The document discusses RAM and how it stores both program instructions and data values that can be accessed using addresses. It also describes the bus, which acts as a communication pathway between the CPU, keyboard, display and other devices. The control unit in the CPU functions as a simple state machine that fetches instructions from RAM, executes them, and then repeats the process.
The document discusses RAM and how it stores both program instructions and data values that can be accessed using addresses. It also describes the bus, which acts as a communication pathway between the CPU, keyboard, display and other devices. The control unit in the CPU functions as a simple state machine that fetches instructions from RAM, executes them, and then repeats the process.
The document discusses RAM and how it stores both program instructions and data values that can be accessed using addresses. It also describes the bus, which acts as a communication pathway between the CPU, keyboard, display and other devices. The control unit in the CPU functions as a simple state machine that fetches instructions from RAM, executes them, and then repeats the process.
The document discusses RAM and how it stores both program instructions and data values that can be accessed using addresses. It also describes the bus, which acts as a communication pathway between the CPU, keyboard, display and other devices. The control unit in the CPU functions as a simple state machine that fetches instructions from RAM, executes them, and then repeats the process.
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RAM (cont.
) • When you talk about the memory of a computer, most often you’re talking about its RAM. • If a program is stored in RAM, that means that a sequence of instructions are stored in consecutively addressed bytes in the RAM. • Data values (variables) are stored anywhere in RAM, not necessarily sequentially • Both instructions and data are accessed from RAM using addresses • RAM is one (crucial) part of the computer’s overall architecture Computer Architecture
CPU Keyboard Display
Bus
Hard CD-ROM RAM Disk The Bus • What is a bus? • It is a simplified way for many devices to communicate to each other. • Looks like a “highway” for information. • Actually, more like a “basket” that they all share.
CPU Keyboard Display
Bus The Bus
CPU Keyboard Display
Bus Buses
There are a number of possible
interconnection systems Single and multiple BUS structures are most common
6 What is a Bus?
A communication pathway connecting two or more devices
more devices share the same bus Usually broadcast Often grouped A number of channels in one bus e.g. 32 bit data bus is 32 separate single bit channels
7 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
8 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
9 The Control Unit • Control Unit State Machine has very simple structure: • 1) Fetch: Ask the RAM for the instruction whose address is stored in IP. • 2) Execute: There are only a small number of possible instructions. Depending on which it is, do what is necessary to execute it. • 3) Repeat: Add 1 to the address stored in IP, and go back to Step 1 ! The Control Unit • It all comes down to the Control Unit. • This is just a State Machine. Bus Interconnection Scheme
Every device is attached to the bus:
its use needs to be coordinated
12 Inside the CPU • The CPU is the brain of the computer. • It is the part that actually executes the instructions.
• Let’s take a look inside.
Inside the CPU (cont.) Memory Registers Temporary Memory. Computer “Loads” data Register 0 from RAM to registers, Register 1 performs operations on data in registers, and Register 2 “stores” results from registers back to RAM Register 3
Remember our initial example: “read value of A from memory; read
value of B from memory; add values of A and B; put result in memory in variable C.” The reads are done to registers, the addition is done in registers, and the result is written to memory from a register. Inside the CPU (cont.) Memory Registers Register 0 Arithmetic Register 1 / Logic Unit Register 2 Register 3 For doing basic Arithmetic / Logic Operations on Values stored in the Registers Inside the CPU (cont.) Memory Registers Register 0 Arithmetic Register 1 / Logic Unit Register 2 Register 3 To hold the current instruction Instruction Register A Simple Program
Want to add values of variables a and b (assumed to be in memory),
and put the result in variable c in memory, I.e. c a+b Instructions in program Load a into register r1 Load b into register r3 r2 r1 + r3 Store r2 in c Programs and Instructions • Programs are made up of instructions • CPU executes one instruction every clock cycle • Modern CPUS do more, but we ignore that • Specifying a program and its instructions: • Lowest level: Machine language • Intermediate level: Assembly language • Typically today: High-level programming language
