Computer Architecture

Computer architecture is a specification detailing how a set of

software and hardware technology standards interact to form a
computer system or platform. In short, computer architecture refers to
how a computer system is designed and what technologies it is
compatible with.

As with other contexts and meanings of the word architecture,

computer architecture is likened to the art of determining the needs of
the user/system/technology, and creating a logical design and
standards based on those requirements.

There are three categories of computer architecture:

 System Design: This includes all hardware components in the

system, including data processors aside from the CPU, such as
the graphics processing unit and direct memory access. It also
includes memory controllers, data paths and miscellaneous
things like multiprocessing and virtualization.
 Instruction Set Architecture (ISA): This is the embedded
programming language of the central processing unit. It defines
the CPU's functions and capabilities based on what
programming it can perform or process. This includes the word
size, processor register types, memory addressing modes, data
formats and the instruction set that programmers use.
 Microarchitecture: Otherwise known as computer organization,
this type of architecture defines the data paths, data processing
and storage elements, as well as how they should be
implemented in the ISA.

System Architecture
A system architecture or systems architecture is the conceptual
model that defines the structure, behavior, and more views of
a system. An architecture description is a formal description and
representation of a system, organized in a way that supports reasoning
about the structures and behaviors of the system.

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A system architecture can consist of system components and the sub-
systems developed, that will work together to implement the overall
system.

Computer System Architecture

Computer EngineeringMCAOperating System

A computer system is basically a machine that simplifies complicated tasks. It should

maximize performance and reduce costs as well as power consumption.The different
components in the Computer System Architecture are Input Unit, Output Unit, Storage Unit,
Arithmetic Logic Unit, Control Unit etc.

A diagram that shows the flow of data between these units is as follows −

The input data travels from input unit to ALU. Similarly, the computed data travels from
ALU to output unit. The data constantly moves from storage unit to ALU and back again.

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This is because stored data is computed on before being stored again. The control unit
controls all the other units as well as their data.

Details about all the computer units are −

 Input Unit

The input unit provides data to the computer system from the outside. So, basically it
links the external environment with the computer. It takes data from the input devices,
converts it into machine language and then loads it into the computer system.
Keyboard, mouse etc. are the most commonly used input devices.

 Output Unit

The output unit provides the results of computer process to the users i.e it links the
computer with the external environment. Most of the output data is the form of audio
or video. The different output devices are monitors, printers, speakers, headphones
etc.

 Storage Unit

Storage unit contains many computer components that are used to store data. It is
traditionally divided into primary storage and secondary storage.Primary storage is
also known as the main memory and is the memory directly accessible by the CPU.
Secondary or external storage is not directly accessible by the CPU. The data from
secondary storage needs to be brought into the primary storage before the CPU can
use it. Secondary storage contains a large amount of data permanently.

 Arithmetic Logic Unit

All the calculations related to the computer system are performed by the arithmetic
logic unit. It can perform operations like addition, subtraction, multiplication, division
etc. The control unit transfers data from storage unit to arithmetic logic unit when
calculations need to be performed. The arithmetic logic unit and the control unit
together form the central processing unit.

 Control Unit

This unit controls all the other units of the computer system and so is known as its
central nervous system. It transfers data throughout the computer as required
including from storage unit to central processing unit and vice versa. The control unit
also dictates how the memory, input output devices, arithmetic logic unit etc. should
behave.

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 Network Architecture
 Network architecture is the design of a computer network. It is a
framework for the specification of a network's physical
components and their functional organization and configuration, its
operational principles and procedures, as well as communication
protocols used.
 In telecommunication, the specification of a network architecture
may also include a detailed description of products and services
delivered via a communications network, as well as detailed rate
and billing structures under which services are compensated.
 The network architecture of the Internet is predominantly
expressed by its use of the Internet Protocol Suite, rather than a
specific model for interconnecting networks or nodes in the
network, or the usage of specific types of hardware links.

RAM
RAM (Random Access Memory) is the hardware in a computing
device where the operating system (OS), application programs and
data in current use are kept so they can be quickly reached by the
device's processor. RAM is the main memory in a computer, and it is
much faster to read from and write to than other kinds of storage, such
as a hard disk drive (HDD), solid-state drive (SSD) or optical drive.
Random Access Memory is volatile. That means data is retained in
RAM as long as the computer is on, but it is lost when the computer is
turned off. When the computer is rebooted, the OS and other files are
reloaded into RAM, usually from an HDD or SSD.

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Random-access memory (RAM ) is a form of computer memory that
can be read and changed in any order, typically used to store working
data and machine code. A random-access memory device allows data
items to be read or written in almost the same amount of time
irrespective of the physical location of data inside the memory. In
contrast, with other direct-access data storage media such as hard
disks, CD-RWs, DVD-RWs and the older magnetic tapes and drum
memory, the time required to read and write data items varies
significantly depending on their physical locations on the recording
medium, due to mechanical limitations such as media rotation speeds
and arm movement.
RAM contains multiplexing and demultiplexing circuitry, to connect
the data lines to the addressed storage for reading or writing the entry.
Usually more than one bit of storage is accessed by the same address,
and RAM devices often have multiple data lines and are said to be "8-
bit" or "16-bit", etc. devices.

Types of RAM

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There have been different variations of RAM. Some of the more
common examples are DIMM, RIMM, SIMM, SO-DIMM, and SOO-
RIMM. Below is an example image of a 512 MB DIMM computer
memory module, a piece of RAM found in older desktop computers.
This memory module would be installed into one of the memory
slots on a motherboard

Hard Disk
A hard disk drive (sometimes abbreviated as hard drive, HD, or
HDD) is a non-volatile data storage device. It is usually installed
internally in a computer, attached directly to the disk controller of the
computer's motherboard. It contains one or more platters, housed
inside of an air-sealed casing. Data is written to the platters using a
magnetic head, which moves rapidly over them as they spin.

Internal hard disks reside in a drive bay, connected to the

motherboard using an ATA, SCSI, or SATA cable. They are powered
by a connection to the computer's PSU (power supply unit).

Examples of data that may be stored on a computer's hard drive

include the operating system, installed software, and the user's
personal files.

When you save data or install programs on your computer, the

information is typically written to your hard disk. The hard disk is a

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spindle of magnetic disks, called platters, that record and store
information. Because the data is stored magnetically, information
recorded to the hard disk remains intact after you turn your computer
off. This is an important distinction between the hard disk and RAM,
or memory, which is reset when the computer's power is turned off.
The hard disk is housed inside the hard drive, which reads and writes
data to the disk. The hard drive also transmits data back and forth
between the CPU and the disk. When you save data on your hard disk,
the hard drive has to write thousands, if not millions, of ones and
zeros to the hard disk. It is an amazing process to think about, but
may also be a good incentive to keep a backup of your data.