CS 25000 Chapter Notes - Chapter 4: Executable, Program Counter, Von Neumann Architecture

• School: Purdue University
• Department: Computer Sciences
• Course: CS 25000
• Professor: Adams George

Document Summary

The two basic architectural approaches: two basic approaches emerged when architects were experimenting with new designs on how to organize the hardware, harvard architecture, von neumann architecture. Definition of a processor: the term processor is used as a synonym for the central processing unit (cpu) which refers to a digital device that can perform a computation involving multiple steps. Individual processors are the building blocks that an architect uses to construct a computer system. The range of processors: the four categories listed in order of flexibility can explain whether a processor can be adapted to new computations, fixed logic processor, selectable logic processor, parameterized logic processor, programmable logic processor. All functionality needed to perform the operation is built in when the processor is crated and cannot be altered without altering underlying hardware. Slightly more flexibility; contains facilities needed to perform more than one function; exact function is specified when the processor is invoked.