Three hardware devices need to communicate with the CPU simultaneously. Which of the following will each device need to issue?

Question

Options

• ADMA request
• BCON request
• CInterrupt request (IRQ)
• DInput/output request (I/O)

• A
  5% (3)
• B
  4% (2)
• C
  89% (50)
• D
  2% (1)

Explanation

When multiple hardware devices need to signal the CPU that they require attention simultaneously, each device must issue an Interrupt Request (IRQ) - a hardware signal that pauses the CPU's current task so it can service the device's need, then resumes normal execution.

Why the distractors are wrong:

• A (DMA request): Direct Memory Access is a mechanism for transferring data directly between a device and memory without CPU involvement - it's not how a device signals it needs the CPU's attention.
• B (CON request): This is not a standard computing term; it's a fabricated distractor.
• D (I/O request): I/O requests describe the general category of read/write operations between the CPU and devices, but they don't specifically describe the signal a device sends to interrupt and grab the CPU's attention.

Memory tip: Think of IRQ as a device "raising its hand" - just like students in a class, each device raises an interrupt to say "CPU, I need you!" The CPU finishes its current instruction, acknowledges the interrupt, and handles the device before returning to its previous task.

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