Department of Computer Science

Principles of Computer Design

Spring Semester 2012

Dr. Maury Eggen

Examination One Review

Please be on time for the exam since it is long and you need to be very well prepared

The content of the first examination is textbook chapters one and two, and the very first small part of chapter three.

A rule of thumb to consider: if we talked about it in class, expect it on the test. If we didn't talk about it in class, unless it was specifically given as a reading assignment, don't expect it on the test.

Specific topics include but may not be limited to the following list:

• 1. The five classic components of the computer
• 2. Why do we study architecture?
• 3. What does the study of architecture involve?
• 4. Why is assembly language important?
• 5. MIPS assembly language-writing and reading
• 6. Instruction formats R format, I format
• 7. Decimal, binary and hexadecimal
• 8. Assembling a program to machine language
• 9. "Reverse Engineering" a string from machine to assembly language
• 10. Compiling a C program to assembly
• 11. Procedures, calling conventions, and the role of the registers
• 12. The instruction set (add,sub,mult,addi,and,or,andi,ori,lw,sw,beq,bne,slt,slti,mflo)
• 13. The stack pointer, the role of the stack, saved registers, saved return address, etc.
• 14. The program counter
• 15. The five addressing modes, how they work, examples of each

A good rule of thumb is to spend time on the exercises at the end of the chapters.

There will be literacy -- do we speak the same language? There will also be problems similar to what you have seen before. There may also be problems unlike anything you have ever seen. Your job is to assimilate, synthesize and apply the knowledge you have gained so far.

You are allowed to bring a 'cheat sheet' to the examination. This cheat sheet consists of one 8 1/2 by 11 sheet of paper with anything on it you choose. I would advise you to review carefully, decide what is important, and put that information on your cheat sheet. You will be allowed nothing else. No workstations, no calculators, no textbook or notes. (You will be allowed access to the 'green card' in addition to the cheat sheet).

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