This comparison covers FDE Stage Comparison within Fetch-Decode-Execute Cycle for GCSE Computer Science. Revise Fetch-Decode-Execute Cycle in 3.4 Computer Systems for GCSE Computer Science with 16 exam-style questions and 12 flashcards. This topic appears less often, but it can still be a useful differentiator on mixed-topic papers. It is section 8 of 10 in this topic. Use this comparison to connect the idea to the wider topic before moving on to questions and flashcards.
FDE Stage Comparison
| Stage | What Happens | Registers Changed | Component |
|---|---|---|---|
| FETCH | Get instruction from memory | PC (increments), MAR, MDR, CIR | Control Unit + Memory |
| DECODE | Interpret instruction meaning | None | Control Unit |
| EXECUTE | Perform the operation | ACC (if calculation), PC (if branch) | ALU or CU |
Practice questions for Fetch-Decode-Execute Cycle
What does FDE stand for in computer science?
Describe the three stages of the FDE cycle.
Quick recall flashcards
What are the three stages of the FDE cycle?
Fetch, Decode, Execute (repeats continuously)
What does FDE stand for?
Fetch-Decode-Execute