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ECEG-3202 Computer Architecture and Organization: Top Level View of Computer Function and Interconnection

This document provides an overview of the key components and functioning of a basic computer system. It discusses how a program directs the computer through a sequence of steps using control signals. The main components that work together are the central processing unit (CPU), main memory, and input/output. The CPU fetches instructions from memory and executes them in a cycle. Interrupts can cause the CPU to suspend its current task and handle other processes. Buses are used to connect the different components and transfer data and control signals.

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40 views

ECEG-3202 Computer Architecture and Organization: Top Level View of Computer Function and Interconnection

This document provides an overview of the key components and functioning of a basic computer system. It discusses how a program directs the computer through a sequence of steps using control signals. The main components that work together are the central processing unit (CPU), main memory, and input/output. The CPU fetches instructions from memory and executes them in a cycle. Interrupts can cause the CPU to suspend its current task and handle other processes. Buses are used to connect the different components and transfer data and control signals.

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διρορα δρ
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© © All Rights Reserved
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ECEG-3202 Computer Architecture

and Organization

Chapter 3
Top Level View of Computer
Function and Interconnection
Program Concept
• Hardwired systems are inflexible
• General purpose hardware can do
different tasks, given correct control
signals
• Instead of re-wiring, supply a new set of
control signals
What is a program?
• A sequence of steps
• For each step, an arithmetic or logical
operation is done
• For each operation, a different set of
control signals is needed
Function of Control Unit
• For each operation a unique code is
provided
—e.g. ADD, MOVE
• A hardware segment accepts the code and
issues the control signals
Components
• The Control Unit and the Arithmetic and
Logic Unit constitute the Central
Processing Unit
• Data and instructions need to get into the
system and results out
—Input/output
• Temporary storage of code and results is
needed
—Main memory
Computer Components:
Top Level View
Instruction Cycle
• Two steps:
—Fetch
—Execute
Fetch Cycle
• Program Counter (PC) holds address of
next instruction to fetch
• Processor fetches instruction from
memory location pointed to by PC
• Increment PC
—Unless told otherwise
• Instruction loaded into Instruction
Register (IR)
• Processor interprets instruction and
performs required actions
Execute Cycle
• Processor-memory
—data transfer between CPU and main memory
• Processor I/O
—Data transfer between CPU and I/O module
• Data processing
—Some arithmetic or logical operation on data
• Control
—Alteration of sequence of operations
—e.g. jump
• Combination of above
Example of Program Execution
Instruction Cycle State Diagram
Interrupts
• Mechanism by which other modules (e.g.
I/O) may interrupt normal sequence of
processing
• Program
—e.g. overflow, division by zero
• Timer
—Generated by internal processor timer
—Used in pre-emptive multi-tasking
• I/O
—from I/O controller
• Hardware failure
—e.g. memory parity error
Interrupt Cycle
• Added to instruction cycle
• Processor checks for interrupt
—Indicated by an interrupt signal
• If no interrupt, fetch next instruction
• If interrupt pending:
—Suspend execution of current program
—Save context
—Set PC to start address of interrupt handler
routine
—Process interrupt
—Restore context and continue interrupted
program
Transfer of Control via Interrupts
Instruction Cycle with Interrupts
Instruction Cycle (with Interrupts) -
State Diagram
Connecting
• All the units must be connected
• Different type of connection for different
type of unit
—Memory
—Input/Output
—CPU
Memory Connection
• Receives and sends data
• Receives addresses (of locations)
• Receives control signals
—Read
—Write
Input/Output Connection(1)
• Similar to memory from Proccesser’s
viewpoint
• Output
—Receive data from computer
—Send data to peripheral
• Input
—Receive data from peripheral
—Send data to computer
Input/Output Connection(2)
• Receive control signals from computer
• Send control signals to peripherals
—e.g. spin disk
• Receive addresses from computer
—e.g. port number to identify peripheral
• Send interrupt signals
CPU Connection
• Reads instruction and data
• Writes out data (after processing)
• Sends control signals to other units
• Receives (& acts on) interrupts
Computer Modules
Buses
• There are a number of possible
interconnection systems
• e.g. Unibus (DEC-PDP)
• e.g. Control/Address/Data bus
What is a Bus?
• A shared communication pathway
connecting two or more devices
• Usually broadcast
• Often grouped
—A number of channels in one bus
—e.g. 32 bit data bus is 32 separate single bit
channels
• Power lines may not be shown
Data Bus
• Carries data
—Remember that there is no difference between
“data” and “instruction” at this level
• Width is a key determinant of
performance
—8, 16, 32, 64 bit
Address bus
• Identify the source or destination of data
• e.g. CPU needs to read an instruction
(data) from a given location in memory
• Bus width determines maximum memory
capacity of system
—e.g. 8080 has 16 bit address bus giving 64k
address space
Control Bus
• Control and timing information
—Memory read/write signal
—I/O read/write signal
—Bus request/grant
—Interrupt request
—Clock signals
Bus Interconnection Scheme
Physical Realization of Bus Architecture
Single Bus Problems
• Lots of devices on one bus leads to:
—Propagation delays
– Long data paths mean that co-ordination of bus use
can adversely affect performance
– If aggregate data transfer approaches bus capacity
• Most systems use multiple buses to
overcome these problems
Traditional (ISA)
(with cache)
High Performance Bus
Bus Types
• Dedicated
—Separate data & address lines
• Multiplexed
—Shared lines
—Address valid or data valid control line
—Advantage - fewer lines
—Disadvantages
– More complex control
– Reduction performance
Bus Arbitration
• More than one module controlling the bus
• e.g. CPU and DMA controller
• Only one module may control bus at one
time
• Arbitration may be centralised or
distributed
Centralised or Distributed Arbitration
• Centralised
—Single hardware device controlling bus access
– Bus Controller
– Arbiter
—May be part of CPU or separate
• Distributed
—Each module may claim the bus
—Control logic on all modules
PCI Bus
• Peripheral Component Interconnection
• Reading Assignment

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