Computer Studies·Data paths & CPU · NSSCO 4.1
Data paths, memory, interrupts & the fetch-decode-execute cycle
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Every time you open a file, print a page or stream a song, data travels a set path through the computer. In this lesson we follow that path, meet the tiny stores called registers, and watch the CPU repeat its fetch-decode-execute cycle over and over.
What you'll learn in this lesson
By the end you should be able to (NSSCO Computer Studies 4.1):
- Explain how data flows through computers, e.g. a storage device; data to a printer; listen to music from the Internet
- Explain the role of memory in the data path
- Explain the advantages of buffering, spooling and cache memory
- Explain the role of interrupts
- Describe the flow of data in the fetch-decode-execute cycle
- Identify the following registers and explain their roles in the fetch-execute cycle: Arithmetic and Logic Unit (ALU), Control Unit (CU), Memory Buffer Register (MBR), Memory Address Register (MAR), Instruction Register (IR), Memory Data Register (MDR), Accumulator, I/O Address Register (I/O AR), Program Counter (PC)
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Miss Maria and Mike talk through the whole topic — with the figure and working drawn live.