UNIVERSITY EXAMINATIONS: 2018/2019
EXAMINATION FOR THE DIPLOMA IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
DIT104 COMPUTER ORGANIZATION AND ARCHITECTURE
DATE: DECEMBER, 2018 TIME: 2 HOURS
INSTRUCTIONS: Answer Question ONE AND any other TWO questions.
QUESTION ONE
a) Define the following terms as used with computers [4 Marks]
(i) ALU
(ii) CPU
(iii) I/O
(iv) LED
(v) BUS
(vi) RAM
(vii) NOT gate
b) List THREE characteristics of the following computers [6 Marks]
(i) Supercomputer
(ii) PC
c) Give TWO advantages and TWO disadvantages of computers [4 Marks]
d) Convert 43(10) into BINARY and OCTAL representation [2 Marks]
e) Perform the following binary arithmetic [2 Marks]
(i) 10000 – 10011
(ii) 10111 + 10101
f) THREE key components make up a computer processor. Name them and give their functions. Use a
well-labeled diagram. [4 Marks]
g) Give TWO symptoms that suggest the following computer faults [6 Marks]
(i) Dead display
(ii) Faulty RAM
(iii) Faulty CPU
h) A DRAM memory is labeled as having a capacity of 2Mb [2 Marks]
(i) Show that this memory stores 2048 bits
(ii) Show that an 11bit address bus is needed
QUESTION TWO
a) ROM is an important memory type in computers. Define each ROM below and give a key feature
(i) EEPROM
(ii) ROM
(iii) EPROM
(iv) PROM [8 Marks]
b) Give two advantages of ROM over RAM [4 Marks]
c) Give ONE advantage and ONE disadvantage of the following memory types [6 Marks]
(i) Magnetic memory
(ii) Semiconductor memory
(iii) Optical memory
d) Explain the terms used with regard to memory listed below [2 Marks]
(i) access time
(ii) hit rate
QUESTION THREE
a) Define the term software as used in computers [2 Marks]
b) Outline the TWO main types of software. Give examples of each [3 Marks]
c) Giving examples describe the following programing languages [6 Marks]
(i) Machine Language
(ii) Assembly Language
(iii) High Level Language
d) Define the term compiler as used in computer programing [2 Marks]
e) Name any two utilities and their functions [2 Marks]
f) With regard to operating systems (OS)
(i) Define the highlighted term above [1 Mark]
(ii) List two tasks of the OS [2 Marks]
(iii) Name TWO OS that you know of [1 Mark]
g) A student needs to connect a new network card on their laptop. A device driver error occurs.
Explain the following; [3 Marks]
(i) Define what a device driver is
(ii) Outline what the device driver does
(iii) Explain how this error can be solved
QUESTION FOUR
a) Define the terms binary and bit as used in information representation [2 Marks]
b) Using a simple example differentiate between a word and a byte [2 Marks]
c) With regard to the bus explain the effect of increased bus width and address width to the
computer [3 Marks]
d) Perform the following number conversions [4 Marks]
(i) 45.97(10) = __________________(2)
(ii) 3E.f7(16) = _____________________(10)
e) Describe the need for data compression in computers [2 Marks]
f) Explain data representation of ; [6 Marks]
(i) images
(ii) text (in both cases explain any compression used)
QUESTION FIVE
a) Discuss any four computer maintenance tasks [6 Marks]
b) Describe two types of computer networks [4 Marks]
c) Briefly four describe the features of external memories [4 Marks]
d) Give the difference between [6 Marks]
(i) IDE and SATA
(ii) PCI and PCI Express
(iii) Northbridge and Southbridge
