CSE0611201
Computer Architecture
Presented by
Chapter 1 Tariq Bin Amir
Basic Concepts & Lecturer
Computer Evolution
Department of CSE
Uttara University
Computer Architecture
Computer Architecture-
A blueprint for designing and implementing a computer system
Refers to the overall design & structure of a computer system,
including the hardware and software components that make up
the system
Gives the functional description of requirements, design, and
implementation of the different parts of a computer system
Mainly deals with the functional behavior of a computer system
and covers the "What to do?" part
Instruction set, number of bits used for data representation, I/O
mechanisms, addressing techniques
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Computer Organization
Computer Organization-
Refers to the way in which the hardware components of a
computer system are arranged and interconnected
Provides information that how operational attributes of a
computer system are linked together and help in realizing the
architectural specification of the computer
Implements the provided computer architecture and covers the
"How to do?" part
Involves the design of the interconnections between the various
hardware components, as well as the design of the memory and
I/O systems
Control signals, interfaces, memory technology
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Computer Architecture vs Computer Organization
Computer Architecture Computer Organization
Architecture describes what the The Organization describes how
computer does. it does it.
Computer Architecture deals Computer Organization deals
with the functional behavior of with a structural relationship.
computer systems.
It deals with high-level design It deals with low-level design
issues. issues.
For designing a computer, its For designing a computer, an
architecture is fixed first. organization is decided after its
architecture.
Computer Architecture is also Computer Organization is
called Instruction Set frequently called
Architecture (ISA). microarchitecture.
Comprises logical functions such
Consists of physical units like
as instruction sets, registers,
circuit designs, peripherals, and
data types, and addressing
adders.
modes. 05/02/2025 4
Function
Function-
The operation of each individual component as part of the
structure
There are four basic functions that a computer can perform:
Data processing
Computers process data in various forms using a few fundamental methods.
This includes transforming raw data into meaningful outputs through calculations,
comparisons, and decision-making.
Data storage
Short-term: Temporary storage of data being processed (e.g., in RAM).
Long-term: Files and data are stored for future retrieval and updates (e.g., in hard
drives or SSDs).
Data movement
Input-output (I/O) - when data are received from or delivered to a device
(peripheral) that is directly connected to the computer
Data communications – when data are moved over longer distances, to or from a
remote device
Control
A control unit manages the computer’s resources and orchestrates the
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performance of its functional parts in response to instructions
Structure
Structure-
The way in which the components are interrelated
Simple single-processor computer
There are four main structural components:
• Central processing unit (CPU): Controls the operation of the computer and
performs its data processing functions; often simply referred to as processor.
• Main memory: Stores data.
• I/O: Moves data between the computer and its external environment.
• System interconnection: Some mechanism that provides for communication
among CPU, main memory, and I/O. A common example of system
interconnection is by means of a system bus, consisting of a number of
conducting wires to which all the other components attach. 05/02/2025 6
Figure 1.1: A top-down view of a Computer
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Structure(cont’d)
Main components of CPU
The most interesting and in some ways the most complex component is
the CPU. Its major structural components are as follows:
• Control unit: Controls the operation of the CPU and hence the computer
• Arithmetic & logic unit (ALU): Performs the computer’s data processing
functions.
• Registers: provides storage internal to the CPU.
• CPU interconnection: Some mechanism that provides for communication
among the control unit, ALU, and registers.
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Structure(cont’d)
Multicore computer structure
Contemporary computers generally have multiple processors. When the
processors all reside on a single chip, the term multicore computer is used, and
each processing unit is called a core.
• Central processing unit (CPU): That portion of a computer that fetches and
executes instructions. It consists of an ALU, a control unit, and registers.
• Core: An individual processing unit on a processor chip. A core may be
equivalent in functionality to a CPU on a single-CPU system. Other specialized
processing units, such as one optimized for vector and matrix operations, are
also referred to as cores.
• Processor: A physical piece of silicon containing one or more cores. The
processor is the computer component that interprets and executes
instructions.
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Figure 1.2: Simplified View of Major Elements of a Multicore 05/02/2025
Computer 10
Structure(cont’d)
Some related terms:
• Printed Circuit Board(PCB): a rigid, flat board that holds and
interconnects chips and other electronic components.
• Motherboard: The board is made of layers, typically two to ten, that
interconnect components via copper pathways that are etched into the
board. The main printed circuit board in a computer is called a system
board or motherboard
• Chip: A single piece of semiconducting material, typically silicon, upon
which electronic circuits and logic gates are fabricated. The resulting
product is referred to as an integrated circuit.
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Generation of Computer
The Generation of Computer Evolution is Generally Divided Into 5
Categories:
Generations of Time-Period Evolving
Computer Hardware
Vacuum Tube
First Generation 1940s – 1950s
Based
Second Generation 1950s – 1960s Transistor Based
Integrated Circuit
Third Generation 1960s – 1970s
Based
Microprocessor
Fourth Generation 1970s – Present
Based
Artificial
Fifth Generation Present – Future
Intelligence Based
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First Generation: Vaccum Tubes
The main electronic component used in the computers of the 1940s to 1950s
era were vacuum tubes.
