Unit 3

Computer architecture

1
An advertisement of a computer

2
What is inside your computer?

3
Computer Architecture

• General Model of a Computer

• The Central Processing Unit (CPU)
• Memory
• Input-Output Devices
• Buses

4
General Model of a Computer

• Computer Operations
• Architecture of Computer Systems
• The Fetch – Execute Cycle

5
Computer Operations
A computer is a programmable electronic device
that can store, retrieve and process data

• Data Processing
• Data Storage
• Data Retrieve
• Programmable

6
Parts that Build Up A System Unit
• Casing or cover • Sound card
• Power Supply • Floppy disk drive
• Motherboard • Hard disk drive
• Microprocessor • CD-ROM drive
• Memory • MODEM
• Video Card
 Casing or cover

• The box or outer shell that

houses most of the computer, it
is usually one of the most
overlooked parts of the PC.
• Protects the computer circuits,
cooling and system
organization.
 Power Supply

• Responsible for powering every device in your

computer.
• Parts of a Power supply:
• Disk drive connectors
• Motherboard connector
• Power supply fan
• Power switch
• Input voltage selector
• Cover
• Power plugs receptacle
 Motherboard

• The physical arrangement in a computer that contains

the computer’s basic circuitry and components.
• Components are:
• Microprocessor
• (Optional) Coprocessors
• Memory
• Basic Input/Output System (BIOS)
• Expansion Slot
• Interconnecting circuitry
Expansion Slots
• Graphic cards
• Sound cards
• Modem cards
• Network interface cards/network adapter
The von Neuman Architecture

13
Computer Organization
• CPU - central processing unit
o Where decisions are made, computations are performed,
and input/output requests are delegated
• Memory
o Stores information being processed by the CPU: data and

instructions
• Input devices
o Moves data from outside word into the computer

• Output devices
o Moves results from inside the computer to the outside world

14
The Central Processing Unit (CPU)
Brains of the computer
 Arithmetic calculations are performed using the
Arithmetic/Logical Unit or ALU
 Control unit decodes and executes instructions
Arithmetic operations are performed using binary
number system
CPU is contained on one (or a small number of)
integrated circuits called microprocessors

15
Basic Model of
the Central Processing Unit (CPU)

16
Arithmetic Logic Units (ALU)
• Performs the arithmetic and logical
operations on the binary data .
• Most model ALU have small amount of
registers

17
Control Unit

• In charge of the fetch-execute cycle

• Include 2 registers
• IR (instruction register) : instruction to be
executed
• PC(program counter): the address of the next
instruction

18
Registers

• Temporary storage units within the CPU.

• Some registers, such as the program counter and

instruction register, have dedicated uses.

• Other registers, such as the accumulator, are for

more general purpose use.

19
Fetch-Execute Cycle

• Fetch the next instruction

• Decode the instruction
• Get data if needed
• Execute the instruction

20
 Clock
• A circuit in a processor that generates a regular
sequence of electronic pulses used to synchronize
operations of the processor's components.
• Clock rate (frequency):The number of pulses per
second
• The higher clock rate, the quicker speed of
instruction processing

21
Memory
• Computer components, devices and recording
media that retain digital data used for
computing
• Includes internal and external memory

22
Internal memory
Accessible by a processor without the use of
the computer input-output channels

• Main storage: RAM & ROM

• Cache memory
• Special registers

23
RAM and ROM
• RAM (Random Access Memory), computer memory
that can be read from and written to in arbitrary
sequence.

• ROM Read-Only Memory, a class of storage media

used in computers and other electronic devices. This
tells the computer how to load the operating system.

• Storage capacity: the total amount of stored information

that a storage device or medium can hold. It is
expressed as a quantity of bits or bytes

24
External Memory (secondary storage)
• Holds information too large for storage in main memory.
• Information on external memory can only be accessed by
the CPU if it is first transferred to main memory.
• External memory is slow and virtually unlimited in
capacity.
• It retains information when the computer is switched off;
used to keep a permanent copy of programs and data.

