Memory Reference Instruction M[834]

What is a memory reference instruction?

A. An instruction that fetches data from cache memory

B. An instruction that fetches data from main memory

Answer:

B. An instruction that fetches data from main memory

A memory reference instruction is an instruction that tells the memory controller to fetch the data from main memory and transfer it to the processor for processing. In this case, the memory reference instruction M[834] is specifically instructing the memory controller to retrieve the data stored at location 834 in the main memory.

When a processor executes an instruction that requires data stored in main memory, it issues a memory reference instruction like M[834]. This instruction ensures that the necessary data is fetched from main memory and made available to the processor for further processing.

It's important to note that fetching data from main memory can be time-consuming, which is why processors have cache memory. Cache memory is faster than main memory, allowing the processor to access frequently used data more quickly and improve overall performance.