Introduction to computer system hardware:
The three related terms that require introduction are:
- computer architecture,
- computer organization
- and computer design
- Computer architecture refers to the structure and behavior of the computer.
- It includes the specifications of the components, for example, instruction format, instruction set and techniques for addressing memory, and how they connect to the other components.
- Given the components,computer organization focuses on the organizational structure.
- It deals with how the hardware components operate and the way they are connected to form the computer.
- Given the system specifications, computer design focuses on the hardware to be used and the interconnection of parts.
- Different kinds of computer, such as a PC or a mainframe computer may have different organization; however, basic organization of the computer remains the same.
A computer consists of three main components:
(2) Central Processing Unit (CPU), and
(3) Memory Unit.
- The computer user interacts with the computer via the I/O unit.
- The purpose of I/O unit is to provide data and instructions as input to the computer and to present relevant information as output from the computer.
- CPU controls the operations of the computer and processes the received input to generate the relevant output.
- The memory unit stores the instructions and the data during the input activity, to make instructions readily available to CPU during processing. It also stores the processed output.
- This chapter discusses the hardware components of the computer and the interaction between them
