Introduction

Chapter 1
Introduction
Architecture & Organization
• Architecture refers to those attributes of a
system visible to the programmer.
—those attributes that have a direct impact on
the logical execution of a program.
– Instruction set, number of bits used for data
representation, I/O mechanisms, addressing
techniques.
– e.g. Is there a multiply instruction?
• Organization is how features are
implemented
—Control signals, interfaces, memory
technology.
—e.g. Is there a hardware multiply unit or is it
done by repeated addition?
Architecture & Organization
• Many computer manufacturers offer a
family of computer models, all with the
same architecture but with differences in
organization
—All Intel x86 family share the same basic
architecture
—The IBM System/370 family share the same
basic architecture
—Organization differs between different versions
Structure & Function
• A computer is complex system
—Contain million of elementary electronic
components.
—The designer need to deal with a particular
level of the system at a time
—At each level the designer is concerned with
structure and function
• Structure is the way in which components
relate to each other
• Function is the operation of individual
components as part of the structure
Function
• Generally the computer functions are:
—Data processing
—Data storage
—Data movement
—Control
Functional View
Function of computer
• The computer must process data.
—It could be variety of form and range of
processing requirement
• It should also have to store data
—Even if it has to process the data on fly, it
should keep the data temporarily.
• It should also have to move data between itself
and outside world.
—When data are delivered to or received from
device directly connected to it, the process is
called I/O operation and the devices are called
peripherals
• There should be control of these three functions.
Operations (a) Data movement
Operations (b) Storage
Operation (c) Processing from/to storage
Operation (d)
Processing from storage to I/O
Structure
• There are four main structural
components
—Central Processing Unit (CPU): controls the
operation of computers and performs its data
processing functions. It often referred as
processor
—Main Memory: stores data
—I/O: moves data between computer and
external environment
—System Interconnection: some mechanism
that provides for communication among CPU,
main memory and I/O.
 Structure - Top Level

Peripherals Computer

Central Main
Processing Memory
Unit

Computer
Systems
Interconnection

Input
Output
Communication
lines
Structure - The CPU

CPU

Computer Arithmetic
Registers and
I/O Login Unit
System CPU
Bus
Internal CPU
Memory Interconnection

Control
Unit
Structure - The Control Unit

Control Unit

CPU
Sequencing
ALU Login
Control
Internal
Unit
Bus
Control Unit
Registers Registers and
Decoders

Control
Memory
Why study Computer Architecture and
Organization?
• Some major reasons we study computer
architecture and organization are.
—To select an architecture that can meet certain
requirement.
—It also got application in different course
e.g.Programming language and Operating
Systems
Review questions
• What are the four main functions of a
computer?
• What, in general terms, is the distinction
between computer organization and
computer architecture?