Computer Architecture & Microarchitecture MCQ

Computer Architecture MCQ Quiz

1. What is the main purpose of microarchitecture?

To implement the instruction set architecture
To design the operating system
To manage network communications
To optimize software applications

2. What does ISA stand for in computer architecture?

Instruction Set Architecture
Integrated System Application
Instruction Set Array
Internal Storage Architecture

3. Which component is responsible for executing instructions in a CPU?

Control Unit
Arithmetic Logic Unit
Memory Unit
Input/Output Unit

4. What does pipelining allow in CPU processing?

Overlapping instruction execution
Executing instructions sequentially
Reducing the number of CPU registers
Increasing memory size

5. What is the main purpose of the cache in a CPU?

Store large amounts of data
Reduce memory access time
Provide storage for I/O devices
Store only instructions

6. Which technique allows execution of multiple instructions per clock cycle?

Out-of-order execution
Superscalar execution
Register renaming
Pipelining

7. What is a structural hazard in pipelining?

Resource conflicts in hardware
Data dependencies between instructions
Incorrect branch prediction
Cache misses

8. What is the purpose of branch prediction in CPUs?

To reduce pipeline stalls
To increase cache size
To enhance data transfer rates
To improve power efficiency

9. Which memory type is faster, cache or main memory?

Cache memory
Main memory
Both are equally fast
None of the above

10. What is the function of the Control Unit (CU) in a CPU?

Directing the operation of the processor
Performing arithmetic calculations
Storing data and instructions
Managing I/O operations

11. What is the primary function of the Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU)?

Perform arithmetic and logical operations
Control data flow
Manage memory access
Execute instructions

12. Which of the following is NOT a type of memory hierarchy?

Cache Memory
Main Memory
Virtual Memory
Secondary Storage

13. Which architecture uses complex instructions that can execute multiple operations in a single instruction?

RISC
CISC
Harvard
Von Neumann

14. What does the term "pipelining" refer to in computer architecture?

A method to increase memory size
A way to manage multiple processors
Overlapping the execution of multiple instructions
A technique to reduce power consumption

15. What is the main advantage of using a memory cache?

Faster data access
Increased storage capacity
Simplified memory management
Lower energy consumption

16. What does a memory address register (MAR) do?

Holds the address of the memory location
Stores data temporarily
Executes instructions
Manages the cache

17. What does the term "latency" refer to in computer architecture?

The delay before data transfer begins
The amount of data that can be transferred
The total bandwidth of the system
The error rate of data transmission

18. Which of the following is a feature of pipelining?

Increases clock speed
Increases instruction throughput
Reduces the number of registers
Decreases memory size

19. What is virtual memory?

A memory management technique that uses disk space
A type of cache memory
A method to increase CPU speed
A process to optimize data transfer

20. What is the main purpose of an Instruction Decoder?

To interpret and execute instructions
To manage memory access
To perform arithmetic calculations
To store data temporarily

21. What is pipelining primarily used for?

Storing data
Increasing instruction throughput
Decreasing clock speed
Reducing power consumption

22. What is the main characteristic of a CISC architecture?

Complex instructions
Simple instructions
Large number of registers
Focus on speed

23. What is a key feature of Harvard architecture?

Separate memory for instructions and data
Single memory for instructions and data
No cache memory
Increased power consumption

24. Which of the following is a disadvantage of CISC architecture?

Reduced program size
Increased complexity of the processor
Faster execution time
Simplified design

25. What does a data hazard in pipelining refer to?

A situation where an instruction depends on the result of a previous instruction A resource conflict in hardware
A branch misprediction
A cache miss

26. What is a cache hit?

When data is found in the cache
When data is not found in the cache
When data is stored in main memory
When the CPU is idle

27. Which part of the CPU is responsible for fetching instructions?

Instruction Fetch Unit
Execution Unit
Memory Unit
Control Unit

28. What is a page fault?

An event that occurs when a program accesses a page not currently in memory A type of hardware failure
A resource allocation problem
An error in software execution

29. Which architecture typically has a smaller instruction set?

RISC
CISC
Both RISC and CISC
None of the above

30. Which of the following best describes the term "throughput" in computer architecture?

The number of instructions completed in a given time
The time it takes to complete one instruction
The total memory capacity of a system
The power consumption of the CPU