LECTURE 5

COMPUTER ORGANISATION VERSUS COMPUTER ARCHITECTURE

INTRODUCTION

• A computer can be viewed as a structure of components and its

function described in terms of the collective function of its
cooperating components.
• Each component, in turn, can be described in terms of its
internal structure and function.
• The major levels of this hierarchical view are introduced.
BASIC TERMINOLOGY

• Computer- A device that accepts input, processes data, stores

data, and produces output, all according to a series of stored
instructions.
• Network-Two or more computers and other devices that are
connected, for the purpose of sharing data and programs.
SOFTWARE/ SET OF PROGRAMS

• instructions that enable a computer to perform specific tasks,

• application software such as a word processor, which enables a user
to perform a task,
• system software such as an operating system, which enables other
software to run properly, by interfacing with hardware and with other
software or custom software made to user specifications.
• Intangible components “soft”
MAJOR SOFTWARE CLASSES

• system software
• programming software
• application software
 SYSTEM SOFTWARE

• helps run the computer hardware and computer system.

• It includes operating systems, device drivers, diagnostic tools, servers, File
management , network utilities, DBMS and more.
• The purpose of systems software is to insulate the applications programmer as
much as possible from the details of the particular computer complex being used,
especially memory and other hardware features, and such accessory devices as
communications, printers, readers, displays, keyboards, etc
 PROGRAMMING SOFTWARE

• provides tools to assist a programmer in writing computer programs and software using
different programming languages in a more convenient way.
• The tools include text editors, compilers, interpreters, assemblers, linkers, debuggers, and
so on.
• An Integrated development environment (IDE) merges those tools into a software bundle,
and a programmer may not need to type multiple commands for compiling, interpreter,
debugging, tracing, and etc., because the IDE usually has an advanced graphical user
interface, or GUI
APPLICATION SOFTWARE

• allows end users to accomplish one or more specific (non-computer related) tasks.
• Typical applications include industrial automation, business software, educational
software, medical software, scientific software, databases, and computer games.
• Businesses are probably the biggest users of application software, but almost every field
of human activity now uses some form of application software.
• It is used to automate all sorts of functions.
COMPUTER HARDWARE

• the physical parts of a computer,

• includes the digital circuitry,
• Most computer hardware is not seen by normal users. It is in
embedded systems in automobiles, microwave ovens,
electrocardiograph machines, compact disc players, and other
devices.
PERSONAL COMPUTER(PC) HARDWARE
COMPONENTS

• Known as a microcomputer
• A typical PC consists of a case or chassis in desktop or tower
shape
PERSONAL COMPUTER(PC) HARDWARE
COMPONENTS

•Motherboard or system board circuit/logic

board that connects the CPU to the memory and
all other hardware
•Contains slots for expansion cards and holding
parts
MOTHERBOARD COMPONENTS

•Central processing unit (CPU) – arithmetic(+, -, *,÷, “, <,>, =, ≠) and logic (AND,
NOT, OR) operations as well as temporary storage
•Computer fan - used to cool down the CPU
•Random Access Memory (RAM) - for program execution and short term data
storage, so the computer does not have to take the time to access the hard drive to
find the file(s) it requires. More RAM will normally contribute to a faster PC.
RAM is almost always removable as it sits in slots in the motherboard, attached
with small clips. The RAM slots are normally located next to the CPU socket.
MOTHERBOARD COMPONENTS CTD

• Basic Input-Output System (BIOS) or Extensible Firmware Interface

(EFI) in some newer computers
MOTHERBOARD COMPONENTS CTD

• Buses – data paths that connect the CPU to other components

• Move instructions and data
• Speed of bus is measured in Hz
• Width is the size of the bus measured in bits e.g 8, 16, 32
• Front Side bus(FSB) connects CPU and memory
• Back Side Bus(BSB) connects L2 to L3 cache
MOTHERBOARD COMPONENTS CTD

• Power supply - a case that holds a transformer, voltage control, and

(usually) a cooling fan
• Storage controllers of IDE, SATA, SCSI or other type, that control hard
disk, floppy disk, CD-ROM and other drives; the controllers sit directly
on the motherboard (on-board) or on expansion cards
MOTHERBOARD COMPONENTS CTD

