Assignment unit 05

Computer architecture encompasses the fundamental design of a computer

system, comprising its physical and logical structure. It involves a collection of
components that collaborate to carry out instructions and perform computations.
This instructional paper will delve into the discussion of five key components of
computer architecture: the Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU), Instruction Decoder, Clock
and Program Counter, Control Codes, and Control Unit.

The ALU, an integral part of the Central Processing Unit (CPU), undertakes
arithmetic and logical operations on data. It encompasses a wide range of
operations such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, AND, OR, and
NOT. By receiving data from registers, it executes operations based on control
signals received from the Instruction Decoder.

As the name implies, the Instruction Decoder decodes instructions stored in

memory. These instructions are encoded as binary patterns and need to be
decoded before execution. The Instruction Decoder reads the instruction code
from memory and converts it into a set of control signals. These signals control
the ALU, registers, and other CPU components. Its responsibility lies in translating
binary code into executable commands for the CPU

The Clock and Program Counter work hand in hand to synchronize instruction
execution. The clock generates a series of pulses at a constant rate, known as the
clock speed. On the other hand, the program counter is a register that holds the
memory address of the next instruction to be executed. The clock pulses
increment the program counter, thereby directing it to the subsequent instruction
in memory. As a result, the program counter retrieves the instruction from
memory, which is then decoded by the Instruction Decoder, enabling the ALU to
perform the necessary operation.

Control Codes are binary codes that dictate the operations to be executed by the
ALU. They encompass operations such as addition, subtraction, and logical
operations. The Instruction Decoder generates control codes to regulate the ALU's
operation. For example, if the control code specifies an addition operation, the
ALU will carry out an addition operation on the given data.

The Control Unit assumes responsibility for managing the CPU's operation. It
receives control signals from the Instruction Decoder, utilizing them to govern the
ALU, registers, and other CPU components. Its tasks involve fetching instructions
from memory, decoding them, and overseeing their execution. The Control Unit
ensures the correct sequence of instruction execution and proper storage of
previous instruction results in memory.

In summary, the ALU, Instruction Decoder, Clock and Program Counter, Control
Codes, and Control Unit serve as essential components of computer architecture,
collaborating to execute instructions and perform computations. The ALU handles
arithmetic and logical operations on data, the Instruction Decoder translates
binary code into executable commands for the CPU, the Clock and Program
Counter synchronize instruction execution, the Control Codes determine the ALU's
operations, and the Control Unit governs the overall CPU operation.
Understanding the interdependencies and functioning of these components is
crucial when designing and constructing efficient and accurate computer systems.