directly by the processor without
going through most of the steps.
 DMA provides this capability to
carry out memory specific
operations with minimal processor
intervention.
 The processor initiates the transfer
by providing appropriate grant
signals to the data bus. And passes
the control to the DMA controller
which controls the rest of the data
transfer and transfers the data
directly to I/O device.
CSAL01E
I/O Processor
 A "thing" that regulates the flow of
data from the input devices (mouse,
keyboard, etc.) and output devices
(monitor, display, printer).
 The I/O processor is capable of
executing the instructions in addition
to transfer of data.
 Processor can execute the I/O specific
program by initializing the basic
operations like enabling the data path
and setting up the I/O devices
participating in operation. And then it
transfers the task to I/O processor,
which then carry out rest of the tasks
and upon completion notifies the
processor.
2. Rank Polling, Interrupt-driven, DMA and I/O Processor in terms of CPU work load from 1 to 4. 1
or first has the most work. Justify your answer. (8 pts)

1. Rank Polling CPU constantly checks device status whether it needs CPU's
attention. Polling becomes inefficient when CPU rarely finds a
device ready for service.

CPU has to wait and check whether a device needs servicing which
wastes lots of CPU cycles.

CPU constantly checks device status whether it needs CPU's

attention.
2. Interrupt- The I/O transfer rate is limited by the speed with which the
driven processor can test and service a device.

The processor is tied up in managing an I/O transfer; a number of

instructions must be executed for each I/O transfer.

Device notify CPU that it needs CPU attention.

3. DMA The data transfer between a fast storage media such as magnetic
disk and memory unit is limited by the speed of the CPU.
During DMA the CPU is idle and it has no control over the memory
buses.

The DMA controller takes over the buses to manage the transfer
directly between the I/O devices and the memory unit.
4. I/O Processor The I/O processor is capable of executing the instructions in
addition to transfer of data.

The I/O device does not have direct access to the memory unit. A
transfer from I/O device to memory requires the execution of
several instructions by the CPU, including an input instruction to
transfer the data from device to the CPU and store instruction to
transfer the data from CPU to memory.
3. Explain the diagram below about I/O Processor. (8 pts)

Based on the diagram, the I/OP handles the data transfer between the I/O bus to the System
bus. From the I/O bus whatever instruction is carried, the I/OP the one that specifies which of
the carried instructions are specified to the System bus reaching to the CPU. I/OP acts as an
interface between the System Bus and the I/O bus.