Computer Architecture Overview Flashcards
Learn components and their purpose of a Computer Architecture
What is Computer Architecture?
The placement and connection of different components of a system.
What are the components made of?
They’re made of digital circuits based on logic gates.
Bolean algebra is used when creating circuits. The overall design of the circuits are simplified to use less gates as possible.
What is the Von Neumann Architecture and who designed it?
The process of storing instructions in a memory with a control unit by using the Fetch-decode-Execute cycle, made by John Von Neumann
What are the three types of Buses?
Address, Data and Control
What is an Address bus?
A Bus that moves memory locations or “addresses” of data.
What is a Data bus?
A bus that moves the content of the memory address.
What is a Control bus?
Determines the direction of data flow and when the components can access the bus.
What is a Clock used for?
It synchronizes the activities of components.
What does a Clock need to do?
Clock cycles are needed to process data movement in order to complete computational processes.
What are clock frequencies measured in?
Megahertz or Gigahertz
What are the Main architecture components?
Memory
CPU
Input/Output devices
What is a Memory?
A Unit that stores and retrieves instructions and data.
What is a CPU?
An electronic circuitry that processes instructions from a computer system.
What are the separate components of a CPU and what do they do?
Control Unit - performs fetch-decode-execute cycle.
Arithmetic/Logic Unit - performs mathematical and logical operations.
What is the purpose of Input/Output devices?
Handles communication externally.
What does a Memory contain?
A memory contains a collection of cells with a unique physical address.
What does RAM do?
Inherents the idea of being accessible to each location is the ability to change the content of each location.
What does ROM do?
Content of each location cannot be changed.
What is MAR?
Memory Address Register.
A register that holds the memory location of data that needs to be accessed.
What is MDR and what does it contain?
Memory Data Register.
Stores the data being transferred to and from immediate access storage. It contains a copy of the memory location specified by the MAR.
What is ALU?
Arithmetic/Logic Unit.
Performs basic mathematics and logical operations by using AND, OR and NOT.
What is a Register and what does it store?
One of a small set of data storing locations within a computer processor. It can store an instruction or address.
What is a Control Unit and what does it state?
A component that directs the operation of a computer’s CPU.
It states how the memory, arithmetic/logic unit and I/O devices how to respond to instructions sent from the processor.
What are the 2 registers of a Control Unit and what do they contain?
Instruction Register - contains instruction being executed.
Program Counter - contains the address of the next instruction to be executed.
