31.1. Memory and Bus Architecture

Try these first

1. 1.

   What does the Memory Address Register (MAR) do?

   Hint

   Think about where the processor looks to find data.

2. 2.

   What information does the Memory Data Register (MDR) hold?

   Hint

   Consider the content of the MDR after fetching data.

3. 3.

   What does the Memory Address Register (MAR) hold?

   • The data to be written
   • The address of the data
   • Status flags

   Hint

   It’s where the processor looks for data locations.

4. 4.

   True or False: All data in a single-bus system flows directly to its destination without any rerouting.

   • True
   • False

   Hint

   Think about how simple it can be.

5. 5.

   Create a detailed diagram representing both single and three-bus architectures, showing the flow of data from memory to registers. Highlight where control signals are necessary.

   Hint

   Focus on how each part interacts and denote control signal requirements.

6. 6.

   Write an analysis comparing the execution time of an instruction in single-bus versus three-bus architectures using a specific example of an arithmetic operation.

   Hint

   Consider how the bus connections influence the overall speed.