1 A charity uses a desktop computer to record financial donations that it receives. The computer
contains a single core, 2.4GHz processor with 2MB cache.
(a) The processor uses the Von Neumann architecture.
(i) Descr
...
1 A charity uses a desktop computer to record financial donations that it receives. The computer
contains a single core, 2.4GHz processor with 2MB cache.
(a) The processor uses the Von Neumann architecture.
(i) Describe what is meant by the term ‘Von Neumann architecture’.
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(ii) Give one way that the Harvard architecture differs from the Von Neumann architecture.
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(b) The charity is concerned that the performance of the computer is not sufficient and wishes to
replace the processor.
Give two features of a replacement processor that would increase the typical performance of
the computer.
1 ................................................................................................................................................
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2 ................................................................................................................................................
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[2]
4
© OCR 2022
(c) Fig. 1 shows assembly code written using the Little Man Computer (LMC). The program
calculates and outputs the total amount that is donated to the charity in any particular day.
Depending on the amount, an additional bonus may be added to each amount donated.
start INP
STA donation
SUB hundred
BRP bonus
nobonus LDA total
ADD donation
STA total
OUT
BRA start
bonus LDA total
ADD donation
ADD twenty
STA total
OUT
BRA start
hundred DAT 100
twenty DAT 20
donation DAT 0
total DAT 0
Fig. 1
(i) The program shown in Fig. 1 is run once using three different inputs. Therefore, while
the program is running once, it will output the updated total three times.
Give the total values that are output when the values 10, 50 and 120 are input into this
program.
Output for 10 .....................................................................................................................
Output for 50 .....................................................................................................................
Output for 120 ...................................................................................................................
[3]
5
© OCR 2022 Turn over
(ii) Write LMC code that will reset the value of the memory location labelled total to zero
and then stop the program.
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(iii) This program is run on a processor that allows pipelining.
Define the term ‘pipelining’.
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(iv) Explain one benefit to the charity of using a processor that allows pipelining.
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