13. Instruction Fetch and Execution
The chapter explores instruction execution in a computer architecture context, detailing the process from instruction fetching to execution. It outlines the stages involved in both memory and register-based instructions, emphasizing the flow of data through various registers and control signals. The complexities of control signals and how they facilitate different arithmetic operations are also discussed, leading to a better understanding of CPU architecture and operation.
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What we have learnt
- The stages of instruction execution include fetching, decoding, and executing instructions.
- Control signals play a crucial role in communicating between different components of the CPU.
- Different types of operations (memory vs. register-based) influence the way instructions are processed.
Key Concepts
- -- Control Signals
- Signals that are used to control the operation of the CPU and coordinate the activities of various components.
- -- Instruction Register (IR)
- A register that holds the current instruction being executed by the CPU.
- -- Memory Address Register (MAR)
- A register that holds the address of the memory location from which data is being read or to which data is being written.
- -- Memory Data Register (MDR)
- A register that holds the data being transferred to or from the memory.
- -- Program Counter (PC)
- A register that contains the address of the next instruction to be executed.
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