Computer Architecture - Essay Example

? Computer Architecture Computer Architecture Computer as we know it today has had quite a history. Computer hardware and softwarehave evolved significantly to what we have in the present day. There have been notable milestones covered in computer architecture thanks to contributions of the likes of Jon Von Neumann. These paper endeavors to describe Von Neumann’s architecture and explain its importance. The paper shall expound on what a system bus is and explain its uses. It shall summarize the use of Boolean operators in computer-based calculations. This paper shall close with a focus on categories of the different types of computer memory and storage. Von Neumann Architecture Von Neumann’s ideas are significant as they inspired the making of EDVAC computer back in 1952. The construction of Manchester Mark I computer preceded that of EDVAC. To Von Neumann, an efficient electronic computer would contain four main elements. These are the arithmetic logic unit, control unit, memory and input-output devices. In his architecture, Von Neumann moved if an efficient general purpose computer was to be made it is imperative to give it exemplary ability to store data and the intermediate outcomes of computation. On top of this, it is important to enable the computer to keep the instructions and commands given in carrying out whatever computation (Cragon, 2000). To achieve this, Von Neumann proposed that it is necessary to encode computer instructions in numeric form and enable the computer to store these instructions and their data in the same memory. The control unit help execute coded instructions saved in computer memory. Arithmetic unit performs arbitrary subsets of certain arithmetic operations. Von Neumann argued that operation speed, cheapness and simplicity of a machine should determine the economy of the arithmetic unit. Arithmetic unit accesses information from registers so as to be able to manipulate values. Data and program code reside in a computer’s memory. Input and output are enables a computer to communicate with the outside environment. Today’s input and output functions have improved on Von Neumann’s ideas and some take place within the computer (Null & Lobur, 2012). System bus There are wires found in the main board. It is these wires that interlink chips and devices plugged in the mainboard. The bus is the collectivity of these wires. The width of the bus goes with the number of wires. Data bus almost always contains wires in multiples of eight. Besides data wires, there are additional wires that help the computer in signaling and control. Bus throughput capability is the product of the speed of the bus clock (hertz) and the width of the bus (bits). Devices connected to the mainboard communicate via the bus. Bus arbitration is the method used to adjudicate the chance for each device to get access to the bus. Devices of high priority including processor and RAM get preference in accessing the bus (Cragon, 2000). These high priority devices have few interrupts. The control channel signals interrupts. Interrupt signals help interrupt CPU’s tasks in order to attention to whatever event that may occur. The CPU handles interrupt requests with respect to priority of their device. High priority devices have low interrupt numbers. In the past, bus arbitration has advanced over the years so that the computer does not need to arbitrate the bus. Direct memory access allows devices to insert or get data into or out of computer memory. The system bus has several functions. All types of buses allow sharing of data amongst the peripherals connected to the computer (Null & Lobur, 2012). System bus helps in addressing. Addressing helps in sending data to and from particular memory sections. System bus supplies power to different computer peripherals. It is the work of the bus to provide system clock that helps in synchronizing computer peripherals with other elements in the system. The use of Boolean operators in computer-based calculations Boolean operators can be used in the formula as a subsidiary for “IF” condition. Boolean operators can be employed in the formula in order to help get the expected outcome of a given query. For instance, in a business scenario, one may need to prepare employee report of an organization. The individual will want to display the days every employee was in a given station. Given that the employee has several stations, the report will need to provide information about the days the employee spent in all the respective work stations (Reed, 2011). This is one case in which Boolean operators can be used in a formula to help achieve the expected result with ease and accuracy. Boolean operators can be conveniently used in “IF” condition. Boolean operator “or” is an alternation or a disjunction. “Or” results in true if any of its operands happen to be true. Disjunctive operands are the same as disjuncts. Logicians use the operator “and” to be a logical conjunction. When its operands happen to be true, the result it true and when both are false, it results in false. “Not” is an inverter operator. It always gives the outcome as the opposite of its input. It involves a single input and a single output. “Not” change ones to zeros (Cragon, 2000). Categories of computer memory and storage Computer memory has its basis almost always in semi-conductor technology. ROM, VRAM, and RAM are common examples of computer memory. Memory is very volatile, and power help it retain its state. EPROMs is a computer memory that can remain the same even after the power goes off. When compared to memory, storage is slower, cheaper and more abundant. Magnetic storage devices like the hard disk drive use platters that rotate and that have magnetic charges in storing information. It is the ability to store vast data safely and allowance of timely access that make hard disk drives be accepted (Null & Lobur, 2012). Tape drives and diskettes are magnetic storage devices. Computer storage is quickly changing and magnetic hard disk drives are replaced by solid state drives. Solid state drives do not move and consume less power. This gives them a cutting edge for use in laptops where they help in issues of battery life and general durability. If modified further, they will come to be used in desktop computers. Optical computer storage is effective when users share video, audio and large programs. They work by the use of a laser burning. They read data off plastic discs covered with materials that are sensitive to light. Optical computer storage devices are not as reliable as other storage devices, and they have limited capacity (Reed, 2011). Examples include DVD-ROM and CD-ROM drives. References Cragon, H. G. (2000). Computer architecture and implementation. Cambridge [u.a.: Cambridge University Press. Null, L., & Lobur, J. (2012). Essentials of computer organization and architecture. Sudbury, Mass: Jones & Bartlett Learning. Reed, D. (2011). A balanced introduction to computer science. Boston: Prentice Hall. Read More