• Video display controller that produces the output for the

computer display. This will either be built into the motherboard or
attached in its own separate slot (PCI, PCI-E or AGP), requiring a
Graphics Card.
• Computer bus controllers (parallel, serial, USB, FireWire) to
connect the computer to external peripheral devices such as
printers or scanners
MOTHERBOARD COMPONENTS CTD

Some type of a removable media writer

• CD - the most common type of removable media, cheap but fragile.
• CD-ROM Drive
• CD Writer
MOTHERBOARD COMPONENTS CTD

• DVD
• DVD-ROM Drive
• DVD Writer
• DVD-RAM Drive
MOTHERBOARD COMPONENTS CTD

• Floppy disk
• Zip drive
• USB flash drive AKA a Pen Drive
• Tape drive - mainly for backup and long-term storage
MOTHERBOARD COMPONENTS CTD

• Internal storage - keeps data inside the computer for later use.
• Hard disk - for medium-term storage of data.
• Disk array controller
• Sound card - translates signals from the system board into analogue voltage levels,
and has terminals to plug in speakers.
• Networking - to connect the computer to the Internet and/or other computers
• Modem - for dial-up connections
• Network card - for DSL/Cable internet, and/or connecting to other computers.
• WI-Fi adapter
PERIPHERAL DEVICES

• Peripheral devices Used to expand the computer’s

input, output and storage capabilities.
• external components of a computer system
• Input devices
• Output devices
INPUT DEVICES

• Text input devices - keyboard

• Pointing devices - Mouse, Trackball
• Gaming devices - Joystick, Game pad, Game controller
• Image, Video input devices - Image scanner, Webcam
• Audio input devices - Microphone
OUTPUT DEVICES

• Image, Video output devices

• Printer: Peripheral device that produces a hard copy. (Inkjet, Laser)
• Monitor: Device that takes signals and displays them. (CRT, LCD)

• Audio output devices

• Speakers: A device that converts analogue audio signals into the equivalent air
vibrations in order to make audible sound.
• Headset: A device similar in functionality to that of a regular telephone handset but is
worn on the head to keep the hands free
COMPUTER ORGANISATION VS COMPUTER
ARCHITECTURE

• computer organization examines the timber, bricks,

nails, and other building material
• computer architecture looks at the design of the
house(Plan).
COMPUTER ARCHITECTURE DEFINED

• The conceptual design and fundamental operational structure of a computer

system. It is a blueprint and functional description of requirements
(especially speeds and interconnections) and design implementations for the
various parts of a computer — focusing largely on the way by which the
central processing unit (CPU) performs internally and accesses addresses in
memory.
• The science of integrating components to achieve a level of functionality
and performance.
 COMPUTER ARCHITECTURE DEFINED CTD

• The science and art of selecting and interconnecting hardware components

to create computers that meet functional, performance and cost goals.
• refers to the fixed internal structure of the CPU (i.e. electronic switches to
represent logic gates) to perform logical operations, and may also include
the built-in interface by which hardware resources (i.e. CPU, memory, and
also motherboard, peripherals) may be used by the software
 COMPUTER ARCHITECTURE DEFINED CTD

• the abstract image of a computing system that is seen by a machine language (or
assembly language) programmer, including the instruction set, memory address
modes, processor registers, and address and data formats;
• Computer architecture refers to those attributes of a system visible to a programmer
that have a direct impact on the logical execution of a program. Examples:
• The instruction set,
• the number of bits used to represent various data types (e.g., numbers, characters),
• I/O mechanisms,
• addressing memory techniques
COMPUTER ARCHITECTURE DEFINED CTD

• Concerns with
• Does this processor have a multiply instr.?
• How does the compiler create object code?
• How best is memory handled by the O/S?
COMPUTER ORGANIZATION DEFINED

• concrete, description of the system that involves how the

constituent parts of the system are interconnected and how they
interoperate in order to implement the architectural
specification.
• Computer organisation is the components from which
computers are built
COMPUTER ORGANIZATION DEFINED CTD

• Computer Organization refers to the operational units and their

interconnections that realize the architectural specifications. How
features are implemented. Examples are things that are transparent
to the programmer:
o control signals
o interfaces between computer and peripherals
o the memory technology being use
COMPUTER ORGANIZATION DEFINED CTD

• For example
• Is there a hardware multiply unit or is it done by repeated addition?
• What type of non-volatile memory is used to store the BIOS?
ACTIVITY 1

