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This section discusses the changing face of computing over time from mainframes to desktops to embedded systems. It describes the evolution of different types of computers including desktops, servers, and embedded systems and how computing is moving to everyday devices.

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35 views5 pages

CA Classes-26-30

This section discusses the changing face of computing over time from mainframes to desktops to embedded systems. It describes the evolution of different types of computers including desktops, servers, and embedded systems and how computing is moving to everyday devices.

Uploaded by

SrinivasaRao
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Computer Architecture Unit 1

1.11 Terminal Questions


1. Explain the concept of Computational Model. Describe its various types.
2. What are the different stages of evolution of Computer Architecture?
Explain in detail.
3. What is the difference between process and thread?
4. Explain the concepts of concurrent and parallel execution.
5. State Flynn’s classification of Parallel Processing.
6. Explain the types of parallelism.
7. What are the various levels of parallelism?

1.12 Answers
Self Assessment Questions
1. Problem description
2. Procedural style
3. Data-driven
4. Pascaline
5. IAS machine
6. False
7. True
8. True
9. False
10. N-client 1-server
11. True
12. Single Instruction Multiple Data
13. Multiple Instruction Single Data
14. Multiple Instruction Multiple Data
15. True
16. False
17. Utilised parallelism
18. False
19. True

Terminal Questions
1. A common foundation or paradigm that links the computer architecture
and language classes is called a Computational Model. Refer Section
1.2.

Manipal University Jaipur B1648 Page No. 26


Computer Architecture Unit 1

2. History of computers begins with the invention of the abacus in 3000


BC, followed by the invention of mechanical calculators in 1617. The
years beyond 1642 till 1980 are marked by inventions of zeroth, first,
second and third generation computers. Refer Section 1.3.
3. A thread is the entity within a process that can be scheduled for
execution. Refer Section 1.4.
4. Concurrent execution is the temporal behaviour of the N-client 1-server
model where one client is served at any given moment. Parallel
execution is associated with N-client N-server model. Refer Section 1.5.
5. Flynn classifies the computer system into four categories. Refer Section
1.6.
6. There are three types of parallelism. Refer section 1.7.
7. The notion of parallelism is used in two different contexts. Either it
designates available parallelism in programs or it refers to parallelism
occurring during execution, called utilised parallelism. Refer Section 1.8.

References:
 Hwang, K. (1993) Advanced Computer Architecture. McGraw-Hill, 1993.
 D. A. Godse & A. P. Godse (2010). Computer Organization. Technical
Publications. pp. 3–9.
 John L. Hennessy, David A. Patterson, David Goldberg (2002)
"Computer Architecture: A Quantitative Approach", Morgan Kaufmann;
3rd edition.
 Dezsö Sima, Terry J. Fountain, Péter Kacsuk (1997) Advanced
computer architectures - a design space approach. Addison-Wesley-
Longman: I-XXIII, 1-766

E-references:
 www.cs.clemson.edu/~mark/hist.html
 www.people.bu.edu/bkia/
 www.ac.upc.edu/
 www.inf.ed.ac.uk/teaching/courses/car/

Manipal University Jaipur B1648 Page No. 27


Computer Architecture Unit 2

Unit 2 Fundamentals of Computer Design

Structure:
2.1 Introduction
Objectives
2.2 Changing Face of Computing
Desktop computing
Servers
Embedded computers
2.3 Computer Designer
2.4 Technology Trends
2.5 Quantitative Principles in Computer Design
Advantages of parallelism
Principle of locality
Focus on the common case
2.6 Power Consumption
2.7 Summary
2.8 Glossary
2.9 Terminal Questions
2.10 Answers

2.1 Introduction
In the previous unit, you studied about the computational model and the
evolution of computer architecture. Also, you studied the concept of process
thread. We also covered two types of execution – concurrent and parallel
and also the types and level of parallelism. In this unit, we will throw light on
the changing face of computing, the task of computer designer and its
quantitative principles. We will also examine the technology trends and
understand the concept of power consumption and efficiency of the matrix.
You can define computer design as an activity that converts the architecture
design of the computer into a programming structure implementation of a
particular organisation. Thus, computer design is also referred to as
computer implementation. Computer designer is responsible for the
hardware architecture of the computer.

Manipal University Jaipur B1648 Page No. 28


Computer Architecture Unit 2

Objectives:
After studying this unit, you should be able to:
 identify the changing face of computing
 explain the tasks of the computer designer
 describe the technology trends
 discuss the quantitative principles of the computer design
 describe power consumption and efficiency of the matrix

2.2 Changing Face of Computing


Computer technology has come up with drastic changes in the past 60
years when the first general-purpose computer was invented. It was in late
70s when the microprocessor made its entrance. The microprocessor had
the ability to integrate the functions of a computer’s Central Processing Unit
(CPU) on a single-integrated circuit. This improved the growth of the
computers by about 35% per year in terms of computer performance. The
cost advantage in mass-production of computer microprocessors combined
with this 35% growth rate would lead to an increase in the computer
business based on the microprocessor.
In 1960s, the main-frame computers used to be the most prevalent ones.
These computers required huge investments in terms of monitoring support
operators. Main-frame computers used to support distinctive applications
like business data support and large-scale scientific computing. Then in
1970s came the minicomputers which was a smaller-sized computers and
supported applications in scientific laboratories. These minicomputers soon
expanded out to the popularity of multi-sharing, i.e., multiple users sharing
the computers.
In the late 1970s, we observed the emerging of supercomputers that were
high-performance computers for scientific computing. This class of
computers lead the way to innovation that later reduced the investments
required for a computer.
In 1980s came the desktop computers – based on microprocessors – in the
form of personal computers (also known as PCs) and workstations. The
personal computers facilitated the rise of servers – computers that were
highly reliable, supported long-term data storage and access, and improved
computing power.

Manipal University Jaipur B1648 Page No. 29


Computer Architecture Unit 2

Individually-owned computers, in 1990s, gave rise to more personalised


services in order to enhance the communication with other computers all
over the world. This resulted in the origination of Internet and World Wide
Web (www) – the personally assisted devices (or the PDAs). By 2000s, the
face of computing started changing with the coming of cell phones and their
extraordinary popularity. This raised the need for embedded computers. An
embedded computer system is designed for particular control functions
within a larger system such as a cell phone. It is embedded as part of a
complete device. Embedded computers are computers installed into other
devices. As a matter of fact, 98% of computing devices are embedded in all
kinds of electronic equipments. Computers are moving away from the
desktops and laptops and are finding use in everyday devices like mobile
phones, credit cards, planes and cars and even in homes in everyday
appliances such as stoves, refrigerators, microwaves, dishwashers, and
driers. The trends have been shown in figure 2.1.

Figure 2.1: Timeline of Computing

These changes have dramatically changed the face of computing and the
computing applications. This has led to three different computer markets
each adapted with different requirements, specifications and applications.
These are explained as follows:

Manipal University Jaipur B1648 Page No. 30

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