Unit 03 - Computer Architecture

Question 1

What is architecture?

Answer 1

● the complex or carefully designed
structure of something
● the conceptual structure and logical organization of a computer or computer-based system

Question 2

What is computer architecture?

Answer 2

“Computer architecture is a set of rules and methods that describe the functionality, organization, and
implementation of computer systems.”

Question 3

What is computer architecture (another definition)?

Answer 3

“Computer architecture is the science and art of selecting and interconnecting hardware components to create computers
that meet functional, performance and cost goals.”

Question 4

Considerations for computer architecture, competing pressures:

Answer 4

speed, cost, energy consumption, reliability, privacy, functionality, and accuracy

Question 5

Considerations for computer architecture, different applications demand different architecture types:

Answer 5

desktop, mobile, microcontrollers, ASICs, etc.

Question 6

Considerations for computer architecture, rapidly changing technologies present new configuration options:

Answer 6

rate of change is high (floppy disk to flash key, hard disk to solid-state drive)

Question 7

Computer components

Answer 7

Input -> Processing/Storage -> Output

Question 8

What are examples of Input?

Answer 8

Keyboard
Mouse
Microphone
Camera
Touch & other sensors
Game controllers

Question 9

What are examples of Processing?

Answer 9

Central Processing Unit (CPU)
Graphics Processing Unit (GPU)
Tensor Processing Unit (TPU)

Question 10

What are examples of Storage?

Answer 10

Random-Access Memory
Read-Only Memory
Hard drives
Floppy disks
CD/DVDs
USB flash drives/keys

Question 11

Examples of Output?

Answer 11

Images & other data displayed on screen
Audio through speakers or headphones
Haptic vibrations and feedback

Question 12

What is software?

Answer 12

The programs and other operating information used by a computer

Question 13

Hardware and Software are:

Answer 13

Co-dependent
Constantly evolving
Planned obsolescence in both hardware and software will affect your computer

Question 14

What is Binary?

Answer 14

A number system (not unlike the decimal system)
The 1s & 0s that make up everything we see and do on a computer
A way of communicating within a computer

Question 15

Why does binary matter?

Answer 15

Binary is fundamental to computing

-It forms the basis of how computers work at the most basic level

-You likely won’t interact with it directly

-It’s also a stepping stone to the other complex number systems coming soon

Question 16

Counting in Binary

Answer 16

Let’s look at the decimal number 1, represented in binary as 0001:

0 0 0 1
8 4 2 1
2^3 2^2 2^1 2^0

Decimal: 2

1 0
2 1
2^1 2^0

Decimal: 3
1 1
2 1
2^1 2^0

Decimal: 4
1 0 0
4 2 1
2^2 2^1 2^0

Decimal: 10

1 0 1 0
8 4 2 1
2^3 2^2 2^1 2^0

Question 17

How do you write it in binary?

2
31
11
57

Answer 17

2 = (0000)10
31 = 011111
11 = 001011
57 = 111001

Question 18

What are bits?

Answer 18

Bits are the smallest unit of storage in a computer
Bits are 0s and 1s (i.e. binary)

Question 19

What are Bytes?

Answer 19

Bytes are just collections of bits
1 byte = collection of 8 bits
1 byte = 8 bits = 256 different patterns
All computer storage is measured in bytes
Can store one character (e.g. ‘A’, ‘h’, ‘@’)