subject: Computer Architecture

A control unit drives the corresponding processing hardware by generating a set of signals that are in sync with the master clock. The two major operations performed by the control unit are instruction interpretation and instruction sequencing. There are two types of control organization that are a hardwired control and microprogrammed control. (a) Explain the difference between hardwired control and micro programmed control based on type of implementation, style of instruction architecture, modification difficulty, cost and execution speed. (10 marks) (b) Illustrate both hardwired control and micro programmed control diagrams that show the generation of control signal from memory. (10 marks) (c) Is it possible to have a hardwired control associated with a control memory? Justify your answer by comparing it with the microprogrammed control approach. [25 Mark]