COMPUTER ORGANIZATION AND ARCHITECTURE SESSION:

2007/2008
Tutorial 6 Part 2 Solution
1. Write the sequence of micro-operations required for the bus structure of Fig. Q1 to add a
number to the AC when the number is:
i.

an immediate operand
t1 :
t2 :
t3 :

ii.

a direct-address operand
t1:
t2:
t3:
t4:
t5:

iii.

Y (IR(address))
Z (AC) + (Y)
AC (Z)

MAR (IR(address))
MBR Memory
Y (MBR)
Z (AC) + (Y)
AC (Z)

an indirect-address operand
t1:
t2:
t3:
t4:
t5:
t6:
t7:

MAR (IR(address))
MBRMemory
MAR (MBR)
MBRMemory
Y (MBR)
Z (AC) + (Y)
AC (Z)

2. In a microprogrammed control unit, 8 control words are provided for each machine
instruction routine. Machine instruction opcodes have 5 bits, and control memory has
1024 words. Suggest a mapping from the instruction register to the control address
register.
An address for control memory requires 10 bits (1024 = 210). A simple mapping:
opcode:
control address:

XXXXX
00XXXXX000

This allows 8 words between successive addresses.

3. What are the advantages and disadvantages of microprogrammed control unit compared
to hardwired control unit? Explain why hardwired control unit is usually used for RISC
and microprogrammed control unit for CISC architectures.
Advantages:
- The decoders and sequencing logic unit of a micro-programmed control unit are very
simple pieces of logic, compared to the hardwired control unit, which contains complex
logic for sequencing through the many micro-operations of the instruction cycle. It
simplifies the design of the control unit. Simpler design means the control unit is
cheaper and less error-prone to implement
- It is also flexible as changes could be easily made to the design
Principal Disadvantage:
- Slower than a hardwired unit of comparable technology
Hardwired control unit is used for RISC Architecture because hardwired is faster and can
improve the performance
Microprogrammed control unit is used for CISC because it makes the design simpler and
usually in CISC architecture, due to huge number of instructions in the instruction set, the
control unit is quite complex. Hence it justifies using microprogrammed control unit.
4. A processor has 16 registers, an ALU with 16 logic and 16 arithmetic functions, and a
shifter with 8 operations, all connected by an internal processor bus. Design a
microinstruction format to specify the various micro-operations for the processor.
A 20-bit format consisting of the following fields:
A1 (4 bits):
A2 (4 bits):

specify register to act as one of the inputs to ALU

specify register the other ALU input

A3 (4 bits):
AF (5 bits):
SH (3 bits):

specify register to store ALU result

specify ALU function
specify shift function

In addition, an address field for sequencing is needed.