Von Neumann and Harvard Architectures

Question 1

What is a processor architecture?

Answer 1

how the key components and structures are arranged and interact with each other within the processor

Question 2

Von Neumann

Answer 2

1945 John Neumann published paper outlining his idea for computer that stored programs

Question 3

Key components of Von Neumann

Answer 3

single memory for strong programs and data
single system bus for instructions and data

Question 4

Von Neumann advantages

Answer 4

greater flexibility
simpler(and cheaper) control unit
programmers control memory organisation

Question 5

Von Neumann disadvantages

Answer 5

no parallel execution of instructions
Von Neumann bottleneck
potentially overwrite instructions

Question 6

Key components of Harvard Architecture

Answer 6

stores data and programs in separate memory units
requires additional memory unit as well as an additional system bus

Question 7

Harvard Architecture

Answer 7

as data and instructions are stored separately they can be formatted to meet the needs of the machine closely

Question 8

Harvard Architecture advantages

Answer 8

due to separate buses and memory units data and instructions can be fetched simultaneously improving performance
system stability can be improved by making the data memory unit read only
systems can be tailboard to specific machines improving efficiency

Question 9

Harvard Architecture disadvantages

Answer 9

can be expensive doe to more complex circuitry required
manufacturers need to balance memory unit sizes as free space in data cannot be used for instructions and vice versa
more complex (and therefore more expensive) control unit