12.2. Control Signals for Complete Instruction Execution

Try these first

1. 1.

   What is the function of a control signal in CPU operations?

   Hint

   Think about how parts of the CPU communicate with each other.

2. 2.

   What does the Program Counter (PC) keep track of?

   Hint

   Consider how the CPU knows which instruction comes next.

3. 3.

   What does the Program Counter (PC) do?

   • Holds the current operating mode of the CPU
   • Stores the address of the next instruction
   • Controls the data flow between components

   Hint

   Remember its significance during the fetch cycle.

4. 4.

   True or False: Control signals remain the same irrespective of the instruction type being processed.

   • True
   • False

   Hint

   Think of how different computations might require different commands.

5. 5.

   Design a control signal sequence for a hypothetical instruction 'MULT R2, M' (multiply the contents of register R2 with the value in memory location M).

   Hint

   Break down each operation into its respective control signal tasks.

6. 6.

   Analyze the impact of a faulty MAR during the FETCH phase. How would it affect instruction execution?

   Hint

   Consider the importance of accurate address representation in fetching instructions.