AIST3720 TechPrac00 Specs

1. 25 pts - Describe your workstation

   Ref: (Video) Computer hardware basics

   Decide what will probably be your 'main' computer you will use to complete coursework; this might be your laptop, a home desktop or a computer in one of the university labs and it can be a PC, Mac, or Linux workstation. You won't be absolutely required to use this computer but it will help to target the computer you will likely be using to be sure of its capabilities.

   Prepare a Word document named MyPCSpecs.docx which describes the following capabilities of your computer (in complete sentences using your own words -- do not just add a screen cap and let me figure it out myself) and for each capability include a screen cap supporting your conclusion:

   1. Clock speed and number of cores (e.g., see http://www.wikihow.com/Check-CPU-Speed), how much CPU is being used, and what application or service is using the most CPU.
   2. Total memory (RAM), how much memory is being used, and what application or service is using the most memory. Refs: http://www.wikihow.com/Check-Your-Computer's-Memory and http://www.wikihow.com/Check-Memory-Usage
   3. Capacity of the main hard-drive (sometimes referred to as 'hard drive memory'), how much space is available, and what file system has been formatted. Refs: Same as previous item but Mac users may need https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT203001
   4. For your internet connection, describe ping speed, download speed, and upload speed. Ref: www.speedtest.net
   5. Get into a terminal, console or command shell for your computer (i.e., just show you can get into a shell appropriate for your computer) adding a screen cap to MyPCSpecs.docx document.

   Attach your completed document to this assignment in D2L.

2. (25 pts) A tiny look at assembler language

   Ref: (Video) Introduction to machine / assembler lang & some OS concepts

   Ref: (Links) Simple 8-bit Assembler Simulator | Assembler 101 Code |  Dec-Bin-Hex-ASCII table | Easy Unit Converter

   Using the Simple 8-bit Assembler Simulator complete the following exercises.

   1. From their sample program, adjust / assemble / run a program that outputs Hello from xxxx where xxxx is your AU JagNetID (the first part of your AU email; my JagNetID is tschultz). Save the code as Assem1.txt and attach it to this assignment in D2L.
   2. Create / assemble / run a program that puts a constant equal to your age in the A register, puts a constant equal to the current age of AU (193 years) in the B register, calculates how old AU was when you were born putting the result in the C register; nothing will appear in the Output panel.Save the code as Assem2.txt and attach it to this assignment in D2L.
   3. Create a program that places the ASCII values for your first name (up to 10 characters; use the first 10 characters only if your name is longer) into memory locations beginning at 0x20 and then JMPs to 0x20. Assemble and step through this code as the computer tries to 'execute your name' and almost surely end in an error. Save a screen cap of the eventual result named AssembleMe.jpg (or other image format) which you attach -- along with your code named Assem3.txt -- to this assignment in D2L

   4. Try running the assembly program

      there:
      	INC A
      	JMP there

      In a text document named Assem4.txt describe what the program does and what happens when the A register reaches 0xFF and the program is allowed to continue. Attach Assem4.txt to this assignment in D2L