25
External memory
Floppy disk Compact disk USB flash drive

Hard disk External hard disk Compact flash card

26
External Memory: magnetic tape

27
Secondary Storage Devices
• Attached to the computer system to allow you to
store programs and data permanently for the
purpose of retrieving them for future use.
• Floppy disk, Hard disk, CD Rom DVD
Floppy Disk
• The most common secondary storage device
• 3.5” disk – 1.44MB
High-Capacity Floppy Disks
• Floppy disk cartridges
• 3 ½ inches in diameter
• Stores more information
• Zip disks
 Hard Disk Drive or Hard Disk

• Made of rigid materials unlike floppy disks

• Holds a greater amount of data
Optical Discs
• A standard part of modern desktop machines,
especially used for multimedia purposes and
preferred in loading applications.
Kinds of Optical Disks
• Blue Ray Disk – 40G
• Digital Versatile Disk
• DVD-R – write once, 3.95G
• DVD RW – rewritable, 3G
• Single Layer and Double Layer
• Compact Disk
• CD-R – write once, 650MB
• CD-RW – rewritable, 700MB
 Optical Drives
• CD-ROM read CDs
• CD-Writer read/write CDs
• DVD-Combo read/write CDs, read DVD
• DVD Writer read/write CDs
read/write DVDs
Other Secondary Storage
• Solid-State Storage
• No moving parts
• Flash memory cards

• USB flash drives

Address of the Memory
• Each cell in the memory Address Content
has a unique physical
00000000 11100011
address
00000001 10101001
• Most computers are byte-
addressable … …
• n bits can address 2n 11111101 00000000
different locations 11111110 11111111
11111111 10100010

256 cell (byte) are addressed

36
 Bus
• Transfers data or power between computer
components or between computers.
• Logically connects several peripherals over the
same set of wires.
• Each bus defines its set of connectors to
physically plug devices, cards or cables
together.

37
Input-Output Devices

38
 Input Devices
• Allows data and programs to be sent to the CPU.
• Keyboard
• Mouse
• Joystick
• Microphone
• Webcam
• Scanner
Keyboard
• Traditional keyboards
• Flexible keyboards
• Ergonomic keyboards
• Wireless keyboards
• PDA keyboards
 Two Types of Mouse

• Mechanical - a type of computer

mouse that has a rubber or metal
ball on its underside and it can roll
in every direction.
• Optical: This type uses a laser for
detecting the mouse's movement.
 How a Mouse Hooks Up to a PC

• PS/2 Mouse

• Serial Mouse

• USB/Cordless Mouse
 Other Pointing Devices

• Trackball

• Track point

• Touch pad

• Touch Screen
• Joystick – input device for
computer games

• Light Pens – light-sensitive

penlike device

• Stylus – penlike device

commonly used with tablet PCs
and PDAs.
Scanning Devices
• Optical scanners
• Card readers
• Bar code readers
• Character and mark recognition devices
Image Capturing Devices
• Digital Cameras

• Digital Video Cameras

Output Devices
• Media used by the computer in displaying its
responses to our requests and instructions.
• Monitor
• Audio Speakers
• Printer
• Plotter
Types of Monitor
• Cathode Ray Tube (CRT)

• Liquid Crystal Display (LCD)

Monitor
• Display device that operates like a television
• Controlled by an output device called a graphics card
• Displayable area
• Measured in dots per inch, dots
are often referred to as
pixels (short for picture
element) 1280 1024
• Standard resolution pixels pixels
is 1280 by 1024 across down
screen
• The card of my computer supports screen
resolution of 1920 by
1080
• Number of colors supported varies from 16 to billions

49
 Printers

• IMPACT PRINTERS uses pressure by physically

striking the paper. Ex. Daisy wheel printers, line
printers, dot matrix printers & band printers.
• NON-IMPACT PRINTER does not apply pressure on
the paper but instead produces character by using
lasers, ink spray, photography or heat.
 Dot matrix
printer

Laser Inkjet printer

printer