Introduction of Computer

Architecture
PhD : Ayat ABDULHUSSEIN
[email protected]
Outline
• What is computer
• Characteristics of Computers
• Functional units of a computer
• Data & Information
• The Input Unit
• The Memory Unit
• Arithmetic-logic unit (ALU)
• The Output Unit
• The control unit
• Computer Architecture

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 What is computer
• A computer is an information processing machine. Computers process data to produce
information.

• The sets of instructions that humans give computers are called programs or software.

• Software that carries out a particular type of task for a user is often called applications
software.

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“Computers can only understand binary language (i.e., 0, 1) and
users understand high level language (i.e., if else, while,
conditions, etc.). So to communicate between user and computer,

”
Instruction set Architecture is work as translating high level
language to binary language.

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Characteristics of Computers
1. Speed - Computers can process data and execute instructions at very high speeds. This speed is
measured in terms of clock cycles per second (Hertz)
2. Accuracy - When a computer performs a computation or operation, the chances of
errors occurring are low.
3. Diligence - computers are free from feeling tired, and lack of concentration, it can
work for hours without producing an error.
4. Flexibility - A computer is able to perform many different kinds of tasks.
5. Memory - a computer can store and recall any information due to its secondary storage
capability.
6. Reliability - A computer is reliable. The output is totally depend on the input. when an input is the
same the output will also be the same
7. No feelings - Computers are emotionless. They have no feelings, and none of them have
the human heart and soul.

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 Functional units of a computer
The memory unit stores the system and
information. There are two classes of
memory units:- Primary memory and
Secondary memory.

Input unit accepts Output unit sends

information: :results of processing
•Human operators, ,To a monitor display
•Electromechanical devices To a printer
•Other computers

The Processor unit. It consist of

of Arithmetic Logic Unit and
Control Unit.

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Data & Information
•Data is any collection of numbers, characters or other symbols that has been
coded into a format that can be input into a computer and processed.
•The data after processing by a computer can take context and become
information.
•There are many types of data
•All data is stored as a series of numbers inside the computer.
•Data can be input to the computer by the user in many different ways.
•The main types of data that can be input into a computer and processed are
numeric, text, dates, graphics and sound.

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The Input Unit
The Input Unit refers to the data we write on a computer and which data the computer receives.

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Memory unit
The memory unit is a component of a computer system.
It is used to store data, instructions and information.
It is also known as a principal/primary/internal memory.
There are two types of memory:
1.Read-only memory (ROM):- ROM is a part of the memory unit.
This is read only memory, and it can not be used to write.
2.Random-access memory (RAM):- RAM is also part of the
memory unit, and it is used for the temporary storage of program
data.

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The memory unit’s functions
•It holds all the necessary data and instructions for processing.
•It keeps track of the processing’s short-term results.
•Before the results of processing are sent to an output device, it
saves them.
•The main memory receives and transmits all inputs and outputs.

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Memory Units

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Arithmetic-logic unit (ALU)

In the computer system, ALU is a main component of the central processing

unit(CPU) , which stands for arithmetic logic unit and performs arithmetic
and logic operations.

It can perform all processes related to arithmetic and logic operations such as
addition, subtraction, and shifting operations, including Boolean comparisons
(XOR, OR, AND, and NOT operations)

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Steps of ALU in machine

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The Output Unit
• Computer Output is the device which deals with the transfer of the data of the computer
between the device and the users.

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Control unit
• A Central Processing Unit is the most important component of
a computer system.
• A control unit is a part of the CPU.
• A control unit controls the operations of all parts of the
computer but it does not carry out any data processing
operations.

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Functions of the Control Unit
•It coordinates the sequence of data movements into, out of, and
between a processor’s many sub-units.
•It interprets instructions.
•It controls data flow inside the processor.
•It receives external instructions or commands which it converts to a
sequence of control signals.
•It controls many execution units(i.e. ALU, data buffers and registers)
contained within a CPU.
•It also handles multiple tasks, such as fetching, decoding, execution
handling and storing results.

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Definitions of computer Architecture
• Computer architecture can be defined as a set of rules and
methods that describe the functionality, management and
implementation of computers. It is nothing but the rules which a
system performs and operates.

• It may also be defined as the science and art of selecting and

interconnecting hardware components to create computers that
meet functional, performance and cost goals.
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Primary goal
The main role of Computer Architecture is to balance the
performance, efficiency, cost and reliability of a
computer system.
Basic Structure of Computers architecture
Computer architecture comprises at least three main subcategories :
Instruction set Architecture or ISA

The instruction set architecture (ISA) defines the machine language and the instructions a
processor can execute. It includes instruction formats, types, addressing modes, and the
execution of these instructions, which influences the design and performance of the system.

Computer hardware
consists of electronic circuits, displays, magnetic and optical storage media and
communication facilities.
Computer Organization
includes the high level aspects of a design, such as memory system, the bus structure and
the design of the internal CPU.

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Computer organization
•Computer organization refers to the operational units and
interconnections within a system that realize architectural
specifications.

•This topic covers how components like the CPU, memory, and
input/output devices are structured and interact within the system.

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What is the difference between computer
organization and architecture?

Architecture refers to the functional description and the user interface of a system, while
organization refers to the actual hardware and the implementation of the system.

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Fundamentals of Computer Design
• The fundamentals of computer design focus on understanding
how computers are structured and organized.

• This includes the principles of computer system elements,

performance evaluation (like Moore's Law and Amdahl's Law),
and design trade-offs related to performance, cost, and power
efficiency.

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Thank you
Ayat ABDULHUSSEIN
[email protected]