3.1 · Lesson 3 of 7
Buses
Syllabus 3.1.2Syllabus 3.1.3
What this lesson covers
- Describe the components of a Von Neumann CPU
- Describe the fetch–decode–execute cycle
Key vocabulary
- Bus
- A set of parallel wires connecting two or more components in a computer system.
- Address bus
- Carries addresses from the CPU to memory. It's unidirectional.
- Data bus
- Carries the actual data and instructions between components. It's bidirectional.
- Control bus
- Carries control signals, such as read, write and timing signals. It's bidirectional.
- Unidirectional
- Signals travel in one direction only.
- Bidirectional
- Signals can travel in both directions.
Check your learning
- Quick check: 4 questions
- Key vocabulary test: 6 terms
- Activity 1: Which bus? · 8 questions
- Activity 2: Buses quiz · 8 questions
- Activity 3: Which bus does this? · drag and drop