Part 1 - Introduction Flashcards
Architecture (2)
- High level design aspects.
2. Specify what the computer has to be able to do.
Organization (2)
- Low level aspects
2. How to achieve the requirements of the system
Embedded computers (2)
- Specific purpose computers
2. Integrated in larger systems to automatically monitor and control processes
Personal computers (1)
- For individual use
Servers and Enterprise systems (1)
- Shared computers accessed from personal computers over a network.
Supercomputers (1)
- Used for high demanding calculations (as in weather forecasting)
Grid computers (2)
- Combination of a large number of personal computers and disk storages.
- Distribution over a network.
Functional units (5)
- Input
- Output
- Arithmetic and logic
- Memory
- Control units
Input (1)
- Accepts information from user
Output (1)
- Sends back results
Control units (1)
- Coordinates actions
- Sends control signals to sense the states.
- Govern timing signals.
Interconnection network (1)
- Allows information exchange.
Processor (1)
- ALU + Control units
Information handled (2)
- Instructions
2. Data
(Machine) Instructions (3)
- Explicit commands
- Govern the transfer of information
- Specify arithmetic and logic operations to perform.
Program (1)
- Set of machine instructions which performs a task.
Data (1)
- Numbers and characters used as operands by the instructions.
Encoding of data and instructions (1)
- Encoded in strings of binary digits (bits)
Primary memory (5)
- Fast memory
- Composed by cells which store 1 bit each.
- Cells handled in groups called words.
- Number of bits per word is referred as word length
- Each word has a distinct address.
- Memory access time is the time needed to access one word.
- Temporary
RAM (2)
- Primary memory
2. Any location can be accessed in short and fixed amount of time.
Cache (4)
- Smaller RAM memory (Primary)
- Hold sections of program and associated data which is currently executed.
- Contained on same chip of processor.
- At start of program the cache is empty.
Secondary storage ()
- Permanent
- Used for large amounts of data
- Access times are longer
ALU (2)
- performs operations on operands
2. Results can be stored or used immediately by the processor
Registers (2)
- High speed storage in the processor.
2. Each register keeps 1 word
Instruction Register (1)
- Holds instruction which is currently executed.
Program Counter (1)
- Contains memory address of next instruction to be fetched and executed.
Processor memory interface ()
- Manages transfer of data between main memory and processor.
Operating steps ()
- Program has to be in main memory
- PC is set to point at the first instruction
3.
