BIC10503

Computer Architecture

CHAP 1: INTRODUCTION
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 Why Study Computer Architecture?

 Hardware and software

◦ Understanding the relation between hardware and software
◦ How they work together to produce a result.

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 More…Why Study Computer
Architecture?
 Understand where computers are going
◦ Future capabilities drive the (computing) world
◦ Real world-impact: no computer architecture ! no computers!
 Understand high-level design concepts
◦ The best architects understand all the levels
◦ Devices, circuits, architecture, compiler, applications
 Understand computer performance
◦ Writing well-tuned (fast) software requires knowledge of hardware
 Get a (design or research) hardware job
◦ Intel,AMD, IBM,ARM, Motorola, Sun/Oracle, NVIDIA, Samsung
 Get a (design or research) software job
◦ Best software designers understand hardware
◦ Need to understand hardware to write fast software
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 What is a Building Architect?

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 What is a Computer Architect(CA)?

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 What is computer architecture
 Computer Architecture is a set of rules and methods that
describe the functionality, organization, and implementation
of computer systems
 Computer architecture is a specification detailing how a set of
software and hardware technology standards interact to form a
computer system or platform. In short, computer architecture
refers to how a computer system is designed and what
technologies it is compatible with.
 As with other contexts and meanings of the word architecture,
computer architecture is likened to the art of determining the
needs of the user/system/technology, and creating a logical design
and standards based on those requirements.

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 Categories of CA

System Design:

Instruction
Set
Architecture
(ISA):

Microarchitecture:

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 System Design

This includes all hardware

It also includes memory
components in the system,
controllers, data paths and
including data processors
miscellaneous things like
aside from the CPU, such as
multiprocessing and
the graphics processing unit
virtualization
and direct memory access.

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 ISA (Instruction Set Architecture)

ISA is to facilitate
implementation of software
layers

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 Instruction Set Architecture (ISA)

This includes the

word size,
This is the It defines the CPU's
processor register
embedded functions and
types, memory
programming capabilities based on
addressing modes,
language of the what programming
data formats and
central processing it can perform or
the instruction set
unit. process.
that programmers
use.

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Fakulti Sains Komputer dan Technology Maklumat (FSKTM), UTHM
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 Microarchitecture

•Otherwise known as computer organization

•this type of architecture defines
•the data paths
•data processing
•storage elements
•as well as how they should be implemented
in the ISA

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 1.1 Computer System:
Organization and Architecture,
Structure and Function

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 Architecture & Organization
 Architecture is those attributes visible to the
programmer
◦ Instruction set, number of bits used for data
representation, I/O mechanisms, addressing
techniques.
◦ e.g. Is there a multiply instruction?
 Organization is how features are implemented
◦ Control signals, interfaces, memory technology.
◦ e.g. Is there a hardware multiply unit or is it done
by repeated addition?

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 Architecture & Organization
 All Intel x86 family share the same
basic architecture
 The IBM System/370 family share the
same basic architecture
 This gives code compatibility
◦ At least backward compatibility
 Organization differs between different
versions
One of the advantages of having the SAME architecture is
that the same software can be used in the newer computer
models with DIFFERENT computer organization.
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 Architecture & Organization
 Consequently,
◦ the different model in the family have
DIFFERENT PRICES and PERFORMANCE;
◦ a particular architecture may span many years
and encompass a number of different
computer models, its organization changing
with changing technology.

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 (cont.) Architecture & Organization
 IBM System/370 architecture
◦ It was first introduced in 1970 and included in a
number of models.
◦ The customer with modest requirements could
buy a cheaper, slower model and, if demand
increased, later upgrade to a faster model
without having to abandon software that had
already been developed.
◦ Thus, customer’s software investment was
protected.
◦ This architecture has survived till today as the
architecture of IBM’s mainframe product line.
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 Structure & Function
 Function is the operation of individual
components as part of the structure.
 Structure is the way in which components
relate to each other.

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Function

 All computer functions are:

◦ Data processing
◦ Data storage
◦ Data movement
◦ Control

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 Functional View

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 it self and the outside world.

Control: There must be a control of the above three

functions.

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 Operations
(a) Data movement

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 Operations
(b) Storage

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 Operations
(c) Processing
from/to storage

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 Operation
(d) processing
from storage to I/O

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 Structure – Top Level

Peripherals Computer

Central Main
Processing Memory
Unit

Computer
Systems
Interconnection

Input
Output
Communication
lines

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 Structure – Top Level
 Central processing unit (CPU): Controls the
operation of the computer and performs its data
processing functions; often simply referred to as
processor.
 Main memory: Stores data.
 I/O: Moves data between the computer and its external
environment.
 System interconnection: Some mechanism that
provides for communication among CPU, main memory,
and I/O. 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.
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 Structure - The CPU

CPU

Computer Arithmetic
Registers and
I/O Logic Unit
System CPU
Bus
Internal CPU
Memory Interconnection

Control
Unit

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 Structure - The CPU
 Control unit: Controls the operation of the CPU and hence
the computer.
 Arithmetic and logic unit (ALU): Performs
the computer’s data processing functions.
 Registers: Provides storage internal to the
CPU.
 CPU interconnection: Some mechanisms
that provides for communication among the
control unit, ALU and registers.

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 Structure – Control Unit

Control Unit

CPU
Sequencing
ALU Logic
Control
Internal
Unit
Bus
Control Unit
Registers Registers and
Decoders

Control
Memory

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Thank You

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