The main memory storing units were magnetic tapes and magnetic drums.
The machine language was used as the programming language.
The sizes used to be very large which could take up entire rooms and the
speed was very slow.
The only input/output devices were paper tape and punched cards.
Around 100 different vacuum tubes were used in order to produce the
computers.
Examples are UNIVAC1, ENIAC, IBM 701 and IBM 650, etc.
Vacuum tube
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Second Generation: Transistors
The main electronic component used in the computers of the 1950s to 1960s
era were transistors.
The main memory storing units were magnetic tape or disk and magnetic
core.
The assembly language was used as the programming language.
The sizes were smaller as compared to those of the first generation and they
used to consume low power and generate less heat.
There was an improvement in speed.
The input/output devices were magnetic tape and punched cards.
Examples are IBM 1401, IBM 7094 AND IBM 7090, UNIVAC 1107, and so on.
Transistor
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Third Generation: Integrated Circuit
The main electronic components used in the computers of the era 1960s to
1970s were integrated circuits ICs.
The memory storing units were the magnetic disk or take and a large
magnetic core.
High-level languages such as BASIC, COBOL, Pascal were used as the
programming language.
The sizes were smaller and efficient and the computers were called
minicomputers.
There was an improvement in reliability and speed as compared to the
second generation of computers.
The input/output devices were keyboards, magnetic tape monitor, printer,
etc.
Examples are IBM 370, IBM 360, UNIVAC 1108 and so on. Integrated circuits (IC)
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Fourth Generation: Microprocessor
The main electronic components used in the fourth generation of computers are
microprocessors and very large-scale integration (VLSI). When thousands of
transistors are attached to a single microchip, it is known as VLSI.
Semiconductor memory storage units such as RAM, ROM, etc. were introduced.
RAM (random-access memory)- Temporarily stores the programs and data and the
contents are lost when the computer is shut down.
ROM (read-only memory)- Permanently stores the data and programs and the
contents are retained even after shutting down the computer.
High-level languages such as C#, JAVA, Python, and JavaScript are used as
programming languages.
The input/output devices are a monitor, mouse, keyboard, printer, and so on.
The sizes are smaller and the speed has improved.
Examples are STAR 1000, APPLE II, IBM PC, and so on.
Microprocessor
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Fifth Generation: Artificial Intelligence
The main electronic components that are used in the present generation of
computers is Artificial Intelligence which uses the parallel processing
method and the Ultra-Large Scale Integration (ULSI).
The fifth generation of computers understands the natural human
language.
The speeds are really fast and the sizes are also small.
The fifth-generation computers are portable and have a huge storage
capacity.
The input/output devices are keyboards, monitors, touchscreen pens,
printers, light scanners, and so on.
Examples are laptops, desktops, tablets, smartphones, etc.
Artificial Intelligence
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Digital Computer
The digital computer is a digital system that performs various
computational tasks.
The word digital implies that the information in the computer is
represented by variables that take a limited number of discrete values.
These values are processed internally by components that can maintain a
limited number of discrete states.
Digital computers use the binary number system, which has two digits: 0
and 1.
A binary digit is called a bit. Information is represented in digital
computers in groups of bits.
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By using various coding techniques, groups of bits can be made to
Figure1.3: Block Diagram of a Digital
Computer 05/02/2025 19
Functional Units of Digital Computer
Input Unit
Used by the computer to read data
Most commonly used input devices are keyboards, mouse, joysticks,
trackballs, microphones, etc
Central Processing Unit
An electronic circuitry within a computer that carries out the
instructions given by a computer program by performing the basic
arithmetic, logical, control and input/output (I/O) operations specified
by the instructions.
Memory Unit
the storage area in which programs are kept which are running, and
that contains data needed by the running programs
Arithmetic & Logic Unit
Most of all the arithmetic and logical operations of a computer are
executed in the ALU (Arithmetic and Logical Unit) of the processor.
It performs arithmetic operations like addition, subtraction,
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multiplication, division and also the logical operations like AND, OR,
Functional Units of Digital Computer
Control Unit
A component of a computer's central processing unit that
coordinates the operation of the processor
It tells the computer's memory, arithmetic or logic unit and input-
output devices how to respond to a program's instructions
The control unit is also known as the nerve center of a computer
system
Output Unit
The primary function is to send the processed results to the user
Output devices display information in a way that the user can
understand
The most common example of an output device is a monitor.
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Von Neumann Architecture
The Von Neumann architecture is a computer system design where
program instructions and data share the same memory and data
bus. It is the most commonly used architecture in modern computers.
Architecture based on stored-program concept
A single memory stores both data and instructions.
Data and instructions share the same bus for transferring
information.
CPU can not access instructions and read/write at the same time.
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Harvard Architecture
The Harvard architecture is a computer system design where
program instructions and data are stored in separate memory
units and accessed via separate buses.
Separate memory for data and instructions
Two separate buses: one for instructions and one for data
Allows simultaneous access to both data and instructions,
improving performance.
CPU can access instructions and read/write data at same time.
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Reference Book
Computer Architecture and Organization by William Stallings-10th
Edition
Thank You
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