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Computer Systems Architecture: CPU, Von Neumann Architecture, and Fetch-Execute Cycle, Study notes of Computer science

Computer science

A comprehensive overview of computer systems architecture, focusing on the cpu, von neumann architecture, and the fetch-execute cycle. It explains the components of the cpu, including the alu, cu, and registers, and delves into the key characteristics of the von neumann architecture, such as the stored program concept and sequential instruction execution. The document also explores special-purpose registers, cache memory, and factors affecting cpu performance, such as clock speed, cache size, and number of cores. It concludes with a discussion of embedded systems and their advantages over general-purpose computers.

Typology: Study notes

2024/2025

Uploaded on 01/28/2025

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1.1 Systems Architecture

CPU

oCPU = Central Processing Unit

othe circuitry that controls the MANIPULATION OF DATA

oCPU is broken down in components → ALU, CU and Registers

oArithmetic / Logic Unit

The circuits that perform the operators on the data

oControl Unit

The circuits coordinating the activities of the CPU

oRegisters

Quick, small stores of data within the CPU

Von Neumann Architecture

o3 major characteristics of this theoretical model:

oSystems are broken down into four main components

Main memory

ALU

CU

Input / Output

oMemory

Instruction to be executed are stored in the memory

(alongside the data) as binary values

= the stored program concept

oInstructions are EXECUTED SEQUENCTIALLY:

One instruction at a time is fetched from memory and

passed to the CPU

Computers have a system clock which provides timing

signals to synchronise circuits

oComputers have a system CLOCK which provides timing

signals to synchronise circuits

oCPUs are designed to operate at a specific frequency - and the

system clock is raised to this rate by the processor, giving the

CLOCK SPEED (Hz)

oThe CPU needs a certain amount of clock TICKS/CYCLES per

instruction

Fetch-Execute Cycle

oFetch

The next instruction is retrieved by the CPU from the

main memory

oDecode

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1.1 Systems Architecture

 CPU

o CPU = Central Processing Unit o the circuitry that controls the MANIPULATION OF DATA o CPU is broken down in components → ALU, CU and Registers o Arithmetic / Logic Unit  The circuits that perform the operators on the data o Control Unit  The circuits coordinating the activities of the CPU o Registers  Quick, small stores of data within the CPU  Von Neumann Architecture o 3 major characteristics of this theoretical model: o Systems are broken down into four main components  Main memory  ALU  CU  Input / Output o Memory  Instruction to be executed are stored in the memory (alongside the data) as binary values  = the stored program concept o Instructions are EXECUTED SEQUENCTIALLY:  One instruction at a time is fetched from memory and passed to the CPU  Computers have a system clock which provides timing signals to synchronise circuits o Computers have a system CLOCK which provides timing signals to synchronise circuits o CPUs are designed to operate at a specific frequency - and the system clock is raised to this rate by the processor, giving the CLOCK SPEED (Hz) o The CPU needs a certain amount of clock TICKS/CYCLES per instruction  Fetch-Execute Cycle o Fetch  The next instruction is retrieved by the CPU from the main memory o Decode

 operator + operand e.g. AND R1 R  The instruction is broken down to its individual components to determine what the instruction is, and what data is being used o Execute  The CU activates the necessary circuity / data transfers. The output of this stage is stored in a register, and data may be read/written from /to the main memory during this stage  Special-Purpose Registers o In contrast to GENERAL-PURPOSE registers which temporarily hold data or which can be used by a programmer o Program Counter (PC) = holds the MEMORY ADRESS (location and memorise) of the NEXT instruction to be executed. It increments (update by +1) after the fetch stage o Accumulator (ACC) = holds the RESULT of a calculation performed by the Arithmetic / Logic Unit o Memory Address Register (MAR) = holds the memory ADRESS of the data needing to be accessed by the CPU o Memory Data Register (MDR) = holds the DATA transferred to or from the memory location by the CPU o When READING, the data addressed by the MAR is held in the MDR o When WRITING, the data in the MDR is written to the address in the MAR o They act as buffer registers, there to compensate for the difference in speed between the CPU and main memory  Cache Memory o type of high-speed random access memory (RAM) which is built into the processor o Purpose of cache memory o Data can be transferred to and from cache memory more quickly than from RAM o As a result, cache memory is used to temporarily hold data and instructions that the processor is likely to reuse o This allows for faster processing as the processor does not have to wait for the data and instructions to be fetched from RAM o o The more cache memory a computer has, the faster it runs o However, because of its high-speed performance, cache memory is more expensive to build than RAM

o clock speed o cache size o number of cores  Clock speed o CPU contains a clock which is used to coordinate all of the computer’s components o Clock sends out regular electrical pulses which synchronises (keeps in time) all the components o Clock speed is measured in hertz o Higher frequency = more instructions can be performed in any given moment of time o Overclocking → user speeds up CPU clock o More pulses per second = more fetch-decode-execute cycles performed and more instructions processed in a given time o Overclocking can cause long term damage to CPU → it is working harder and producing more heat  Cache size o cache is a small amount of high-speed random access memory (RAM) built directly within the processor o used to temporarily HOLD DATA and INSTRUCTIONS that processor is likely to reuse o bigger cache = less time processor has to wait for instructions to be fetched  Number of cores o core = processing unit with a CPU o each core is capable of fetching, decoding and executing its own instructions o more cores a CPU has = greater number of instructions it can process in a given space of time o modern CPUs are dual or quad core processors  provides vastly superior processing power  Embedded Systems o A special purpose computer built into another device o An embedded system is a small computer that forms part of a larger system, device or machine o Its purpose is to control the device and to allow a user to interact with it o They tend to have one, or a limited number of tasks that they can perform o Examples  central heating systems  engine management systems in vehicles

 domestic appliances, such as dishwashers, TVs and digital phones  digital watches  electronic calculators  GPS systems  fitness trackers o embedded devices not usually programmable by user  Advantages of embedded systems over general purpose computers o Their limited number of functions means they are cheaper to design and build o They tend to require less power. Some devices run from batteries o They do not need much processing power. They can be built using cheaper, less powerful processors

Computer Systems Architecture: CPU, Von Neumann Architecture, and Fetch-Execute Cycle, Study notes of Computer science

Related documents

Partial preview of the text

Download Computer Systems Architecture: CPU, Von Neumann Architecture, and Fetch-Execute Cycle and more Study notes Computer science in PDF only on Docsity!

1.1 Systems Architecture

 CPU