Learning objective
Machine-code/assembly language operations: Understand and apply the basic machine-code operations of: • load • add • subtract • store • branching (conditional and unconditional) • compare • logical bitwise operators (AND, OR, NOT, XOR) • logical • shift right • shift left • halt. Use the basic machine-code operations above when machine-code instructions are expressed in mnemonic form- assembly language, using immediate and direct addressing.
Read the explanation, check the common trap, then practise with flashcards and questions.
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Topic
Structure and role of the processor and its components
Subtopic
Machine-code/assembly language operations
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Quick explanation
Machine-code/assembly language operations: Understand and apply the basic machine-code operations of: • load • add • subtract • store • branching (conditional and unconditional) • compare • logical bitwise operators (AND, OR, NOT, XOR) • logical • shift right • shift left • halt. Use the basic machine-code operations above when machine-code instructions are expressed in mnemonic form- assembly language, using immediate and direct addressing
- This point belongs to Structure and role of the processor and its components, especially Machine-code/assembly language operations.
- You need to be able to machine-code/assembly language operations: Understand and apply the basic machine-code operations of: • load • add • subtract • store • branching (conditional and unconditional) • compare • logical bitwise operators (AND, OR, NOT, XOR) • logical • shift right • shift left • halt. Use the basic machine-code operations above when machine-code instructions are expressed in mnemonic form- assembly language, using immediate and direct addressing.
- Use the linked flashcards and practice questions to check recall, then practise applying the idea in an exam-style answer.
Why it matters
This objective helps connect Machine-code/assembly language operations to exam-style questions, flashcards, and revision notes for Structure and role of the processor and its components.
Quick student answer
Which instruction uses immediate addressing to load the value 12 into the accumulator?
Direct answer
LOAD #12
Key terms
- Mnemonic: A human-readable abbreviation used to represent a machine-code operation in assembly language, such as LOAD, ADD or STORE.
- Direct addressing: An addressing method in which the operand identifies the memory location containing the data to be used.
Common trap
Confusing a value with a memory address: LOAD #20 uses the immediate value 20, while LOAD 20 uses direct addressing and loads the value stored at memory location 20.
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Related learning objectives
- The processor and its components: Explain the role and operation of a processor and its major components: • arithmetic logic unit • control unit • clock • general-purpose registers • dedicated registers, including: • program counter • current instruction register • memory address register • memory buffer register • status register.
The processor and its components
- The Fetch-Execute cycle and the role of registers within it: Explain how the Fetch-Execute cycle is used to execute machine code programs including the stages in the cycle (fetch, decode, execute) and details of registers used.
The Fetch-Execute cycle and the role of registers within it
- The processor instruction set: Understand the term ‘processor instruction set’ and know that an instruction set is processor specific. Know that instructions consist of an opcode and one or more operands (value, memory address or register). A simple model will be used in which the addressing mode will be incorporated into the bits allocated to the opcode so the latter defines both the basic machine operation and the addressing mode. Students will not be expected to define opcode, only interpret opcodes in the given context of a question. For example, 4 bits have been allocated to the opcode (3 bits for basic machine operation, eg ADD, and 1 bit for the addressing mode). 4 bits have been allocated to the operand, making the instruction, opcode + operand, 8 bits in length. In this example, 16 different opcodes are possible (24 = 16).
The processor instruction set
- Addressing modes: Understand and apply immediate and direct addressing modes. Immediate addressing: the operand is the datum. Direct addressing: the operand is the address of the datum. Address to be interpreted as meaning either main memory or register. 78
Addressing modes
- Interrupts: Describe the role of interrupts and interrupt service routines (ISRs); their effect on the Fetch-Execute cycle; and the need to save the volatile environment while the interrupt is being serviced.
Interrupts
