von neumann and harvard architecture

Question 1

von neumann architecture

Answer 1

• shared memory space for instructions and data
• instructions and data are stored in the same format
• a single control unit or processor follows a linear fetch,decode ,execute cycle
• one instruction at a time
• registers are used as fast access to instructions and data

Question 2

havard architecture

Answer 2

• instructions and data stored in separate memory units
• each has it’s own bus
• reading and writing data can be done at the same time as fetching an instruction
• used by risc processors

Question 3

advantages of von neumann architecture

Answer 3

Cheaper to develop as the control unit is
easier to design

Programs can be optimised in size

Question 4

advantages of harvard architecture

Answer 4

Quicker execution as data and instructions
can be fetched in parallel

Memories can be different sizes, which can
make more efficient use of space

Question 5

contemporary processing

Answer 5

Contemporary processors use a combination of Harvard and Von Neumann architecture.

Von Neumann is used when working with data and instructions in main memory, but uses
Harvard architecture to divide the cache into instruction cache and data cache