Computer Architecture Flashcards
Which componentes make the core of the computer?
Memory and Microprocessor
Which are the main components of the computer architecture?
Microprocessor, Memory, Busses
A computer architecture c an be enriched by
Peripherals
Definition of microprocessor
Electronic circuit that physically performs all the operations of the computer
Moore’s law
Performances of microprocessor increases as the technology scales
Microprocessor: 3 components
CPU
Local memory ‘cache’
Interfaces
CPU activities
- computation: Operating Unit
- traffic regulation: Control Unit
Operating Unit
Carries out processing, it contains
- Registers: flag/status (Store status of processes), data information
- Aritmetic Logic Unit (for operations on integer numbers)
- Floating Point Unit (for operations on decimal numbers)
(- Graphics Processing Unit optional)
Control Unit
Responsible for traffic regulation, it contains
- Program counter: stores address in memory of next instruction
- Instrcution register: stores current instruction
- Control Logic: interprets machines code of instruction in IR
Register definition
local memory elements to temporarily hold information, their size is often the same as a memory cell’s size
Memory characteristics
Speed
Cost
Volatility
Size
Memory: different kinds
Internal memory: fast, expensive, volatile (cache, main mem)
External memory: slow, cheaper, non-volatile (ROM)
Memory: capacity
2^|ABus|*DBus bit
Memory: features
- Addressing: made of cells with unique numeric address
- Parallelism: fixed amount of bits per cell
- Access: sequential or random
- Hierarchical structre: to optimize speed and cost
Operating principle of computers
- Program loading from external memory
- Data loading into main memory
- execution of 1 instruction at a time
3.1 Program Counter reads memory address of first/next instruction
3.2 Instruction Register takes instruction from main memory
3.3 Control Logic interprets the instruction
3.4 Operating unit does the computation required
3.5 OU gives back result/status to CL
3.5 Program Counter increments - Result write back in main memory
Peripherals definitio
I/O devices = interfaces that allaw interaction with human users
Peripherals function
To convert information from real world to binary, thus they are composed of electronic and mechanical parts
2 kinds of peripherals
input devices: provide data and instruction
Output devices: show results of computation
