Modern Computer Systems

1. What are the trade-offs in using a serial bus versus a parallel bus to move data from one place to another?           

 

2.  PCI-Express, SATA, and USB are all serial buses used to connect external devices to a computer system. Locate the specifications or descriptions of each type. Compare the features of each type. Compare the speeds of each type. (NOTE: You will have to go to the Internet to complete this problem.)

 

3. In general, what purpose does an interrupt serve? Stated another way, suppose there were no interrupts provided in a computer. How would the computer know how to react to external events? What capabilities would be lost?

 

4. Explain the difference between pixel graphics and object graphics, and discuss the advantages and disadvantages of each.