A computer handles several interrupt sources of which of the following are…
2011
A computer handles several interrupt sources of which of the following are relevant for this question.
Interrupt from CPU temperature sensor (raises interrupt if CPU temperature is too high)
Interrupt from Mouse (raises Interrupt if the mouse is moved or a button is pressed)
Interrupt from Keyboard (raises Interrupt if a key is pressed or released)
Interrupt from Hard Disk (raises Interrupt when a disk read is completed)
Which one of these will be handled at the HIGHEST priority?
- A.
Interrupt from Hard Disk
- B.
Interrupt from Mouse
- C.
Interrupt from Keyboard
- D.
Interrupt from CPU temperature sensor
Attempted by 270 students.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: D
Key idea: interrupts are prioritized by how urgently they require immediate action to protect the system or maintain correct operation.
CPU temperature sensor interrupt: Highest priority because it signals a potential overheating condition that can immediately damage hardware. The system must respond right away (increase cooling, throttle, or shut down).
Hard disk interrupt: Important for I/O completion and performance, but not typically an emergency. These can be scheduled or buffered and handled at lower priority than safety-critical events.
Keyboard and mouse interrupts: User-input events that require low latency for responsiveness but are not safety-critical. They are generally assigned lower priority than interrupts that prevent hardware damage.
Conclusion: The interrupt from the CPU temperature sensor is handled at the highest priority because it requires immediate action to protect the hardware.
A video solution is available for this question — log in and enroll to watch it.