BADJI MOKHTAR UNIVERSITY

SCIENCE AND TECHNIQUES DEPARTMENT

1st year ST
Academic year:2023/2024

Computer
Architecture
by

Dr. Samira LAGRINI

[email protected]
Course link : https://elearning-facsci.univ-annaba.dz/course/view.php?id=469
1. Introduction

A computer is an electronic device that has the ability to process,

store, and retrieve information. It is composed of two main parts:
1. The Hardware : is any part of the computer that has a physical
structure, such as the keyboard, mouse, or all of the computer's
internal parts.
2. The Software: is any set of instructions that tells the hardware
what to do and how to do it.

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Hardware Software
What is Computer Architecture?

Computer architecture refers to the structure of a computer

system(the arrangement of the components) that determines
how its components interact with each other to process
information.
2.Components of Computer Architecture

The main components of a computer architecture are:

 The memory (storage unit)
 The CPU
 The peripherals
All these elements are linked by buses

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2. Components of Computer Architecture

CPU

Bus
Cache memory

Main memory
2.1 The memory / Storage unit

• The memory contains numerous computer parts that are

employed to store data. It is typically separated into:
 Main memory or primary storage unit
 Secondary (External) memory .
 a. The main memory (primary storage unit)

 The main memory is utilized for storing information and

instructions during program execution.
 There are two kinds of main memory: Random access
memory (RAM) and read-only memory (ROM).

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 a. The main memory

RAM (Random Access Mémory): provides the necessary

information straight to the CPU. There are several
technologies (SRAM, DRAM, SDRAM…..)

 ROM : (Read Only Mémory) is a memory type that

contains pre-installed instructions. Its content is
persistent and cannot be modified. ROM is utilized to
boot the machine upon initial startup. It instructs it on
how to set up the computer architecture, and finally
locate the hard drive so that the operating system can be
launched..

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b. External memory

• External or secondary memory is inaccessible directly to the

CPU. Before the CPU uses secondary storage data, it must
be transferred to the main memory
• External memory retains vast amounts of data.
• Examples include hard disk drives (HDDs), solid-state drives
(SSDs), compact disks (CDs), etc.
b. External memory

External hard drive

Flash disk
DVD CD
Memory capacity
 The memory is formed of a large number of cells (memory
words) containing the same number of bits (binary digit);
 Each memory words has a number which corresponds to its
address.
 The Bit (binary digit) is the smallest unit of information
transmitted by a computer.
 Memory capacity

The data stored in a memory is accessible by word.

Memory capacity is defined as the number of words
constituting it, generally expressed in Gégabyte.
 Memory capacity
In the figure, the memory capacity is 8 words of 2 bytes each. Thus, it has a capacity of 16 bytes.
 Memory capacity
In computing, Memory capacity is typically measured in units such as:

1 Byte (B) = 8 bits

1 Kilobyte (KB) = 210 Byte
1 Megabyte (MB) = 220 Byte
1 Gegabyte (GB) = 230 Byte
1 Terabyte (TB) = 240 Byte
1 Petabyte (PB)= 250 Byte
Memory capacity measurement units
Transfer unit
 The transfer unit between the processor and the memory is
the memory word.
 The size of a memory word depends on the type of processor:
 1 byte (8 bits) in 8-bit processors;
 2 bytes in 16-bit processors
 4 bytes in 32-bit processors
 8 bytes in 64-bit processors
 2.2 Central processing unit
(CPU)
• The CPU is the brain of the computer. It
includes arithmetic logic unit (ALU), control
circuits and registers
• The CPU interacts with all the other parts of the
computer architecture to process the data and
deliver the necessary output.

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2.2 Central processing unit (CPU)

CPU
Registers
 a.Arithmetic logic unit (ALU)

 The Arithmetic logic unit (ALU)

performs any arithmetic (additions,
subtractions, multiplication, division)
and logical (<, >, AND, OR, etc.)
computations.
 Registers are used by the ALU to retain
the data being processed.
b. The control unit (CU)

• The control unit directs and

coordinates most of the operation in
the computer
• It instructs the computer to execute
stored program instructions via
communication with the ALU and
registers.
• The control unit aims to arrange data
and instruction processing.
 c. Registers
Registers are high-speed temporary memory devices.
They are accessed and modified directly by the CPU throughout
execution rather than being referred to by their address
 Registers contain information, commands, addresses, and
intermediate processing results.
 There are different types of registers among which:
o Program counter
o Instruction register
o Address register
o Accumulator

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 2.3 Peripherals

Peripherals

Output
Input
peripherals
peripherals

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 2.3.1. Input peripherals
• The input peripherals provides external data sources to
the computer system.
• Inpute peripherals includes :
- Keyboard
– Microphone
– Mouse
– Optical drive (CD or DVD drive)
- Scanner

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 2.3.2 Output peripherals
The output peripherals deliver the computer process’s results to
the user.
 Output peripherals encompass the display, printing unit,
speakers, headphones, etc.

the Display

Printing unit

Headphones
Speakers
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 2.4 The buses

• A bus is a collection of signal lines with a linked purpose.

• Buses enable the transfer of information from one system to another.
• The size of a bus is the count of information-transferring signal lines. A bus
with a size of 8 bits, for instance, transports 8 data bits .
• a good example of buses is the universal serial bus (USB)

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 2.4.1 Buses types

There are different types of buses:

 The address bus: transports the addresses of the memory cells,
where the processor wishes to read or write data.
The data bus: transmits data between the different components of
the computer.
 The control bus (command bus): transports orders and
synchronization signals from the control unit to all hardware
components, and also the responses of these components to the
control unit.
 Expansion bus: used to connect computer peripherals such as
printer, modem and scanner with the processor.

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 Bus characteristics

 The width of the bus: designates the number of lines in the bus, and
thus defines the amount of information that the bus can transport.
For example a 3-lines bus makes it possible to convey 23 = 8 different
pieces of information

The address bus is a unidirectional bus (only the processor sends

addresses). If it is composed of N lines; that’s mean, that we use N-
bit addresses. So the memory can have a maximum of 2N memory
words (locations).
 3. The Software
This part is essential to the functioning of a computer as the hardware itself, it contains
programs, applications and data,
Software can be divided into three main
1. Operating systems or OS (Operating System) such as Windows, Linux, Mac OS, etc.
2– Application programs: These are executable programs designed for an operating system,
which allow you to perform functions, such as Microsoft Office, PhotoShop, Auto CAD, Games,
etc.
3– Programming Languages: software used to develop applications and software, such as
C/C++, Java, Pascal, Matlab, etc.

The software is saved on the hard drive and runs in random access memory (RAM).

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 The Software

• An operating system is a set of software that allows a computer to function, by

allocating the necessary resources for the execution of each program.
• It ensures the connection between users, applications and computer's hardware
resources;
• The operating system market is dominated by Windows (win7, win8 win10)
(Microsoft) and Mac OS (Apple), but the majority of companies operate with
Linux distributions.

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