Lecture 5 Computer Hardware and Architecture
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Transcript of Lecture 5 Computer Hardware and Architecture
Lecture 5 Computer Hardware and Architecture
• stability of basic computing model over time and the evolution of computer systems.
• the input-process-output model of computing.
• the basic components of a computer system.
• the major categories of computer and computer architecture.
Reading: Englander chaps. 1 and 6.
http://www.csm.uwe.ac.uk/~rstephen/courses/UQI108S1/
Architecture
• Rules concerning design, standards and protocols of: – Data
– Hardware
– Software
– Communications
• = architecture
Manchester University Mark 1, 1948
The fetch-execute cycle
PC architecture
Components
– Input devices - keyboard, webcam ...– Primary storage - RAM, ROM ...– Secondary storage - discs, CD, tape ...– CPU - ALU + control unit + registers– Output devices - Printers, monitors ...
4 milestones in business computer architecture history
– 1964 - IBM S/360 (mainframe)
» centralised business computing
– 1970 - DEC PDP-11 (minicomputer/midrange)
» decentralised and departmental systems
– 1974 - Cray 1 (supercomputer)
» scientific computing
– 1981 - IBM PC (microcomputer/PC)
» desktop computing
Mainframes
• Centralised
• Costly - £xxM
• Require custom built environment
• Specialised staff
• Support batch processing environment (schedulers)
• Support large databases
• Support 1000s of terminals
• e.g. IBM S/390
Minicomputers (or midrange)
• Decentralised or distributed (networked)
• Broad range of costs from £10K-£1M
• Departmental systems
• “Turnkey” systems
• Transaction processors (interrupt handlers)
• File servers for Local Area Networks
• eServers for Electronic Commerce
• e.g. IBM AS/400
Microcomputers (or PCs)
• Desktop computing
• Single user, single tasking
• Linked by Local Area Networks
• Inexpensive for the individual, £1,000.
• Expensive for the corporation! (Initial cost and support!)
• e.g. Compaq, Dell, Apple, IBM
Current Trends
• Mobility
• Ubiquity
• Embedding
Summary
Computer architectures = data+hw+sw+comms. The block diagram for the PC is a good basis for
understanding all standard computer architectures. Understand the evolution, rather than revolution, of
architectures from S/360 to Servers to PCs to …. Be able to describe the main categories of
architecture: Mainframe, midrange and PC.
Tutorial and Labs
• Review the operation of the Little Man in the Computer (Englander, chap. 6)
• Discuss the differences of the 3 main computer architectures:
a) Mainframeb) Midrangec) PC• Review the instruction or fetch-execute cyclehttp://www.csm.uwe.ac.uk/~rstephen/courses/UQI108S1/