Fetching and executing instructions questions and answers
Q1. Does the CPU fetch instructions from RAM or the hard drive?
A1. RAM.
Q2. What does RAM stand for?
A2. Random Access Memory.
Q3. What is meant by ‘Immediate Access Storage’?
A3. Another name for RAM – a place which can be accessed by the CPU.
Q4. State two examples of secondary storage devices.
A4. E.g. hard drive, CD, DVD, flash drive (pen drive), SD card, magnetic tape.
Q5. What is meant by primary storage?
A5. Primary storage is another name for RAM. It's 'primary' in the sense that the CPU accesses it, whereas the CPU doesn't access 'secondary' storage devices directly.
Q6. What is meant by a 'memory unit'?
A6. Yet another name for RAM!
Q7. How many instructions can a CPU work on at any one time?
A7. A conventional CPU (Von Neumann design) can only FDE one instruction at a time. Other designs e.g. pipeline processors can work on more than one instruction at a time.
Q8. What is the name of the cycle the CPU carries out on instructions?
A8. It is known as the Fetch Decode Execute instruction.
Q9. Is RAM faster than a hard disk?
A9. RAM is faster.
Q10. Explain your answer to Q9 above.
A10. RAM is a solid state device, made up of electronic components and there are no moving parts so it is much faster.