VDict - Definition of fetch-execute cycle

architecture, processor The sequence of actions that a

central processing unit performs to execute each machinecode instruction in a program.

At the beginning of each cycle the CPU presents the value of

the program counter on the address bus. The CPU then

fetches the instruction from main memory (possibly via a

cache and/or a pipeline) via the data bus into the

From the instruction register, the data forming the

instruction is decoded and passed to the control unit which

sends a sequence of control signals to the relevant functionunits of the CPU to perform the actions required by the

instruction such as reading values from registers, passing

them to the ALU to add them together and writing the result

back to a register.

The program counter is then incremented to address the next

instruction and the cycle is repeated.

The fetch-execute cycle was first proposed by John vonNeumann.

(1998-06-25)

Related search result for "fetch-execute cycle"

Words contain "fetch-execute cycle" in its definition in Computing (FOLDOC) dictionary:
fetch-execute cycle machine cycle control unit Fetch John von Neumann IAS cycle drought clock rate von Neumann architecture Microprocessor without Interlocked Pipeline Stages more...