Computer Architecture: Von Neumann Model

A computer architecture where data and instructions are stored in the same memory.

The steps involved in processing a single instruction.

The part of the instruction cycle where the instruction is retrieved from memory.

A register that holds the memory address of the data being accessed.

A register that holds the data being read from or written to memory.

Data transfer between CPU and primary memory.

A register that holds the memory address of the next instruction to be executed.

A base-16 number system used to represent memory addresses and register contents.

A series of steps a processor follows to execute an instruction, including calculating the address, fetching the instruction, decoding it, calculating operand addresses, fetching operands, performing the operation, and storing the result.

Determines the memory address of the next instruction to be executed.

Retrieving the instruction from memory.

Analyzing the instruction to understand the operation and operands needed.

Finding the memory addresses of the data (operands) used in an operation.

Retrieving the operands from memory or I/O devices.

Performing the actual calculation or operation specified by the instruction.

Writing the result of an operation back into memory or to an I/O device.

Mechanisms that allow other devices to temporarily pause the processor's normal execution for urgent tasks.

Interrupts are categorized into Program, Timer, I/O, and Hardware Failure.

System utilities that manage Input/Output (I/O) operations.

The process of stopping a program and handling an interrupt.

A system for handling multiple interrupts by assigning different levels of importance.

Processor checking for pending interrupts after each fetch and execute cycle.

A special routine that handles the interrupt.

Temporarily stopping other interrupts while processing an interrupt.

Devices that facilitate data exchange between the processor and external devices.

The fundamental parts of a computer: processor, memory, I/O devices.

The pathways and connections that link components in a computer system.

Events happen at fixed intervals defined by a clock signal. Like a metronome, everything happens in step with the beat.

Events are triggered by the completion of the previous event, not a clock signal. Events wait for each other to finish, like a relay race.

Data is transferred from memory to the CPU.

Data is transferred from the CPU to memory.

A high-speed bus connecting hardware devices within a computer. It's like a highway for information.

A component that stores data and instructions. It's organized into words, each with a unique address. Data can be read from or written to the memory based on the address.

The brain of the computer system. It executes instructions, processes data, controls system operations, and receives interrupt signals.

A communication pathway that connects the processor, memory, and I/O modules together. It carries data, addresses, and control signals.

Lines on the bus that carry the actual data being transferred between devices. These lines form the data bus.

Lines on the bus that specify the source and destination of the data. These lines form the address bus.

Lines on the bus that control and synchronize data transfer. They include signals like read/write, interrupt requests, and clock signals.

A bus where data and address lines are separate. This offers higher performance but uses more lines.

A bus where data and address lines share the same physical lines. This saves space but reduces performance.

The process that determines which device gets access to the bus at any given time.