UNIVERSITY EXAMINATIONS: 2017/2018
EXAMINATION FOR THE DIPLOMA IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
DIT104 COMPUTER ORGANIZATION AND ARCHITECTURE
DATE: APRIL, 2018 TIME: 1 ½ HOURS
INSTRUCTIONS: Answer Question 1 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) SATA
(vii) RAM
(viii) NOT gate
b) List THREE characteristics of the following computers [6 Marks]
(i) Notebook
(ii) Mainframe
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 [4 Marks]
(i) Dead CMOS battery
(ii) Faulty Hard Disc
h) Discuss TWO buses used in the computer [4 Marks]
QUESTION TWO
a) Give meaning to the following acronyms used with computer memories. Give a key feature of each.
(i) EEPROM
(ii) DRAM
(iii) SRAM
(iv) PROM [4 Marks]
b) Give ONE advantage and ONE disadvantage of the following memory types [6 Marks]
(i) Magnetic memory
(ii) Semiconductor memory
(iii) Optical memory
c) Giving examples differentiate between the following types of memories [4 Marks]
(i) volatile and non-volatile memory
(ii) temporary and permanent memory
d) Explain the terms used with regard to memory listed below [2 Marks]
(i) access time
(ii) hit rate
e) 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
f) Describe how to troubleshoot RAM issues in a PC [2 Marks]
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 [4 Marks]
e) 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]
f) 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 data bus explain the term bus width [3 Marks]
d) A computer system uses 2’s complement representation for binary numbers. Give the representation
for the following numbers; [4 Marks]
(i) 23(10)
(ii) -34(10)
e) Using a simple diagram list the two functions of the I/O module [3 Marks]
f) Define the term peripheral device, give an example [2 Marks]
g) Give the difference between interrupt driven I/O and DMA [4 Marks]
QUESTION FIVE
a) Discuss any four computer maintenance tasks [6 Marks]
b) Describe two types of computer networks [2 Marks]
c) Briefly describe the characteristics of RISC organisation [4 Marks]
d) Describe TWO input and ONE output devices [6 Marks]
e) Describe the IAS computer. [2 Marks]
