Computer architecture is the internal design and operational structure of a computer system. It includes the science and art of selecting and interconnecting hardware components to create computers that meet functional, performance, and cost goals. Computer architecture consists of instruction set architecture, machine organization, and abstraction layers that translate high-level requests into low-level commands. Forces acting on computer architecture include technology trends and the prevalence of computers in everyday devices. Computer architecture is an interdisciplinary field that relates to areas like electrical engineering, computer science, and software.

1. COMPUTER
ARCHITECTURE
1

2. WHAT IS COMPUTER
ARCHITECTURE
The internal design operational structure of
a computer system
The science and art of selecting and interconnecting
hardware components to create computers that meet
functional, performance and cost goals.
A set of disciplines that describes a computer system by
specifying its parts and their relations.
2

3. WHAT IS COMPUTER
ARCHITECTURE
• The conceptual design and fundamental operational
structure of a computer system.
Computer Architecture =
Instruction Set Architecture +
Machine Organization + …..
3

4. TECHNICAL DEFINITION
• A series of abstraction layers that consists of
:hardware, firmware, assembler, kernel, operating
system and application.
• abstraction layer: is a software that translates a
high-level request into the low-level commands
required to perform the operation
4

5. FORCES ACTING ON CA
5

6. SUB-CATEGORIES OF CA
• Instruction set architecture
• Microarchitecture
• System Design
6

7. SUB-COMPONENTS OF CA
•
•
•
•
CPU
Main Memory
I/O
Bus Interconnections
7

8. Why is architecture exciting?
• Fast-paced: Technology trends
• Important: Prevalence of computers:
They’re everywhere!
Desktops, laptops, cars, airplanes, ???
8

9. Why is architecture challenging?
• Difficult to evaluate solutions
• Inter-related with other fields
9

10. Ways to Evaluate New Architectures
• Tradeoff between three desired features
10

11. Inter-related with other fields
• Architecture is considered both computer engineering and
computer science
• Architects interact with other areas
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Circuit design (Electrical Engineering)
Transmission lines (EE)
Power (EE, Mechanical Engineering)
Compilers (Comp Sci)
Operating systems (CS)
Networking (EE, CS)
Databases (CS)
Queuing theory (CS, EE, Industrial Engineering)
11

12. How Architecture Relates to Other
Areas
Application Software
Operating Systems, Compilers, Networking Software
Computer Architecture
Circuits, Wires, Network Hardware
12

13. How Architecture Relates to
Hardware (EE)
Application Software
Operating Systems, Compilers, Networking Software
Computer Architecture
Circuits, Wires, Network Hardware
• Architecture should enable efficient hardware
design
– Avoid huge hardware structures
– Avoid cross-chip wires
13

14. How Architecture Relates to System
Software
Application Software
Operating Systems, Compilers, Networking Software
Computer Architecture
Circuits, Wires, Network Hardware
• Architecture should support system software
– Provide good target for compiler (unlike IA-64?)
– Support important OS features (such as
synchronization)
14

15. How Architecture Relates to User
Software
Application Software
Operating Systems, Compilers, Networking Software
Computer Architecture
Circuits, Wires, Network Hardware
• Architecture should efficiently run important
apps
• Intel added MMX hardware to support media apps
• Sun & IBM design multiprocessors for commercial
apps
15

16. WHY WE STUDY COMPUTER
ARCHITECTURE
•
•
•
•
•
Understand what computer really is
What is inside a computer
Why a computer is designed
Optimize programs written in high level languages
Take advantage of the speed offered by the latest
advances in supercomputers
16

17. WHY WE STUDY COMPUTER
ARCHITECTURE
• The understanding of the components that make up
the computer and the way they are interconnected
• Be aware of the advancements in computer
architecture
• You need to understand infrastructure, design and
possibly make your programs multi-platform. Then
you leave little reason why a client cannot use your
program.
17

18. THANK YOU
•??????
18