An aligned memory access is one for which the memory address used for the read o

Question

An aligned memory access is one for which the memory address used for the read or write is a multiple of the size (in bytes) of the item that is being transferred. Our byte addressable MIPS system, like most RISC systems, will generate an unaligned memory access exception in response to attempts to read or write using an unaligned memory address. Assume that the CPU-to-memory bus is 32 bits wide.

a) Which of the following would cause an unaligned memory access exception on such a system if the the contents of $8 = 0xB003D8B1 ?
   lb $t0,54($8)
   lh $t0,54($8)
   lw $t0,54($8)                                  
b) What would be the maximum number of transfers from the data memory for each of the following instructions if the contents of $8 = 0xB003D8E0 ?
   lb $t0,54($8)
   lh $t0,54($8)
   lw $t0,54($8)

Explanation / Answer

a) Which of the following would cause an unaligned memory access exception on such a system if the the contents of $8 = 0xB003D8B1 ?

lh $t0,54($8)

b) What would be the maximum number of transfers from the data memory for each of the following instructions if the contents of $8 = 0xB003D8E0 ?

lw $t0,54($8)

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