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Introduction

The document discusses the Von Neumann and Harvard architectures. It provides details on each architecture including their components and characteristics. The main difference is that Von Neumann uses a single memory and bus for instructions and data, while Harvard uses separate memories and buses for instructions and data allowing simultaneous access.

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epimacklaurent
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24 views

Introduction

The document discusses the Von Neumann and Harvard architectures. It provides details on each architecture including their components and characteristics. The main difference is that Von Neumann uses a single memory and bus for instructions and data, while Harvard uses separate memories and buses for instructions and data allowing simultaneous access.

Uploaded by

epimacklaurent
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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UNIVERSITY OF IRINGA

FACULTY OF SCIENCE AND EDUCATION


DEPARTMENT OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

COURSE NAME: INTRO. TO COMPUTER ARCHITECTURE.


QUESTIONS:
1. What is the Von Neumann architecture and Harvard Architecture.
2. What is the difference between Von Neumann and Harvard Architecture.
Introduction
Computer architecture refers to the structure and organization of a computer system. It
specifies the components that make up a computer system and describes how these are
interconnected, how they interact with each other, and how they are managed.

A brief history of computer architecture


In the early days of computer systems, programming was performed by manually setting the
position of a large number of switches and plugs, and then entering the input data. The output
was produced by determining the position of some of the switches.
A prime example of a powerful early machine is Colossus, a set of computers developed from
1943 to 1945 to decipher the enemy coded messages during the Second World War.
One of the main issues of this approach was that reprogramming through setting switches was
very inefficient and time consuming; every time a new calculation was programmed, the places
of the switches changed and so the previous program was lost. Also, the computer system had to
be reprogrammed for every new set of input data, even if it was to be used by the same
calculation.
Therefore, from the very early days, people sought techniques that would allow programs and
data to be read from an easy-to-access source.

Now days, modern computers uses one of the two architecture which are;

 John von Neumann architecture


 Harvard architecture

JOHN VON NEUMANN ARCHITECTURE:


Von Neumann Architecture is a digital computer architecture whose design is based on the
concept of stored program computers where program data and instruction data are stored in the
same memory.
This architecture was designed by the famous mathematician and physicist John Von Neumann
in 1945.
His computer architecture design consists of a Control Unit, Arithmetic and Logic Unit
(ALU), Memory Unit, Registers and Inputs/Outputs. This design is still used in most
computers produced today.
A diagram to show Von Neumann architecture

The processor can access the instructions and data in the main memory as required to execute
the program. It does this by using dedicated connections called buses:

 An address bus is used to identify the addressed location


 A data bus is used to transfer the contents to or from that location
 A third bus, the control bus, is used to synchronize and control operations.

This means that the same address and data buses are used in the process of transferring
instructions and data between main memory and the processor.
HARVARD ARCHITECTURE:
Harvard Architecture also is the digital computer architecture whose design is based on the
concept where there are separate storage and separate buses (signal path) for instruction and
data. It was basically developed to overcome the Von Neumann Architecture.

A diagram to show Harvard architecture

Harvard architecture keeps instructions and data in separate memories. The processor accesses
these memories using separate data and address buses, the processor is connected to the
instructions memory using a dedicated set of address and data buses, and is connected to the
data memory using a different set of address and data buses.
Difference in characteristics between Von Neumann and Harvard Architecture:

Harvard architecture is characterized by the use of separate memory units and buses for
instructions and data, which means that both memories can be accessed simultaneously. This
minimizes the issue of keeping the processor waiting while loading or saving data into memory,
which in turn increases the processor performance.
While
Von Neumann architecture uses the same address and data buses for both instructions and data,
which means that both instructions and data share the same pathways which may results on
lower processor performance.

With Harvard architecture, each memory can be adapted to meet the needs of a particular
system, the instruction and data memories can be different sizes, different word lengths, or
implemented using a different type of technology. For example, for systems with a
predetermined use, the instruction memory can be implemented as a read-only memory (ROM),
which protects the programs from accidental or deliberate changes by hacking.
While
Von Neumann architecture allows for the instructions and data to be saved in the same
memory, which can be exploited by hackers who could disguise instructions (malware) as data
that the processor may execute unknowingly when attempting to read the data.

Difference between Von Neumann and Harvard Architecture:

No: VON NEUMANN ARCHITECTURE HARVARD ARCHITECTURE

01 Same physical memory address is used for Separate physical memory address is used for
instructions and data. instructions and data.
02 There is common bus for data and Separate buses are used for transferring data
instruction transfer. and instruction.
03 Two clock cycles are required to execute An instruction is executed in a single cycle.
single instruction.
04 It is cheaper in cost. It is costly than Von Neumann Architecture.
05 CPU cannot access instructions and read CPU can access instructions and read OR
OR write at the same time. write at the same time.
06 It is used in personal computers and small It is used in micro controllers and signal
computers. processing.
REFERENCES
Isaaccomputerscience.(2022,April 15).Computer architecture. isaaccomputerscience.org.
https://isaaccomputerscience.org/concepts/sys_arch_architecture?
examBoard=all&stage=all
Computerscience.(2022,April 15).Von Neumann and Harvard Architecture.
computerscience.gcse.
https://www.computerscience.gcse.guru/theory/von-neumann-architecture
Geeksforgeeks.(2022,April 15).Difference between Von Neumann and Harvard.
Architecturehttps. geeksforgeeks.org.
https://www.geeksforgeeks.org/difference-between-von-neumann-and-harvard-
architecture/

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