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| C | Explain how the individual units within a computer system work and the different ways they can be connected to form a computer system. |
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| > | Different ways of specifying instruction operands in terms of number and addressing method. |
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| > | Single processor organisation: |
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| - single and multiple bus structures: method and consequences |
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| - instruction execution: I-phase, E-phase |
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| - processor types: graphics, RISC technology |
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| > | Parallel instruction execution: |
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| - multiple CPUs |
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| - array processors |
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| - pipe-lining |
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| > | Memory organisation: |
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| - word lengths, different meanings and sizes |
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| - READ and WRITE operations on memory |
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| - memory management, segmentation, paging, virtual memory, cache memory, look-aside buffers - their implementations with methods and reasons |
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| - describe the Memory organisation on a range of computers eg. - on PC, explain usual and maximum memory configurations, expanded and extended memory, EMS, plug-in boards and chips used on them. |
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| - input/output |
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| - data and address bus sizes |
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| - functions necessary for I/O transfer |
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| - select or address device |
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| - transfer data |
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| - synchronise transfer operation - polling and interrupts |
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| - interfaces - serial and parallel |
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| - DMA and character based devices |
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| - data channels: |
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| - -multiplexer (byte, block) |
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| - -selector |
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| - -block multiplexer |
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| - describe I/O implementation on a range of computers eg. On PC, explain serial and parallel cards, disk controllers: RLL, Western Digital, SCSI, multiport terminal cards: eg. - Anvil designs for 386, micro channel |
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| - video controllers |
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| - distributed processing |
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| - wide and local area networks as computer system organisation |
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