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  7. Unit 7 - Fundamentals of computer organisation and architecture

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Summary Computer Systems & Architecture
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  • Course
  • Unit 7 - Fundamentals of computer organisation and architecture
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  • AQA

Notes for the computer systems and architecture module of AQA A Level Computer Science. Information is summarised into bullet points and can be easily turned into flashcards. Condense notes with diagrams

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Document information

  • December 18, 2022
  • 6
  • 2022/2023
  • Summary

Subjects

  • computer
  • science
  • computer science
  • processor
  • buses
  • bus
  • alu
  • fetch execute
  • opcode
  • operand
  • stored progam concept
  • von neumann
  • harvard
  • architecture

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  • A/AS Level
  • AQA
  • Computer Science
  • Unit 7 - Fundamentals of computer organisation and architecture
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Computer systems and
architecture
Internal hardware components of a computer
 There are two types of main memory: includes RAM and ROM.
o ROM stores program instructions and frequently used data.
o Main memory is much faster than secondary storage; so
storing frequently used data in main memory helps the
processor execute instructions faster.
 Bus: A series of parallel wires that connects internal components of
a computer system, allowing signals to be passed between them.
o The number of parallel wires in a bus is called the width and it
has a direct relationship to the number of bits that can be
transferred simultaneously by the bus.
o There are 3 buses (that we need to know about):
 Address bus
 Data bus
 Control bus
 Address bus: Used to transport memory addresses – specifying
where data is to be sent or retrieved.
o Increasing the width of the bus increases the range of
addresses that it can specify – which therefore increases the
computer’s store of addressable memory. Adding a single
wire will double the number of addressable memory locations.
o Addressable memory location: a portion of memory that
can be accessed by its address.
Number of parallel wires in Number of addressable
address bus memory locationW
1 21 = 2
2 22 = 4
3 23 = 8


 Data bus: Sends data and instructions to and from the different
components of the computer system.
o Increasing the width of the data bus increases the volume of
data that can be transferred over the bus at any one time.
 Control bus: used to carry control signals that regulate the
operation of the system.
o Carries the computer’s clock signal.

,  I/O controllers: (Input/Output controllers) pieces of hardware that
control the communication of data between the processor and
external hardware devices.

Von Neumann and Harvard architectures
 Two different ways of setting up a processor’s access to main
memory.

Harvard architecture
 The processor will use separate main memory locations for
instruction and data.
 This allows the architecture to take advantage of giving each piece
of main memory different characteristics e.g. memory used for
instructions could be read-only.
 Harvard architecture is extensively used in embedded systems,
such as digital signal processing.

Von Neumann architecture
 Both instructions and data are stored in the same memory.
 Systems that are based on von Neumann architecture usually
perform worse; the same buses have to be shared for fetching
both instructions and data.
 Von Neumann is used in everyday general-purpose computers – like
laptops.



The stored program concept
 A computer that uses the stored program concept is defined as:
“serially fetching and executing machine code instructions
stored in main memory by a processor that performs
arithmetic and logical operations”.
o Serially: Instructions are fetched and executed in order – first
instruction is fetched and executed before the second
instruction is fetched.
o Fetching: Retrieving an instruction from main memory.
o Executing: Carrying out the specified instruction that was
set.
o Machine code instructions: Instructions formed from binary
that the computer can execute directly without translation.
o Main memory: Where the computer stores instructions and
frequently used data.
o Arithmetic: Mathematical operations.
o Logical: Operations that involve the use of logic gates.
 Some early computers were designed to execute just one specific
instruction; the stored program concept allows one set of

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