Project ForgeComputer Organization & Architecture
Memory Hierarchy & Floating Point
GATE 2016
Medium
A processor can support a maximum memory of 4 GB, where the memory is word-addressable (a word consists of two bytes). The size of the address bus of the processor is at least ____ bits.
31
Explanation
Total memory = 4GB = 2³² bytes. Since memory is word-addressable and a word = 2 bytes, the number of distinct addressable words = 2³²/2 = 2³¹. Addressing 2³¹ locations needs 31 bits.
Source: GATE CS 2016 (Session 1 / Set A) (2016)
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