Computer Architecture and Organization

Introduction

Computer architecture refers to the design and organization of a computer's internal components, including the CPU, memory, and input/output devices.

CPU Architecture

• Instruction Set Architecture (ISA): Defines the set of instructions that a CPU can execute.
• Pipelining: Breaks down the instruction execution process into a series of stages, improving performance.
• Cache Memory: Small, fast memory that stores frequently accessed data, reducing memory access times.

Memory Organization

• Main Memory: Also known as RAM, provides temporary storage for data and programs.
• Virtual Memory: Combination of main memory and secondary storage, providing a larger address space.
• Cache Hierarchy: Multiple levels of cache memory, each with varying sizes and access times.

Input/Output Organization

• I/O Devices: Keyboard, mouse, display, and other devices that interact with the user or external environment.
• I/O Interfaces: Control the flow of data between I/O devices and the CPU or memory.
• Interrupts: Signals sent to the CPU by I/O devices, indicating the need for attention or service.

Parallel Processing

• Multiprocessing: Using multiple CPUs or cores to execute multiple threads or processes concurrently.
• Multithreading: Executing multiple threads within a single process, improving responsiveness and efficiency.
• Parallel Architectures: Designed to take advantage of parallel processing, including SIMD and MIMD architectures.

Performance Metrics

• Clock Speed: Measures the rate at which a CPU executes instructions.
• Instructions Per Clock (IPC): Measures the number of instructions executed per clock cycle.
• Execution Time: Measures the time taken to execute a program or task.