The 8031 chip is similar to other 8051 microcontrollers but has no onboard ROM. To execute code, it must be connected to external ROM memory. The EA pin must be connected to GND to indicate that code is in external ROM. The 8031 uses ports 0 and 2 to provide the 16-bit address and accesses up to 64KB of external memory. It uses the PSEN signal to access external ROM for program code. Connecting the 8031 to external ROM allows for flexibility since software updates do not require changing the microcontroller chip.