Computer Architecture

Lecture 1
14th Sept 2015 (SE)
15th Sept 2015 (CS)
Lecturer: Hina Shafique

Text Book
Computer Organization and
Architecture
By William Stallings, 9th Edition

Grading Criteria

Assignments
Quizzes
Presentations
Research Paper
Semester Project
Mid Term
Final Term

Assignments Delivery
Email to me
hinafjwu01@gmail.com
Email subject: Comp-Architecture
Assignment X (X -> 1,2,3)

Naming of attachments (zip

them)
FirstLastName_ Assignment X.zip

Introduction to Computer System

Representation of Basic Information
The basic functional units of computer are
made of electronic circuits and it works
with electrical signal.
We provide input to the computer in form
of electrical signal and get the output in
form of electrical signal.
There are two basic types of electrical
signals, namely, analog and digital.
The analog signals are continuous in
nature and digital signals are discrete in

 The electronic device that works with

continuous signals is known as analog device
and the electronic device that works with
discrete signals is known as digital device.
In present days most of the computers are
digital in nature
Computer is a digital device, which works on
two levels of signal. We say these two levels of
signal as High and Low.
The High-level signal basically corresponds to
some high-level signal (say 5 Volt or 12 Volt)
and Low-level signal basically corresponds to
Low-level signal (say 0 Volt).
Since Computer is a digital electronic device, we
have to deal with two kinds of electrical signals

 Computer is used to solve mainly numerical

problems.
it is not convenient to work with symbolic
representation.
So, we use 0 to represent LOW and 1 to represent
HIGH.
0 means LOW
1 means HIGH
With the symbol 0 and 1, we have a mathematical
system, which is known as binary number system.
The smallest unit of information that is represented
in computer is known as Bit ( Binary Digit ), which
is either 0 or 1.
Four bits together is known as Nibble, and Eight
bits together is known as Byte.

 Computer technology has made

incredible improvement in the past half
century. In the early part of computer
evolution, there were no stored-program
computer, the computational power was
less and on the top of it the size of the
computer was a very huge one.
Today, a personal computer has more
computational power, more main
memory, more disk storage, smaller in

How Computer Operates?

A computer operates under the
control of instructions stored in its
own memory unit, that can accept
data (input), process data
arithmetically and logically, produce
output from the processing and store
the results for future use.

Block Diagram of
Computer

Architecture vs
Organization
Architecture is those attributes visible to the
programmer
Instruction set, number of bits used for data
representation, I/O mechanisms, addressing techniques.
What instructions should be there.
e.g. Is there a multiply instruction?

Organization is how features are implemented

Control signals, interfaces, memory technology.
How instruction is executed.
e.g. Is there a hardware multiply unit or is it done by
repeated addition?

Architecture
The art or science of building.
A style and method of design and
construction.

Architecture
The term Computer Architecture was
coined at IBM in 1960s.
It was used to refer to the
programmer visible portion of the
instruction set of the IBM 360 family
of computers.
The structure of a computer that a
machine language programmer must
understand to write correct programs
for the machine.

Who is Computer Architect?

A person who designs computers.

What do we mean by
deign?
Design is the process of devising a
system, component, or process to
meet desired needs.
It is a decision-making process
(usually iterative), in which the basic
sciences, and math and engineering
sciences are applied to convert
resources optimally to meet a stated
objective.

Basic Computer Model and different

units of Computer
The model of a computer can be described by
four basic units in high level abstraction
These basic units are:
Central Processor Unit

Input Unit

Output Unit

Memory Unit

Central Processor Unit (CPU) :

Central processor unit consists of two
basic blocks :
The program control unit has a set of
registers and control circuit to generate
control signals.
The execution unit or data processing unit
contains a set of registers for storing data
and an Arithmatic and Logic Unit (ALU) for
execution of arithmatic and logical
operations.

In addition, CPU may have some

additional registers for temporary
storage of data.

Input Unit :
With the help of input unit data from
outside can be supplied to the computer.
Program or data is read into main
storage from input device or secondary
storage under the control of CPU input
instruction.
Example of input devices: Keyboard,
Mouse, Hard disk, Floppy disk, CD-ROM
drive etc.

Output Unit :
With the help of output unit computer
results can be provided to the user or it
can be stored in storage device
permanently for future use.
Output data from main storage go to
output device under the control of CPU
output instructions.
Example of output devices: Printer,
Monitor, Plotter, Hard Disk, Floppy Disk
etc.

Memory Unit :
Memory unit is used to store the data and
program. CPU can work with the information
stored in memory unit. This memory unit is termed
as primary memory or main memory module.
These are basically semi conductor memories.
There ate two types of semiconductor memories Volatile Memory : RAM (Random Access
Memory).
Non-Volatile Memory : ROM (Read only Memory),
PROM (Programmable ROM)
EPROM (Erasable PROM),
EEPROM (Electrically Erasable
PROM).

 Secondary Storage:

Structure & Function

Structure is the way in which the
components are interrelated.
Function is the operation of individual
components as part of the structure

Function
All computer functions are:
Data processing
Data storage
Data movement
Control

Functional view of the

computer ->

Operations (1) Data

movement

Operations (2) Storage

Operation (3) Processing from/to storage

Operation (4)
Processing from storage to I/O

Structure
The Computer
CPU
Controls the operation of the
computer and performs its
data processing functions.

Main memory
Stores data

I/O
Moves data between the
computer and its external
environment

System interconnection
Provides for communication
among CPU, main memory,
and I/O

Structure - Top Level

Peripherals

Computer
Central
Processing
Unit

Computer

Systems
Interconnection

Input
Output
Communication
lines

Main
Memory

Structure - The CPU

CPU
Computer

Arithmetic
and
Logic Unit

Registers

I/O
System
Bus
Memory

CPU

Internal CPU
Interconnection

Control
Unit

Structure - The Control Unit

Control Unit
CPU

Sequencing
Logic

ALU
Internal
Bus
Registers

Control
Unit

Control Unit
Registers and
Decoders

Control
Memory

 Control Unit: Controls the operation

of the CPU and hence the computer.
Arithmetic and logic unit (ALU):
Performs the computers data
processing function.
Registers: Provides storage internal
to CPU
CPU interconnection: some
mechanism that provides for
communication among the control
unit, ALU and registers.