Intro to Architecture

Spring 2003, Test 2


  1. Describe the operation of a D-flop-flop. Provide a non-trivial timing diagram to illustrate the role of the clock in this device.
  2. Describe the operations that can be performed on memory. Describe the data and control lines required for these operations.
  3. Give the machine code (for the machine in our book) for y=mx+b. Assume the following
  4. Draw a detailed diagram of the program counter for the machine on page 89. Show and label all data and control lines, show line widths as well.
  5. Describe the action that is being accomplished at step 7 of figure 3.13. (The mdr is put on the bus and the acc is loaded is insufficient)
  6. Give the control logic to transition from state 6 to the next state for the simple computer described in the book.
  7. What is a wait state in a synchronous bus and why will such a state occur?
  8. Define MIPS. If the longest path through our simple machine takes 15ns, calculate the MIPS rating for this machine. Show all of your work. When can MIPS be a misleading measurement?