Draft notes of 22C: 060
1
Introduction
Here are some natural questions:
How does a computer execute a program?
Program computer
What is there inside a computer?
Are all computer hardwares alike?
What is the difference between a PC and a Mac?
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Draft Notes on Computer Architecture: A Deep Dive into Computer Technology and History - P, Study notes of Computer Architecture and Organization
An introduction to computer architecture, discussing the technologies used in computers, their classification, a brief history of modern-day computers, and generations of computers. It also covers the basics of a digital computer, measuring computer speed, and laws of hardware. The document concludes with factors influencing computer performance.
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Pre 2010
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Introduction
Here are some natural questions:
How does a computer execute a program?
Program computer
What is there inside a computer?
Are all computer hardwares alike?
What is the difference between a PC and a Mac?
Technologies
A computer is an instruction-execution engine.
Different hardware technologies are possible:
• Mechanical
• Pneumatic
• Electronic
• Quantum
• Biological
We will focus on electronic technology only, which
is most common. It primarily uses silicon-based
integrated circuits
Partial History of modern day computers
Eckert and Mauchley
Moore School of the U. of Pennsylvania, ENIAC
John Von Neumann
Princeton U. EDVAC, the blueprint of the first stored program digital computer
Maurice Wilkes
Cambridge U., EDSAC, the first operational stored- program digital computer
John Vincent Atanasoff
Iowa State University Designed a machine in 1939-1940 to solve differential equations. Recognition came much later.
Generations
First generation: vacuum tubes
Second generation: transistors
Third generation: integrated circuits
Fourth generation: LSI and VLSI
Units of time
1 second
1 millisecond (ms) = 10-3^ second
1 microsecond (ms) = 10-6^ second
1 nanosecond (ns) = 10-9^ second
1 picosecond (ps) = 10-12^ second
A Basic Digital Computer
CPU or Processor MEMORY I/O
There are different ways of designing the “boxes”
or the functional units. At the upper level, we care
only about the functionality and not so much about
their internal construction.
Data
Program
Control Unit
Arithmetic Logic Unit
Input
Unit
Output Unit
Measuring the Speed
MIPS = Million Instructions Per Second MFLOPS = Million FLOating point ops Per Sec GFLOPS = Billion (Giga) FLOating point ops Per Sec TERAFLOPS = Trillion FLOating point ops Per Sec PETAFLOPS = 1015 FLOating point ops Per Sec
What do we do with a TERAFLOP or a PETAFLOP machine? Do we have enough work for them?
Factors influencing computer performance
Problem algorithm HLL machine
program code
How fast can you solve a problem on a machine? Depends on
- The algorithm used
- The HLL program code
- The efficiency of the compiler
And, of course, it also depends on the target machine. If the algorithm is lousy, then do not blame the computer!
P
Compiler