What is the primary function of the Program Counter (PC) register in the CPU architecture?
Answer and explanation
Correct answer: D. Holding the memory address of the next instruction to be fetched and executed
- Step 1: Review CPU registers involved in the fetch stage.
- Step 2: The Program Counter (PC) register holds the memory address of the next instruction waiting to be fetched. It automatically increments after each instruction fetch, pointing to the subsequent instruction in sequence.
Answer
Holding the memory address of the next instruction to be fetched and executed.
Why not the others: The accumulator holds arithmetic results; clock cycle counters are distinct timers; memory buffer registers hold retrieved cache operands.
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