2.1: Architecture Overview

Last updated
Save as PDF

Page ID: 19862

\( \newcommand{\vecs}[1]{\overset { \scriptstyle \rightharpoonup} {\mathbf{#1}} } \) \( \newcommand{\vecd}[1]{\overset{-\!-\!\rightharpoonup}{\vphantom{a}\smash {#1}}} \)\(\newcommand{\id}{\mathrm{id}}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\) \( \newcommand{\kernel}{\mathrm{null}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\range}{\mathrm{range}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\RealPart}{\mathrm{Re}}\) \( \newcommand{\ImaginaryPart}{\mathrm{Im}}\) \( \newcommand{\Argument}{\mathrm{Arg}}\) \( \newcommand{\norm}[1]{\| #1 \|}\) \( \newcommand{\inner}[2]{\langle #1, #2 \rangle}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\) \(\newcommand{\id}{\mathrm{id}}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\) \( \newcommand{\kernel}{\mathrm{null}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\range}{\mathrm{range}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\RealPart}{\mathrm{Re}}\) \( \newcommand{\ImaginaryPart}{\mathrm{Im}}\) \( \newcommand{\Argument}{\mathrm{Arg}}\) \( \newcommand{\norm}[1]{\| #1 \|}\) \( \newcommand{\inner}[2]{\langle #1, #2 \rangle}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\)\(\newcommand{\AA}{\unicode[.8,0]{x212B}}\)

The basic components of a computer include a Central Processing Unit (CPU), Primary Storage or Random Access Memory (RAM), Secondary Storage, Input/Output devices (e.g., screen, keyboard, mouse), and an interconnection referred to as the Bus.

A very basic diagram of the computer architecture is as follows:

截屏2021-07-18 下午3.14.52.png
Illustration 1: Computer Architecture

The architecture is typically referred to as the Von Neumann Architecture4, or the Princeton architecture, and was described in 1945 by the mathematician and physicist John von Neumann.

Programs and data are typically stored on secondary storage (e.g., disk drive or solid state drive). When a program is executed, it must be copied from secondary storage into the primary storage or main memory (RAM). The CPU executes the program from primary storage or RAM.

Primary storage or main memory is also referred to as volatile memory since when power is removed, the information is not retained and thus lost. Secondary storage is referred to as non-volatile memory since the information is retained when powered off.

For example, consider storing a term paper on secondary storage (i.e., disk). When the user starts to write or edit the term paper, it is copied from the secondary storage medium into primary storage (i.e., RAM or main memory). When done, the updated version is typically stored back to the secondary storage (i.e., disk). If you have ever lost power while editing a document (assuming no battery or uninterruptible power supply), losing the unsaved work will certainly clarify the difference between volatile and non-volatile memory.