This week’s topics
The CPU and the fetch-execute cycle
- Fetch, decode, execute
- What the CPU does with an instruction
What you will be able to do
- 1.2 Explain the fetch-execute cycle at a basic level.
Activity
Act out the fetch-execute cycle in groups.
Study materials
Further resources
- The Elements of Computing Systems, ch. 5: Computer Architecture · PDF · Nisan & Schocken, The Elements of Computing Systems 2e, ch. 5 (2nd ed.): the CPU and the fetch–execute cycle; 29 pp. · for registered students
- Introduction to Computer Science, 5.2: Computer Levels of Abstraction · PDF · OpenStax Introduction to Computer Science (2024), 5.2 on how the CPU fetches, decodes and executes instructions, pp. 198–204 · for registered students
- Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective, 1.4.2: Running the hello Program · PDF · Bryant & O'Hallaron, CS:APP 2e manuscript sample, 1.4.2: what the CPU does with each instruction (a step up), pp. 8–10 · for registered students
- An educational setting to improve students' understanding of computer architecture concep… · Open-access article · Kyriakou et al. (2023), Informatics in Education. How the CPU, registers and memory work together to run instructions. · for registered students
Materials marked “for registered students” open in the student portal, which is set up as soon as you receive final acceptance.
