Computer Architecture

Topics covered:
Course outline and schedule
Introduction
 Course Objective

 Describe the general organization and

architecture of computers.
 Identify computers’ major components and study
their functions.
 Introduce hardware design issues of modern
computer architectures.
 Learn assembly language programming.
 Build the required skills to read and research the
current literature in computer architecture.

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 Textbooks

•“Computer Organization,” by Carl Hamacher,

Zvonko Vranesic and Safwat Zaky. Fifth Edition
McGraw-Hill, 2002.

•“SPARC Architecture, Assembly Language

Programming and C,” Richard P. Paul, Prentice Hall,
2000.

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Content Coverage
 What is a computer?
 a computer is a sophisticated electronic calculating
machine that:
 Accepts input information,
 Processes the information according to a list of
internally stored instructions and
 Produces the resulting output information.
 Functions performed by a computer are:
 Accepting data to be processed as input.
 Storing a list of instructions to process the data.
 Processing the data according to the list of
instructions.
 Providing the results called information of the
processing as output.
 What are the functional units of a computer?
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 What is a computer Architecture?
 In computer engineering, computer architecture is a set
of rules and methods that describe the functionality,
organization, and implementation of computer systems.
 The architecture of a system refers to its structure in
terms of separately specified components of that
system and their interrelationships.
 Computer architecture consists of rules and methods or
procedures which describe the implementation,
functionality of the computer systems. ...
 We can define computer architecture based on its
performance, efficiency, reliability, and cost of the
computer system. It deals with software and hardware
technology standards.
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 General-purpose computer
 A general-purpose computer has these parts:
 processor: the ``brain'' that does arithmetic, responds to
incoming information, and generates outgoing information
 primary storage (memory or RAM): the ``scratchpad'' that
remembers information that can be used by the processor. It is
connected to the processor by a system bus (wiring).
 system and expansion busses: the transfer mechanisms (wiring
plus connectors) that connect the processor to primary storage
and input/output devices.
 A computer usually comes with several input/output devices: For
input: a keyboard, a mouse;
 For output, a display (monitor), a printer;
 For both input and output: an internal disk drive, memory key,
CD reader/writer, etc., as well as connections to external
networks.
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 Computer Architecture VS Computer
Organization
Computer Architecture Computer Organization
Computer Architecture is concerned with Computer Organization is concerned with the
the way hardware components are structure and behaviour of a computer
connected together to form a computer .system as seen by the user
.system

It acts as the interface between It deals with the components of a connection

.hardware and software .in a system

Computer Architecture helps us to Computer Organization tells us how exactly

understand the functionalities of a all the units in the system are arranged and
.system .interconnected

A programmer can view architecture in Whereas Organization expresses the

terms of instructions, addressing modes .realization of architecture
.and registers

While designing a computer system An organization is done on the basis of

.architecture is considered first .architecture

Computer Architecture deals with high- Computer Organization deals with low-level
.level design issues .design issues

Architecture involves Logic (Instruction Organization involves Physical Components

sets, Addressing modes, Data types, (Circuit design, Adders, Signals, Peripherals)
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Cache optimization)
 Functional units of a computer
Input unit accepts Arithmetic and logic unit(ALU):
information: •Performs the desired
•Human operators, operations on the input
•Electromechanical devices (keyboard) information as determined
•Other computers by instructions in the memory

Memory
Arithmetic
Input
Instr1 & Logic
Instr2
Instr3
Data1
Output Data2 Control

I/O Processor
Stores
information: Control unit coordinates
Output unit sends various actions
•Instructions,
results of processing: •Input,
•To a monitor display, •Data
•Output
•To a printer •Processing

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 Functional units of a computer
o
A computer organization describes the functions and design of the various
units of a digital system.
o
A general-purpose computer system is the best-known example of a digital
system. Other examples include telephone switching exchanges, digital
voltmeters, digital counters, electronic calculators and digital displays.
o
Computer architecture deals with the specification of the instruction set and
the hardware units that implement the instructions.
o
Computer hardware consists of electronic circuits, displays, magnetic and
optic storage media and also the communication facilities.
o
Functional units are a part of a CPU that performs the operations and
calculations called for by the computer program.
• Functional units of a computer system are parts of the CPU (Central
Processing Unit) that performs the operations and calculations called for by
the computer program. A computer consists of five main components
namely, Input unit, Central Processing Unit, Memory unit Arithmetic &
logical unit, Control unit and an Output unit. 10
Functional units of a computer

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 General System Architecture
In Computer Architecture, the General System Architecture is divided into two major
classification units.
1.Store Program Control Concept
2.Flynn's Classification of Computers

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