AQA Computer Science GCSE
These pages were copied over from the old syllabus and will get updated as I work through the new one. That means they won't always be totally up to date and I might miss something - check the updated date at the bottom of the page.
Computer Systems - Fetch-Execute Cycle
The CPU processes data. To do that it needs to move data and instructions around the computer system - using buses to move things stored in RAM into and out of the CPU's registers.
The ways it does this can be simplified down to the Fetch-Decode-Execute cycle.
Fetch-Decode-Execute - slides from class
Registers - slides from class detailing how registers work
Decoding Instructions - Machine Code and Assembly Language
Note: most of this content is now Unit 2 content. It relates to Unit 4 as well as it helps develop an understanding of how the CPU works, but this will almost always be Paper 1 exam material.
Instructions for the CPU need to be converted into a low-level programming language called Machine Code. One Machine Code instruction is carried out on each clock pulse.
Assembly code is another low-level programming language that can be used to program computers and hardware devices directly. It has the advantage that it's easier to understand than Machine Code.
Each instruction in Assembly Code can be converted to a single Machine Code instruction.
Assembly Code Instructions - for 6 x 7