UNIVERSITY EXAMINATIONS: 2013/2014
ORDINARY EXAMINATION FOR THE BACHELOR OF BUSINESS
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
BBIT 102 COMPUTER ORGANIZATION & ARCHITECTURE
DATE: AUGUST, 2014 TIME: 2 HOURS
INSTRUCTIONS: Answer Question ONE and any other TWO
QUESTION ONE
(i) Explain the meaning of the following acronyms as used in the computer systems:
(i) POST (2 Marks)
(ii) BIOS (2 Marks)
(iii) VDU (2 Marks)
(iv) BASIC (2 Marks)
(v) FORTRAN (2 Marks)
(vi) EEPROM (2 Marks)
(vii) DIMMS (2 Marks)
(ii) Discuss any two pointing devices, which can be used to input data into computers
and state the appropriate areas of application. (4 marks)
(c) Convert the binary number 1010111 to:
(i) Octal (2 marks)
(ii) Decimal (2 marks)
(iii) Hexadecimal (2 marks)
(d) Computer generations are five in all. Discuss the fifth generation. (6 marks)
QUESTION TWO
(a) With a well labelled diagram, explain all components and their devices found in Von
Neumann computer architecture. (10 marks)
(b) Explain the following terms and state how they affect system performance.
i) Bus width (1 Mark)
ii) Word size (1 Mark)
(c) Briefly explain the boot-up process and state how you can troubleshoot if the
process was not successful. (8 marks)
QUESTION THREE
(a) A LAN (Local Area Network) is often installed by a business to achieve either or
both of the following objectives:
(i) Sharing of peripherals
(ii) Sharing of data
By reference to a typical business explain each of the objectives. (8 marks)
(b) Outline THREE possible problems of sharing data within a network.(6 marks)
(c) (i) A magnetic tape has a minimum length and data recording density 160,000
bpi. Calculate its capacity. (3 marks)
(ii) The above tape moves at 100 inches per second. Calculate its data transfer
rate. (3 Marks)
QUESTION FOUR
(a) Define an operating system. Explain four functions of any operating system
(6
marks)
(b) Explain the difference between
i) Application software and operating system
ii) RAM and ROM (4
Marks)
(c) Write short notes on the following:
(i) Mainframe
(ii) Minicomputers
(iii) Microcomputers
(iv)Super microcomputer
(v) Laptop
(10 Marks)
QUESTION FIVE
(a) ((i) What is network topology? (2 marks)
(ii) Discuss two types of topologies that you know (4 marks)
(b) Discuss batch processing. (4 marks)
(c) Name 3 parts of a computer system that are capable of being upgraded and briefly
explain steps of upgrading them. (6 marks)
(d) Discuss any four output devices. (4 Marks)
