101001/EC400D
COMPUTER ARCHITECTURE AND
MICROCONTROLLERS
By: Abhishek Viswakumar, DEC, RSET
Functional units of a computer
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Memory unit
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Primary memory & Secondary memory
Memory unit
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Primary memory: -
Is the one exclusively associated with the processor and
operates at the electronics speed's programs must be
stored in this memory while they are being executed.
Each capable of storing one bit of information.
These are processed in a group of fixed site called word.
Addresses are numbers that identify memory location.
Number of bits in each word is called word length of the
computer.
Memory unit
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Primary memory: -
Instructions and data can be written into the memory or read
out under the control of processor.
Memory in which any location can be reached in a short and
fixed amount of time after specifying its address is called
random-access memory (RAM).
The time required to access one word in called memory access
time.
Memory which is only readable by the user and contents of
which can’t be altered is called read only memory (ROM) it
contains operating system.
Memory unit
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Primary memory: -
Caches are the small fast RAM units, which are coupled
with the processor and are often contained on the
same IC chip to achieve high performance.
Although primary storage is essential it tends to be
expensive.
Memory unit
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Secondary memory: -
Is used where large amounts of data & programs have
to be stored, particularly information that is accessed
infrequently.
Examples: - Magnetic disks & tapes, optical disks (ie
CD-ROM’s), floppies etc.,
Memory unit
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Primary memory & Secondary memory
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Primary memory vs Secondary memory
Primary memory Secondary memory
Secondary memory is
Primary memory is temporary.
permanent.
Primary memory is directly Secondary memory is not
accessible by Processor/CPU. directly accessible by the CPU.
Nature of Parts of Primary
It’s always Non-volatile in
memory varies, RAM- volatile in
nature.
nature. ROM- Non-volatile.
Primary memory devices are Secondary memory devices are
more expensive than secondary less expensive when compared
storage
10 devices. to primary memory devices.
Primary memory vs Secondary
memory
Primary memory Secondary memory
The memory devices used for The secondary memory
primary memory are devices are magnetic and
semiconductor memories. optical memories.
Primary memory is also Secondary memory is also
known as Main memory or known as External memory or
Internal memory. Auxiliary memory.
Examples: RAM, ROM, Cache
Examples: Hard Disk, Floppy
memory, PROM, EPROM,
Disk, Magnetic Tapes, etc.
Registers, etc.
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Cache Memory vs Main Memory
CACHE MEMORY MAIN MEMORY
Main memory is also known as
Cache memory is used to store
Random Access Memory. It is a
frequently accessed data in
memory unit that directly
order to quickly access the
interacts with the central
data whenever it is required.
processing unit (CPU)
Comparatively faster than It is also the faster accessing
main memory. memory.
More expensive than main
Expensive memory.
memory.
Smaller than main memory.
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Larger than cache memory.
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Volatile Memory Non-Volatile Memory
It is the type of memory in It is the type of memory in
which data is lost as it is which data remains stored
powered-off. even if it is powered-off.
Contents of Volatile memory Contents of Non-volatile
are stored temporarily. memory are stored
permanently.
It is faster than non-volatile It is slower than volatile
memory. memory.
RAM and Cache memory ROM and HDD is an example
is an example of Volatile of Non-Volatile Memory.
Memory.
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Data transfer in volatile Data transfer in non-volatile
ALU
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The Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU) is used for performing arithmetic
operations.
These arithmetic operations include addition, subtraction,
multiplication, division, and comparing numbers. Additionally, it
also performs logical operations, such as ‘AND’, ‘OR’, and ‘NOT’.
The operands are brought into the ALU from memory and stored
in high-speed storage elements called register.
The inputs to an ALU are the data to be operated on, called
operands, and a code indicating the operation to be performed;
the ALU's output is the result of the performed operation.
ALU
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The control and the ALU are may times faster than
other devices connected to a computer system.
This enables a single processor to control several
external devices such as keyboards, displays, magnetic
and optical disks, sensors and other mechanical
controllers.
Control unit
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The control unit is an essential part of the computer as
it controls data flow which is sent and received by the
CPU.
The control unit acts as a coordinator.
