UNIVERSITY EXAMINATIONS: 2017/2018
EXAMINATION FOR THE DEGREE OF BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN
SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT/ BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN INFORMATION
SECURITY AND FORENSICS
BISF 1101/ BSD 1102: COMPUTER ORGANIZATION & ARCHITECTURE
FULLTIME/PARTTIME/DISTANCE LEARNING
DATE: AUGUST 2018 TIME: 2 HOURS
Instructions
o Answer question ONE and any other TWO.
o Question One carry 30 Marks, others 20 Marks each.
QUESTION ONE
a) Identify and explain the major components of a computer system.
4 Marks
b) Briefly explain the differences between the following concepts:
i. Computer organization and computer architecture
ii. Computer and computer system.
iii. Hardware and software.
6 Marks
c) Briefly describe the following concepts with respect to magnetic
disks.
i. Seek time
ii. Latency
iii. Access time
3 Marks
d) Discuss any FOUR performance metrics of a central processing unit/
microprocessor.
4 Marks
e) Briefly describe the technological differences between first and second generation
computers. 4 Marks
f) Explain FOUR types of registers that may be required by the central processing unit
(CPU). 4 Marks
g) Explain FIVE uses of Electronic -spreadsheet 5
Marks
QUESTION TWO
a) A bus refers to the channels of communication used to transmit the various signals
and information. Describe the THREE types of buses
3 Marks
b) Explain the keys steps involved in machine Instruction Cycle
4 Marks
c) Perform the following [show ALL your working]
i) 11110111-1101011
ii) 1100101+1011011
iii) 111011*1111
iv) convert 276 octal to decimal
v) convert 364 hexadecimal to decimal
10 Marks
d) Explain FIVE features of Machine programming Language
5 Marks
QUESTION THREE
(a) With a well labelled diagram, explain all components and their devices found in Von
Neumann computer architecture. (5 Marks)
(b) Discuss five components and their respective roles that are found on the motherboard.
(5 Marks)
(c)Briefly explain the boot-up process and state how you can troubleshoot if the process
was not successful. (5 Marks)
(d) Discuss what is a PSU and its roles in the computer. (5 Marks)
QUESTION FOUR
(a) (i) By use of a diagram, discuss what is data communication. (2 Marks)
(ii) Discuss two types of topologies that you know (4 Marks)
(b) Discuss batch processing. (2 Marks)
(c) Give reasons why we require both primary and secondary storage devices
(4 Marks)
(d) Discuss low level languages and give examples (4 Marks)
(e) Discuss any four output devices. (4 Marks)
QUESTION FIVE
(a) A LAN (Local Area Network) is often installed by a business to share resources. By
reference to a typical business explain any four resources in question (8 Marks)
(b) Outline THREE possible problems of computer networks. (6 Marks)
(c) (i) Explain four functions of any operating system. (4 Marks)
(ii) Discuss any two examples of modern Operating systems (2 Marks)