• Does the Intel x86 family share the same basic architecture and organisation?
STRUCTURE VERSUS FUNCTION

• Structure is the way in which components relate to each other

• Function is the operation of individual components as part of
the structure
 COMPUTER FUNCTIONS

• Data processing: Computer must be able to process data which may take a
wide variety of forms and the range of processing.
• Data storage: Computer stores data either temporarily or permanently.
• Data movement: Computer must be able to move data between itself and the
outside world.
• Control: There must be a control of the above three functions. Within the
computer, a control unit manages the computer’s resources and orchestrates the
performance of its functional parts in response to those instructions.
COMPUTER FUNCTION CTD

• When data are received from or delivered to a device that is directly

connected to the computer, the process is known as input–output (I/O), and
the device is referred to as a peripheral.
• When data are moved over longer distances, to or from a remote device,
the process is known as data communications.
COMPUTER STRUCTURE

• The computer interacts its external environment. All of its

linkages to the external environment can be classified as
peripheral devices or communication lines
COMPUTER MAIN STRUCTURAL COMPONENTS

• Input /Output Unit

• Central processing Unit (ALU and Control Units)
• Memory
• Bus Structure
COMPUTER: TOP LEVEL STRUCTURE
ACTIVITY 2

Describe the basic features of the following. Give an example of each.

• Microcomputer
• Microprocessor
• Microcontroller
COMPUTER MAIN STRUCTURAL COMPONENTS
FUNCTIONS
CENTRAL PROCESSING UNIT (CPU)
FUNCTIONS:
• Controls the operation of the computer and performs its data
processing functions; often simply referred to as processor.
• Executes programs using the fetch – decode- execute cycle
• Also known as the microprocessor
• The brain of the machine
• Responsible for fetching and executing instructions.
MULTICORE COMPUTER STRUCTURE

• In a system with a single processing unit, it is often simply referred to as a processor.

• Contemporary computers generally have multiple processors. When these processors all reside on a single
chip, the term multicore computer is used, and each processing unit (consisting of a control unit, ALU,
registers, and perhaps cache) is called a core.
• 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. If a processor contains multiple cores, it is referred to as
a multicore processor
 CORES

• A processing unit in a COU

• A core contains an ALU, control unit and
registers
• Two(dual), four(quad) etc
• Doubling the number of cores will not double
the computer speed
• Cores communicate with each other through
channels
THE CENTRAL PROCESSING UNIT
THE CONTROL UNIT
 CONTROL UNIT

• Controls the operation of the CPU

and hence the computer
• Provides control signals in
accordance with some timings
which in turn controls the
execution process
• Control unit works with a
reference signal called processor
clock
CENTRAL PROCESSING UNIT (CPU)
STRUCTURAL COMPONENTS
• Arithmetic and logic unit (ALU): Performs the computer’s data
processing functions, Arithmetic and logical operations
• Registers: Provides storage internal to the CPU to hold variables or
intermediary results of computation, as well as special purpose registers;
• CPU interconnection: Some mechanism that provides for communication
among the control unit, ALU, and registers.
• 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.
GRAPHICS PROCESSING UNIT(GPU)

• Contemporary computers have a separate GPU for images

• GPU is faster than CPU
• It is optimised to produce high quality 3D graphics for games and films
• GPU responsible for handling Images and frees up the CPU to do all other tasks
STRUCTURE CTD

• Main memory: Stores data, results, and instructions during program execution
• The other types of memory includes registers, RAM, and virtual memory

• Backing Store- stores programs and files permanently for future use, using
storage media such as hard drives, USB memory sticks, SD cards or optical
disks.
• The storage media can store files such as images, audios, music, videos and application
programs
STRUCTURE CTD

• I/O: Moves data between the computer and its external environment.
• INPUT UNIT:
• Converts the external world data to a binary format, which can be understood by CPU
• Mouse, Joystick etc
• OUTPUT UNIT:
• Converts the binary format data to a format that a common man can understand
• Monitor, Printer, LCD, LED etc
EXERCISE

1. State the difference between

a) computer organization and computer architecture
b) computer structure and computer function

2. Describe the four main functions of a computer

3. Define and give an example of a peripheral device
4. State and define the main structural components of a
a) computer.
b) CPU