Section 8.8
Review Questions

Control Points for the CSC-2

  1. In the CSC-2, if we wish to run some values through the ALU just to set the condition codes but we do not want to actually change the value in any register, what register should we specify as the destination?
answer...
+1, because it can't be changed, so any input to it is ignored
  1. Why is it possible in the CSC-2 to let the PC be a regular register, not a "super register"?
answer...
because we can use the +1 register and the ADDER to achieve the same effect of adding 1 to the PC's contents
  1. What is involved with one cycle of the main data path? Where does the data come from, through which components does it flow, and where does it end up?
answer...
data comes from 1 or 2 registers whose contents are placed onto the A and B buses, then it runs through the ALU/shifter, and then waits in the result register. Finally it is gated on the C bus and then stored into the destination register.
  1. How many cycles of the main data path are needed for machine instructions? Just 1, 2, several?
answer...
at least 4, probably more
  1. Which computer do you suppose would be faster?
               CSC-1               CSC-2
answer...
CSC-1 because there are fewer movements of data
  1. Below is the RTL for the five main data path cycles for the ADD instruction in the CSC-2. Put them in the right order by writing 1 next to the first, 2 next to the second, and so on.
               ________   IR <- MBR
               
               ________   MAR <- PC
               
               ________   A <- A + MBR
               
               ________   PC <- PC + 1
               
               ________   MAR <- IR
answer...
___3____   IR <- MBR         complete instruction fetch

___1____   MAR <- PC         instruction fetch

___5____   A <- A + MBR      execute

___2____   PC <- PC + 1      PC increment

___4____   MAR <- IR         operand fetch (follow with Mem read)
  1. Which of the five steps in the above could be moved to a different place in the ordering without affecting the result?
answer...
step 2, PC increment