It effectively is the nerve center that sends signals to
other units and senses their states.
The actual timing signals that govern the transfer of
data between input unit, processor, memory and
output unit are generated by the control unit.
Control unit
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Microprocessor vs microcontroller.
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Fig: 1 Fig: 2
Microprocessor vs microcontroller.
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Microprocessor Microcontroller
Microprocessor is heart of Microcontroller is a heart of
Computer system. embedded system.
It is just a processor. Memory Microcontroller has external
and I/O components have to processor along with internal
be connected externally memory and i/O components
Circuit size is large because Circuit is small, since memory
memory and I/O has to be and I/O are present internally.
connected externally.
Microprocessor vs microcontroller.
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Microprocessor Microcontroller
Cannot be used in compact Can be used in compact
systems and hence inefficient. systems and hence it is an
efficient technique.
Cost of the entire system Cost of the entire system is
increases. low.
Most of the microprocessors do Most of the micro controllers have
not have power saving power saving modes like idle mode
and power saving mode. This helps
features.
to reduce power consumption even
further.
Microprocessor vs microcontroller.
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Microprocessor Microcontroller
Since memory and I/O Since components are
components are all external, internal, most of the
each instruction will need operations are internal
external operation, hence it is instruction, hence speed is
relatively slower. fast.
Microprocessor have less Microcontroller have more
number of registers, hence number of registers, hence
more operations are memory the programs are easier to
based. write.
Von Neumann and Harvard Architecture
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Architectures used for processor design are Harvard or
Von-Neumann.
Von Neumann and Harvard
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Architecture
Harvard architecture Von-Neumann
architecture
It has separate buses for It shares single common bus
instruction as well as data for instruction and data
fetching. fetching.
It uses two separate physical It uses one single physical
addresses for storing and address for accessing and
accessing both instructions storing both data and
and data. instructions.
Comparatively high cost. It is cheaper in cost.
Von Neumann and Harvard
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Architecture
Harvard architecture Von-Neumann
architecture
The CPU can easily read/write The CPU is not able to
data as well as access the read/write data and access
instructions at any given instructions at the same time.
time.
It is modern computer It is ancient computer
architecture based on architecture based on stored
Harvard Mark I relay based program computer concept.
model.
It is used in personal It is used in
computers and small microcontrollers and
Von Neumann and Harvard
Architecture
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Harvard architecture Von-Neumann
architecture
Since data memory and Accidental corruption of
program memory are stored program memory may occur
physically in different if data memory and program
locations, no chances exist memory are stored
for accidental corruption of physically in the same chip,
program memory.
The overall speed of The speed of execution is
execution is comparatively slower, because it is not
faster, because the capable of fetching the
processor is capable of instructions and data both at
fetching both instructions the same time.
RAM vs ROM
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RAM ROM
RAM stands for Random ROM stands for Read Only
Access Memory. Memory.
RAM is a primary memory of ROM is a primary memory of the
the computer that stores computer that stores those
those data and instructions on computer instructions and
which the CPU is currently programs that do not need to be
working. altered in future like BIOS.
RAM is a volatile memory. ROM is a non-volatile memory
Which means it stores data as that means it stores data
long as power is on. permanently even when power is
off.
RAM vs ROM
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RAM ROM
The CPU of the computer can CPU can only read data from
read, write, or alter the data ROM, but it can write or change.
on RAM.
RAM is used to store data that ROM is used to store data that in
CPU needs for current needed to bootstrap the
instruction processing. computer.
Types – SRAM (Static Random Types – PROM (Programmable
Access Memory) and DRAM ROM), EPROM (Erasable PROM),
(Dynamic Random Access and EEPROM (Electrically
Memory). EPROM).
RAM memory is large and high ROM is generally small and of
RAM vs ROM
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RAM ROM
RAM is used as CPU Cache, ROM is used as firmware by
Primary Memory. microcontrollers.
RAM is costly. ROM is not so expensive.
CPU can access data stored Data to be copied from ROM to
on RAM directly. RAM so that CPU can access its
data.
Bus
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The CPU is connected to memory and I/O through
strips of wire called a bus.
Carries information from place to place
Address bus
Data bus
Control bus