Computer Architecture Practice Exam

About Computer Architecture
Computer architecture is a specification detailing how a set of software and hardware technology standards interact to form a computer system or platform. In short, computer architecture refers to how a computer system is designed and what technologies it is compatible with.

Computer architecture is likened to the art of determining the needs of the user/system/technology, and creating a logical design and standards based on those requirements.

A very good example of computer architecture is von Neumann architecture, which is still used by most types of computers today. This was proposed by the mathematician John von Neumann in 1945. It describes the design of an electronic computer with its CPU, which includes the arithmetic logic unit, control unit, registers, memory for data and instructions, an input/output interface and external storage functions.

There are three categories of computer architecture:
•    System Design: This includes all hardware components in the system, including data processors aside from the CPU, such as the graphics processing unit and direct memory access. It also includes memory controllers, data paths and miscellaneous things like multiprocessing and virtualization.
•    Instruction Set Architecture (ISA): This is the embedded programming language of the central processing unit. It defines the CPU's functions and capabilities based on what programming it can perform or process. This includes the word size, processor register types, memory addressing modes, data formats and the instruction set that programmers use.
•    Microarchitecture: Otherwise known as computer organization, this type of architecture defines the data paths, data processing and storage elements, as well as how they should be implemented in the ISA.

Computer Architecture has gained immense popularity across the globe resulting in huge demand for certified professionals.

Why is Computer Architecture important?
Computer Architecture is important as it
•    Helps to know the execution of computer instruction at the micro level
•    Aids in writing programs faster, smaller and less prone to error.
•    Assists in program debugging
•    Data flow, memory hierarchy, tradeoffs and timing analysis can be known
•    Embedded systems and processor design can also be harnessed easily
•    Write assembly code, real-time code or time critical systems coding.
•    Understand relative cost of computer operation, the relation of software and users by their inner workings.

Certified Computer Architecture professionals, executives and managers are in high demand in companies across the globe.

Important Concepts for Computer Architecture Practice Exam

• Basic Structures of Computers
• Machine Instructions and Programs
• Input/Output Organisation
• Memory System
• Arithmetic
• Pipelining

Who should take the Computer Architecture Exam?
•    IT or CS professionals
•    Innovators
•    Programmers and software developers
•    Anyone who wants to assess their computing skills
•    IT consultants
•    Professionals working in outsourced companies responsible for embedded systems, compilers or system software
•    Students and engineers

Computer Architecture Practice Exam Objectives

Computer Architecture exam focuses on assessing your skills and knowledge in concepts and application of computer architecture

Computer Architecture Practice Exam Pre-requisite

There are no prerequisites for the Computer Architecture exam. Candidate should be well versed  in computer architecture to clear the exam.

Computer Architecture Certification Course Outline

1. Basic Structures of Computers
1.1 Functional Units of a Computer
1.2 Basic Operational Concept
1.3 BUS Structure
1.4 Performance of a System

2. Machine Instructions and Programs
2.1 Addressing Modes
2.2 Numbers and Arithmetic Operations
2.3 Memory Locations and Addresses
2.4 Memory Operations and Management
2.5 Instructions & Instruction Sequencing
2.6 Assembly Language
2.7 Subroutines and Nesting
2.8 Parameter Passing and Stack Frame

3. Input/Output Organisation
3.1 Accessing I/O Devices
3.2 Interrupts
3.3 Exceptions
3.4 Direct Memory Access
3.5 Bus Arbitration
3.6 Synchronous BUS
3.7 Asynchronous BUS
3.8 Interface Circuits
3.9 Standard I/O Interfaces
3.10 Parallel Port
3.11 Serial Port
3.12 PCI BUS
3.13 SCSI BUS
3.14 USB

4. Memory System
4.1 Static Memories
4.2 Asynchronous DRAM
4.3 Synchronous DRAM
4.4 Large Memories
4.5 RamBus Memory
4.6 Read-Only Memory
4.7 Hierarchy of Memory
4.8 Caches
4.9 Mapping Functions
4.10 Cache Miss and Hit
4.11 Single BUS Organisation
4.12 Multiple BUS Organisation
4.13 Hardwired Control
4.14 Micro-programmed Control
4.15 Replacement Algorithms
4.16 Performance of Caches
4.17 Virtual Memory
4.18 Secondary Storage

5. Arithmetic
5.1 Fast Adders
5.2 Multiplication
5.3 Representation of Floating Number
5.4 Pipelining
5.5 Superscalar Processors
5.6 CISC and RISC Processors

6. Pipelining
6.1 Hazards of Processor Architecture
6.2 Clusters
6.3 VLIW Architecture (I-64)

7. Processor Families
7.1 Address Translation
7.2 Motorola 680X0 Processor architecture
7.3 ARM architecture
7.4 Intel IA-32 Pentium Architecture

Exam Format and Information
Certification name – Computer Architecture Certification
Exam duration – 60 minutes
Exam type - Multiple Choice Questions
Eligibility / pre-requisite - None
Exam language - English
Exam format - Online
Passing score - 25
Exam Fees  - INR 1199