ICP 1033 Computer Architecture

Lecture 1: von Neumann Machines

School of Computer Science, Bangor University

ICP-­1033 Systems  Architecture Dr Dave  Perkins 1

 Lecture  Topics
n Introduction  to  Von  Neumann  Model
n Central  Processing  Unit  
n Registers
n Control  Unit
n Arithmetic  Logic  Unit  (ALU)

ICP-­1033 Systems  Architecture Dr Dave  Perkins 2

 Guessing  the  Future

n I  think  there  is  a  world  market  for  maybe  

five  computers.
-­ Thomas  Watson,  chairman  of  IBM,  1943

n Computers  in  the  future  may  weigh  no  

more  than  1.5  tons.
-­ Popular  Mechanics,  1949

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 Early  Computers
n First  computers  appeared  in  
late  18th and  early  19th
century

n Built  by  Charles  Babbage

n Difference  Engine
n Analytical  Engine

n The  devices  were  

mechanical  and  limited  by  
the  technology

n To  make  progress  a  new  

technology  was  going  to  be  
needed

ICP-­1033 Systems  Architecture Dr Dave  Perkins 4

 Electronics  the  
Solution
n Engineers  decided  that  
what  was  needed  was  a  
switching and  storage
device  with  no  moving  
parts

n The  triode  vacuum  tube  

(1906)  provided  the  
solution

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 Early  Computers
n Based  on  valve  technology  

Colossus  
Mark  2

n Large  and  generated  huge  amounts  of  heat

n Used  for  code  breaking  and  numerical  calculation

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 Rebuilding  Colossus
n In  the  1990s  a  team  of  engineers  rebuilt  
Colussus

ICP-­1033 Systems  Architecture Dr Dave  Perkins 7

 Valve  Technology
n The  early  machines  were  built  out  of  thousands  of  
vacuum  tubes
n British  Colossus  had  over  1,000  tubes
n American  ENIAC  (1946)  had  17,000  tubes

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The  Hard  Wired  Program
n The  original  computers  – e.g.  Colossus  and  ENIAC  
-­ were  programmed  by  setting  switches  and  
inserting  patch  leads  

ENIAC

n To  run  a  new  program  machine  had  to  be  re-­wired

n Slow  and  prone  to  human  error

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 The  Stored  Program  
Concept
n John  von  Neumann(1945)  suggested  that  
computers  should  store  instructions and  
data in  electronic  memory (RAM)

n The  memory  should  be  read-­write  and  

random  access  (RAM)

n Known  as  the  von  Neumann  model

ICP-­1033 Systems  Architecture Dr Dave  Perkins 10

The  von  Neumann  Model  
n In  the  von  Neumann  model  a  computer  
system  was  to  consist  of  the  following  
components
n CPU
n Memory
n Input  devices
n Output  devices
n Bus  system

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 Central  Processing  
Unit  (CPU)
n A  complex  collection  of  electronic  circuits  
n Today  the  electronics  are  placed  on  one  or  more  
integrated  circuits  (chips)

n Controls  the  entire  system,  responsible  for:

n Executing    the  program  instructions  
n Communicating   with  other  parts  of  the  computer  system,  
especially  RAM

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 Main  Memory
n Main  memory  used  to  store  the  program  and  the  
data

n As  computers  developed  memory  had  to  store

n Application   programs
n Systems  programs
n Operating  system
n Linkers
n Loaders
n Language  Procesors
n Data  

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 Logical  Model  of  
Memory
1023

n A  computer  memory  can   1022

be  understood  as  an   1021

1020
array of  storage  cells 1019

...
n Each  storage  cell  has  its  
4
own  unique address 3
2
1
0

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 Early  Input  Devices
n Include
n Switch  panels
n Paper  tape  readers
n Punched  card  readers  (ENIAC)
n Keyboard

n Although  different  these  devices  provide  a  

means  of  moving  data  into  memory  

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 Early  Output  Devices
n Include
n Electric  type  writers
n Card  punchers  (ENIAC)
n Tele-­printers

n All  of  the  above  can  be  supplied  with  data  from  
memory

ICP-­1033 Systems  Architecture Dr Dave  Perkins 16

 Bus  System
n An  electrical  pathway  which  links  the  
system  components

n Bus  systems  are  either  serial or  parallel

n Without  a  bus  system  data  movement  is  

impossible

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 Updating  von  Neumann  

n Today  the  standard  model  represents  a  

computer  system  as  consisting  of
n CPU
n Main  Memory
n Secondary  Storage      (e.g.  Disc  drives,  
tape  drives)
n Input
n Output

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 The  Standard  Model
n Arrows  in  the  
block  diagram  
represent  the  
bus  system

n Notice  that  
only  some  
arrows  are  
bidirectional  
ICP-­1033 Systems  Architecture Dr Dave  Perkins 19
 Program  Execution
n Program  is  stored  in  RAM

n Instructions  are  read  from  RAM  and  stored  in  the  CPU

n CPU  reads  instruction  and  determines  type

n CPU  executes  instruction

n Executing  an  instruction  may  involve  communication  with  

memory  or  input  devices  or  output  devices

ICP-­1033 Systems  Architecture Dr Dave  Perkins 20

 Harvard  Architecture

n By  adding  additional  buses  the  speed  of  

the  system  can  be  improved
n This  removes  the  von-­Neumann  bottleneck

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 H  and  vN Comparison

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 The  Real  World

n Look  at  the  ATMEL  ATMega328p  micro

n How  many  pages  do  you  think  are  in  the  
datasheet?
n Does  any  know  where  the  ATMega328p  micro  
is  used?
n Lets  take  a  look!
n Datasheet  link

ICP-­1033 Systems  Architecture Dr Dave  Perkins 23

Other  sources
n Fundamentals  of  Computer  Architecture
n Chapter  1

n Structured  Computer  Organisation

n Chapter  1

n Computer  Organisation  and  Architecture

n Chapter  1

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