5

ITSU 1001
Introduction to Computer Systems and
Networking

Tutorial 5 for Lesson 5

Please attempt the questions below and submit in Moodle

Name : Rakesh yadav

Student Id : 47259
ITSU1001 Tutorial 5
Instructions for students

The following questions are designed based on the lectures completed to the date.

Answer all the questions. (This tutorial accounts for 3% of the total unit assessment)

1. The following figure shows how the MAR and MDR registers are connected.

i What are the meanings of msb and lsb?

The meaning of LSB and MSB are :

Least significant bit (LSB ) and Most significant bit (MSB)

ii How many bits are represented by the small boxes (circled) shown on the right-hand side?

6 bits are represented by the small boxes shown on the right-hand side.

iii Explain how the size of MAR is related to memory capacity.

As, we know MAR holds the memory location of data that need to be accessed. It needs enough
bits for the address . For example : If the address required 8 bits then the size of the register needs
to be 8 bits wide. This shows size of MAR is directly related to memory capacity.

iv What is the capacity of this memory?

As we know, capacity of memory is 2n ( Where n = number of bits )

Given, number of bits is 6

S0, 26= 64 bits

v Explain the process of accessing memory with MAR and MDR registers

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ITSU1001 Tutorial 5

The process of accessing memory with MAR and MDR register is MAR holds the address of data
that need to be accessed . Than this address is fed into the MDR and used by CPU. When writing to
memory , the CPU writes data from MDR to the memory location whose address is stored in MAR.
MAR , which is found inside the CPU , goes either to the RAM or cache.

vi Where are MAR and MDR located?

MAR is located in CPU while MDR is located in half of minimal interface between micro program
and computer storage.

2. Explain the Fetch-Execute cycle of a CPU?

At first the program counter copies the address of the next instruction it contain into the MAR and
then MAR places the location to be used on to the address bus . The MAR read the signal that
causes main memory to place the instruction on the data bus. The instruction on the data bus is
loaded into the MDR which copies the instruction into “ Instruction Register “ . The CPU examines
the instruction in the (CIR) and decodes it. At last this instruction within the CIR is executed by the
CPU. Now , the CPU is executing an instruction ,the program counter is now ready for next
instruction.

3. What happens to the Program Counter after each Fetch-Execute cycle?

The program counter is incremented after fetching an instruction and holds the memory address
of the next instruction that is going to be executed.
4. The following Fetch/Execute cycle is used to load a value in particular memory address to register ‘A’.
Explain this five-step cycle in your words.

When the fetch-execute cycle is started following process occur :

1.) From program counter(PC) the address is transferred to MAR (Memory address register)

2.) MDR is used to transfer instruction towards IR.

3.) The address part of instruction is loaded in MAR.

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4.) since , it is load fetch-execute cycle required data is loaded into accumulator

5.) Then, for another process, PC is increased by 1,for the repetition of the process.
ITSU1001 Tutorial 5

5. Write down the Fetch/Execute cycle for an instruction saying to write the value in register ‘A’ to a
memory location specified by [address].

The fetch execute cycle for an instruction saying to write value in register A to a memory location
specified by (address) are at first fetch gets the next program command from the computer’s
memory. And then it decodes deciphers what the program is telling the computer to do which
then execute carries out the requested action. At last it saves the result to a register or memory.
Then, ALU performs arithmetic and logical operations . Finally register saves the most frequently
used instruction and data.

6. Most modern computers provide a large number of general-purpose registers and very few memory
access instructions. Most instructions use these registers to hold data instead of memory. What are the
advantages to such an architecture?

The advantages to such an architecture is that the computer doesn’t have to waste time looking
up data in memory if it already has the data sitting right there in the register so, most modern
computer provide a large number of a general-purpose register and very few memory access
instruction.

7. Create the fetch–execute cycle for an instruction that moves a value from general-purpose register-1 to
general-purpose register-2. Compare this cycle to the cycle for a LOAD instruction. What is the major
advantage of the MOVE over the LOAD?

The fetch execute cycle for am instruction that moves a value from general purpose register -1 to
general-purpose register 2 start by CPU which fetches the one at a time from the main memory
into the registers . In this the CPU decodes the instruction which at last executes the instruction.4
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This process repeat until there are no more instruction. In load instruction move data from
memory to register and store the instruction which then move data from one register to
ITSU1001 Tutorial 5

8. The Little Prince Computer (LPC) is a mutant variation on the LMC. (The LPC is so named because the
differences are a royal pain.) The LPC has one additional instruction. The extra instruction requires two
consecutive words:
0XX
0YY
This instruction, known as move, moves data directly from location XX to location YY without affecting the
value in the accumulator. To execute this instruction, the Little Prince would need to store the XX data
temporarily. He can do this by writing the value on a piece of paper and holding it until he retrieves the
second address. The equivalent in a real CPU might be called the intermediate address register, or IAR.
Write the fetch–execute cycle for the LPC MOVE instruction.

The fetch-execute cycle for the LPC MOVE instruction are:

1.) Little prince computer will read the address from program counter. This address will be
temporarily stored in program counter.
2.) Little read the instruction of this address as it mentioned to move data directly from
location XX to location YY.
3.) After this the instruction is placed in CIR and he note the value on a piece of paper and
holding it until he retrieves the second address.
4.) Now, little prince computer move to the address YY and out the slip of paper in this
location.
5.) The program counter will be incremented to the next instruction to be fetched and
executed . The instruction mentioned here is to move the data from XX to YY.
6.) He moves to location XX , picks up the slip of paper from this address and puts it in location
YY.

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