Unit Title: Computer Systems Architecture

Unit No: FW03 12

Components of a simple computer system

Date: August 2016

Computer Systems Architecture FW03 12 Components of a simple computer

Computer Organisation
A simple computer consists of the following components:

• Processor
• Memory
• Input/output device

A Simple Computer

Input devices include the keyboard and mouse and can be used to supply input to the
processor. Output devices include the screen and printers and these can be used to
supply output from the processor. Input and output devices are often known as
peripheral devices.

Some computers have more than one processor; however we will concentrate on single
processor machines in this topic. Where there is only one processor it is known as
the Central Processing Unit, or CPU. This is where instructions are processed and
computations are carried out. This is the control centre of the computer.

Computer Memory is used to store programs and data while the computer is running.
This information can be stored temporarily or permanently. We will look at the
different types of computer memory and how they work in later lessons.

© City of Glasgow College August 2016 2

Computer Systems Architecture FW03 12 Components of a simple computer

Component Parts
The component parts of the computer are:

• Central Processing Unit (CPU). Carries out computation and has overall control of
the computer.
• Main memory. Stores programs and data while the computer is running. Has fast
access, is directly accessible by the CPU, is limited in size and non-permanent.
• External memory. Holds substantial quantities of information too large for storage
in main memory. Slower access than main memory, not accessible directly by the
CPU but can be used to keep a permanent copy of programs and data.
• Peripheral devices (input/output devices). These allow the computer to
communicate with the outside world.
• System bus. This allows communication of information between the component
parts of the computer.

Some possible transfers of information via the system bus are:

• data transmitted from main memory to the CPU

• input data from an external device (e.g. the keyboard) travelling from the device
to main memory
• information from external memory transmitted to main memory

Again we will be looking at the different computer busses and finding out what they do
in futures lessons.

The speed of the system bus is very important since, if it is too slow, the speed of the
CPU is restricted by having to wait for data.

© City of Glasgow College August 2016 3

Computer Systems Architecture FW03 12 Components of a simple computer

CPU Components
The CPU typically consists of:
• A Control Unit (CU) exerts overall control over the
operation of the CPU. The control unit includes timing/
control logic and the instruction decoder. It sends
signals to other parts of the computer to direct the
fetch and execution of machine instructions. Using
timing and control signals, it tells other parts of the
system what to do and when to do it, i.e. it
synchronises the whole system.

• An Arithmetic and Logic Unit (ALU) is the part of the CPU that carries out all
arithmetic calculations including addition, subtraction, multiplication, and
division. The Arithmetic Logic Unit also performs all logical operations such as
AND, NOT, OR, etc. The ALU is literally the fundamental building block of the
CPU, and even the simplest processors contain an ALU.

• A set of registers that can store temporary data and instructions that are being
worked on by the processor. Registers are basically special storage locations
somewhat similar to a computer’s memory though contained within the processor
and exceptionally faster. Registers work under the direction of the control unit to
accept, hold and transfer instructions or data at a high rate of speed.

The CPU contains a number of special-purpose registers:

• Instruction Register (IR): holds the instruction currently being executed.
• Memory Data Register (MDR): holds the piece of data that has been fetched
from memory.
• Memory Address Register (MAR): holds the address of the next piece of
memory to be fetched.
• Program Counter (PC): holds the location of the next instruction to be
fetched from memory.
• Accumulator: an internal CPU register used as the default location to store
any calculations performed by the arithmetic and logic unit.

© City of Glasgow College August 2016 4

Computer Systems Architecture FW03 12 Components of a simple computer

An internal processor bus links these components of the CPU.

In practice, the architecture of a modern digital computer will be more complex than
the description given here, with each component itself being an assembly of parts
connected by various different buses. However, for the moment, this will suffice as a
model for how the major parts of a digital computer are organised.

Further Learning
Use the following websites to learn more about the topics we have covered.

• SQA e-learning website for HN Courses.

http://www.sqa.org.uk/e-learning/CompArch03CD/page_01.htm

• What are the three components of a CPU?

http://www.askthecomputertech.com/three-components-of-a-cpu.html

• Video explaining the CPU, its parts, definition and function.

http://study.com/academy/lesson/central-processing-unit-cpu-parts-definition-
function.html

• Video explaining the components of the CPU.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vJjLFj6f8z8

• Video detain how a CPU works.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cNN_tTXABUA

© City of Glasgow College August 2016 5