Computer Organisation and

Hardware
COH110S

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 What is a computer?
• A computer is a device which when given
a set of instructions can be used to
perform a given task or tasks.
• The computer reads in information
(instructions or data), does some
processing and generally stores or outputs
some result.

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 Computers
• PCs
• Web servers (e.g. hotmail)
• Embedded System (mobile phone, VCR, DVD player)
• Control systems (fly by wire Airbus, factory robots)
• Smart cards (e.g. SIM cards, credit cards)

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 COMPUTER ?

• Performs a task(s)
• Executes lists of instructions (software)
• Input ---> Processing ---> Output
• Computer hardware + software = Computer System
• Specialised or general purpose

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Introduction Computer Organization

• The goal of the course is to expose the inner

workings of the modern digital computer at a
level that demystifies what goes on inside the
machine.
• It views the computer as an integrated system
with a perspective as to how implementation
of each part affects the behaviour of the
computer

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 Computer Architecture
• Computer Architecture deals with
functional behaviour of a computer system
as viewed by a programmer. This view
includes aspects such as the sizes of data
types and the types of operations that are
supported ( like addition, subtraction, and
subroutine calls)

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 Computer Architecture
• Computer architecture impacts many of
the ordinary things that computer
professionals do, and its study addresses
the great diversity of areas in which
computer professionals should be
educated

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 Computer Architecture Levels
• There are many levels, or views at which a
computer can be considered, from the
highest level, where the user is running
programs or using the computer, to the
lowest level consisting of transistors and
wires
• Between high and low levels are a number
of intermediate levels.

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 Computer Organization
• Computer organization deals with
structural relationships that are not visible
to the programmer, such as interfaces to
peripheral devices, the clock frequency
and technology used for memory

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 Data
• These are raw facts
• All computers need data
• Purpose of computer is to process data
• Data have to be represented in some
specific form inside the computer

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 Data types
• There are two categories of data: Numeric
and Nonnumeric
• Numeric e.g. Integers, floating point
numbers
• Nonnumeric e.g. Characters, strings,
boolean values, Pointer (machine
address)

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 Information
• Computers process data to get information
• Information is more meaningful
• Information processing: Computer
operations that transform data into
meaningful information

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 Basic Cycle
All computers follow the same fundamental
cycle
• Accept data called input
• Process data according to a sequence of
instructions (by performing calculations
and making decisions)
• Output data in the form of information or
actions called output
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 System
• A system is a set of interacting or
interdependent entities, real or abstract,
forming an integrated whole. The concept
of an 'integrated whole' can also be stated
in terms of a system embodying a set of
relationships which are differentiated from
relationships of the set to other elements,
and from relationships between an
element of the set and elements not a part
of the relational regime.
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 Subsystem
• A subsystem is a set of elements, which
is a system itself, and a part of a larger
system.

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 Characteristics of system
• Systems have a structure that is defined by its
parts and processes.
• Systems are generalizations of reality.
• Systems tend to function in the same way. This
involves the inputs and outputs of material
(energy and/or matter) that is then processed
causing it to change in some way.
• The various parts of a system have functional as
well as structural relationships between each
other.
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 Computer System
• Refers to a framework ( software or
hardware) designed to allow software
programs to run in order to facilitate
processing of data and flow of information

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Main entities of a computer system
• Hardware
• Software
• People
• Procedures
• Data

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 People
• It is easy to overlook people as one of five
parts of a computer system, yet that is
what computers is all about making people
more productive. People are the most
important part of computers and
information systems. Examples include
people in entertainment, medicine,
education, and business

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 Procedures
• Are rules or guidelines for people to follow
when using software, hardware, and data.
Typically, these procedures are
documented in manuals written by
computer specialists. Software and
hardware manufacturers provide manuals
with their products.

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 Software
• Software is another name for a program or
programs. A program consists of the step-
by-step instructions that tell the computer
how to do its work.
• The purpose of software is to convert data
(unprocessed facts) into information
(processed facts).

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 Hardware
• The hardware consists of the equipment:
e.g. keyboard, mouse, monitor, system
unit, and other devices, hardware is
controlled by software. It actually
processes the data to create information.

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 Data
• Data consists of the raw unprocessed
facts, including text, numbers, images and
sounds. Examples of raw facts are hours
you worked and your pay rate. After data
is processed through the computer, it is
usually called information. An example of
such information is the total wages owed
you for a week’s work

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 Computer System
Basic Components

Central
Output Input
processing
devices devices
unit

Memory File store

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 CPU (Central Processing Unit)
• Executes instructions stored in memory
• Power measured in millions of instructions per second (MIPs) or floating point instructions per second (FIPs)
• Contains many millions of transistors
• Example :- Pentium, PowerPC, Alpha chip, ARM

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 Memory (primary storage)
•
•
•
High speed access, used to store instructions (program)
Also stores data
Each location has address as reference
Address Contents
• The data stored in the location is called contents

6 94

5 23
4 170

3 85

2 0

1 101
0 45

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 File Storage (secondary
•
•
•
Used to store programs and data
Non-volatile (data retained on power off)
storage)
Slower speed than primary storage and higher capacity

• Many forms of media

– hard disc, floppy disc, CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, tape etc. etc.

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 Peripherals
(Input, Output devices)
• Input devices
– keyboard, mouse, scanner
• Output devices
– printers (laser ink jet etc), plotters, VDU, LCD, speakers
• Communication devices
– modems, network cards

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 System Interconnection
• Bus versus Mesh architecture

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• Mesh
System Interconnection
– high speed
– expensive (each component requires N-1 separate communication interfaces)
• Bus
– slower since devices content for bus
• Hybrid
– mesh interconnection for components that communicate often, bus for all others

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 Summary
• Computer systems totally pervasive in modern life (e.g. PC, mobile phone, web servers, cash machine)
• Computer system consists of hardware + software
• All consist of the same basic set of components
– CPU, memory, peripherals (input and output devices), file storage
• Systems are typically networked

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