Computer Architecture
Assignment 1: Computer Architecture Computer architecture is the combination of software and hardware that is organized in such a fashion as to deliver the machine’s intended performance characteristics. Therefore, it is important for you to understand the basics. Write a four to five (4-5) page paper in which you: 1. Describe Von Neumann architecture and explain why it is important. 2. Explain what a system bus is and why it is needed. 3. Summarize the use of Boolean operators in computer-based calculations. 4. Categorize the various types of memory and storage. 5. Use at least three (3) quality resources in this assignment. Note: Wikipedia and similar Websites do not qualify as quality resources. Your assignment must follow these formatting requirements: Be typed, double-spaced, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins on all sides; citations and references must follow APA or school-specific format. Check with your professor for any additional instructions. Include a cover page containing the title of the assignment, the student’s name, the professor’s name, the course title, and the date. The cover page and the reference page are not included in the required assignment page length. The specific course learning outcomes associated with this assignment are: Illustrate the use of information and communication technologies to solve problems as an information technology professional. Explain how organizational context is influenced by the development and deployment of information technology systems. Use technology and information resources to research issues in information technology. Write clearly and concisely about introductory information technology topics using proper writing mechanics and technical style conventions.
Computer Architecture
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Computer Architecture
Von Neumann architecture is a type of computer architecture model that acts as a store-program digital computer. It uses a processing unit and a separate storage system that holds instruction and data. The processing unit is a combination of the control unit, which has the program counter and an instruction register and processor registers with an Arithmetic logic Unit (ALU). The memory unit is a block of shared storage registers that stores both data and instructions (Petterson & Lennessy, 2014). The memory block has a data bus and address bus for communication with the processor. A common bus characterizes a Von Neumann system. It functions to fetch instructions and data operations. This means handling of data and instructions has to be done in sequential order, which is known as Von Neumann Bottleneck, since the bus cannot operate in full duplex manner.
Von Neumann is one of the earliest computer architecture designs. However, due to its limiting bandwidth operation and underutilization of the processor meant it had to be modified to cater for this. Most modern computer architectures borrow heavily from the Von Neumann architecture, which had been considered incredibly successful at its time when processor demand was not highly required. In modern computer CPU chips, you will find a control unit and the ALU in the form of a RAM stick, which is located on the motherboard (Clements, 2006).
The Van Neumann architecture was highly significant since is it allowed a single memory to hold both data and program. Lack of such capabilities would mean disk based OS would not have been possible, which is common these days (Petterson & Lennessy, 2014). The other advantage was that the type of architecture was cheap to implement. This is clear since it reduced hardware components that required fewer wiring.
System bus is the main computer signal pathway that connects major components of a computer system. These include the processing elements, storage elements, peripheral devices, and other system components. The system bus normally has three main components; data, address and control bus lines (Clements, 2006). The data bus is responsible for general transmission of data within the computer system. The address bus, on the other hand, determines destination of conveyed signals and finally the control bus handles operations such as synchronization signals, which are responsible for mutual communication between destination and source.
The system bus aims at reducing cost and improving modularity, that is; the degree in which system components and connected. Well-structured system buses are normally very simple, and well-arranged reducing cross talk and other prevent other communication faults. Initially, when system buses were introduced, the bus used to run at the same speed as the processor, which meant that only one bus could be fitted cater for all bus specified operations. However, when processing power of the CPUs and other high-speed devices increased, it led to the implementation of multiple system buses to cater for this. Nowadays, there is normally a high-speed bus, which handles CPU, RAM and other high-speed ...