1.

1 Systems Architecture
 The Computer System
Another term often
he 'output' is what comes used for the CPU is
out of the computer after a microprocessor.
the processing stage is
complete.
The CPU needs
instructions to tell it
what to do, usually
With a desktop computer many, many of them.
data could be stored These instructions
either in RAM or on the are collected together
hard disk. A tablet or to form a computer
smart phone would use a program. A typical
secondary storage device application computer
such as solid state program will have
memory. Once data has been input into thousands of
the computer system something instructions included.
needs to happen to it

1.1 Systems Architecture

 Common CPU components A 'register' is a type of

and their function

The control unit has three main
memory inside the
jobs CPU. A register can
1.It controls the way data moves
around the CPU (timing signals) hold a data value.
2.It executes the instructions A cache is a small, but The CPU is often described as the
provided by the program
The CPU is
extremely fast, type of
(control signals) located on a RAM. It is often
'brain' of the computer (although
3.It controls and monitors the
flow of data between the CPU 'motherboard' located inside the CPU that is not a technical term so do
and other components such as chip itself. The not write it in an exam). The CPU
input devices, memory, graphics diagram below
card etc (signals to •The three is an electronic chip called a
memory/devices) explains why it is
main buses are needed. microprocessor.
The Arithmetic Logic Unit Data bus,
(ALU) handles the data
Address bus There are four main
processing inside the CPU. It
consists of two types of and the sections inside the
processing
1.Arithmetic operation - it Control bus. CPU:
performs standard arithmetic
These connect •Control Unit
operations such as addition,
subtraction, multiplication etc parts of the •Arithmetic Logic Unit
2.Logic operation - it deals with
logic and comparisons such as computer (ALU)
'is this value greater than that
system. •Registers
value' the answer is always
either 'true' or 'false'. •Cache

1.1 Systems Architecture

 Von Neumann Architecture
The essential Every Note that a
idea of the instruction or
'computer
Von Neumann data in main
memory (RAM) architecture' is not
architecture is is located at a an actual
that both specific computer - it is
program and location. This
an idea of how a
the data being location has a
unique address, computer should
used by that just like a house be built.
program are has its own
stored in a unique address.
In order for the CPU to fetch
common
The Accumulator is an instruction from main
memory block used to temporarily
memory (RAM), the
and they also store data whilst
calculations are instruction is temporarily
share the same being performed
stored in a special register
address and within the
Arithmetic Logic called the Memory Data
data bus. Unit (ALU)
Register (MDR).
There is enough memory available to The program counter then passes this next
hold both programs and data. This address to the memory address register as
makes it easy to change task by part of the standard fetch/decode/execute
loading a different program. In cycle (which is explained in its own section
modern computers this memory is
RAM.
in the syllabus) 1.1 Systems Architecture