Introduction to Computer Science, 2nd Edition

Chapter 3

Computer Architecture

CHAPTER OUTLINE

• Introduction
• Central Processing Unit
• Main Memory Unit
• Interconnection of Units
• Cache
• Communication Between Various Units of a Computer System
• The Instruction Format
• Instruction Set
• Processor Speed
• Multiprocessor Systems

3.1 INTRODUCTION

Just as buildings, each computer has a visible structure, referred to as its architecture. The architecture of a building can be examined at various levels of detail, namely, the number of stories, the size of the rooms, the details of door and window placement and so on. One can look at a computers architecture at similar levels of detail of basic hardware elements, which in turn depends on the type of computer (personal computer, super computer, etc.) required. ...