1.
Fundamentals of Digital Computer
A company plans to design a new embedded system for controlling smart
home devices. Explain which digital computer characteristics (speed,
accuracy, programmability, storage, versatility, etc.) would be most critical
for such a system. Provide justification for your design considerations.
Suppose a digital computer is being used in a hospital monitoring system.
Identify the essential input, processing, storage, and output requirements
and discuss how they would interact.
2.Von Neumann Architecture
An organization wants to build a machine based on the von Neumann
model. Analyze how the stored-program concept would affect both
flexibility and security of operation.
A performance bottleneck is observed because of sequential memory
access in von Neumann machines. Suggest how modern architectures
attempt to overcome this, and relate it back to the original von Neumann
limitations.
3.Operation and Operands
A scientific calculator system is designed to handle floating-point and
integer arithmetic. Describe a case where selecting appropriate operands
(types and sizes) is critical for performance and accuracy.
Given a text-processing software that must handle operations on
characters, strings, and numeric values, outline how operand types affect
instruction design in such systems.
4.Instruction Set Architecture (ISA)
You are tasked with comparing RISC vs CISC ISAs for a startup developing
wearables. Discuss the trade-offs in terms of power efficiency, code size,
and execution speed.
A mobile phone processor is required to optimize both performance and
battery life. Based on ISA principles, which features should be emphasized
and why?
5.Memory Locations and Address – Memory Operation
A graphics application continuously accesses large image files in memory.
Recommend how memory organization (e.g., cache, main memory, virtual
memory) should be structured to reduce delays.
A student designs a program where frequent memory access becomes a
bottleneck. Identify possible improvements in address mapping and
memory hierarchy that can reduce latency.
6.Instruction and Instruction Sequencing
A banking software must ensure critical transactions execute in the correct
sequence. Analyze how instruction sequencing ensures correctness, and
identify what failures could occur if sequencing is broken.
Consider a CPU pipeline with instruction hazards (data, control, structural).
Develop a case showing how poor sequencing affects program
performance and propose strategies to resolve conflicts.
7.Addressing Modes
In a weather data logger system with limited memory, determine which
addressing modes would be most efficient for accessing repeatedly
updated sensor values. Justify your choice.
An assembly-level program needs to process elements of an array.
Compare direct, indirect, and indexed addressing in terms of efficiency,
coding effort, and flexibility for this case.
8.Assembly Language
A robotics company wants fine-grained control of actuators using
assembly programming. Examine why assembly might be chosen over
higher-level languages in this case.
Given a fragment of an assembly program for matrix multiplication,
analyze possible optimizations in instruction usage and addressing modes.
9.Encoding of Machine Instructions
A processor designer must balance between fixed-length and variable-
length instruction encoding. Develop a case showing trade-offs in
decoding complexity, instruction density, and control unit design.
A game console requires fast instruction decoding for real-time response.
Recommend an encoding strategy and justify how it benefits execution
speed
