Computer Architecture: Functions, Memory, Processor and Data Representation

Running head: COMPUTER ARCHITECTURE
Computer Architecture
Name of Student-
Name of University-
Author’s Note-

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Table of Contents
LO1- Functions Included in Computer System Components..........................................................1
1. Logical component of computer system and its functions......................................................1
Hardware component of computer system and its functions.......................................................2
Interaction between logical system and physical components....................................................4
2. Different types of memory, their roles and how these memories attached to processor.........4
3. Illustrate how the processor connected to all devices ( I/O) using system buses and the
memory........................................................................................................................................5
LO2- Discuss how data and programs can be represented within computer systems.....................7
Conversion of decimal to binary and binary to decimal............................................................14
Conversion of decimal to octal and octal to decimal.................................................................16
Conversion of decimal to hex and hex to decimal.....................................................................16
LO4 Investigate advanced computer architectures and performance............................................17
Function of DirectX API...........................................................................................................17
Advantages and Disadvantages of DirectX API........................................................................18
DirectX API controlling the graphics function..........................................................................19
Improvement of computer performance with MMID and Pipeline architectures.....................20
References......................................................................................................................................22

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LO1- Functions Included in Computer System Components
1. Logical component of computer system and its functions
The logical component that are included in the computer system are all the program set
that are used in the computer system and those logical components plays and interface linked
between the hardware of the computer system and the user who is using the computer system is
mainly termed as the software component or the logical components of the computer system. In a
computer system, there are six types logical component that are included in a computer system.
All the logical components are explained below:
i) System software: The system software in computer system is set of programs that are
included in the computer system to control all the internal operations. The internal operations
included in the computer system includes reading of data from the input devices providing
results to the output devices as well as ensuring the proper functioning of all components in the
computer system.
ii) Application software: The programs that are designed by all users for performing
some specific function that includes accounting software, software for payroll and many similar
software.
iii) Operating System: The operating system in logical components includes set of tools
as well as programs that can manage the working of the computer by using some hardware
components used in the computer system. This particular interface is mainly used between the
user and the computer system.

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iv) Utility Software: There are certain program purposes that are actually designed for
performing some specialized task that provides functions of copying, cutting as well as pasting
the files in the computer system or include work such as formatting disk.
v) Language processors: There are special software that helps to accept all data as well
as interpret the data in the machine level language that is understandable to computer system. It
helps to ensure the correctness of the language syntax as well as correcting the errors.
vi) Connectivity of software: Connectivity of the software includes set of programs as
well as instructions that explains in connecting with the computer system with computer main
system. This enables to share the resources as well as information with server of the computer
system and helps in connected with other people.
Hardware component of computer system and its functions
The physical components of the computer system is known as the hardware components
of the computer system. The hardware components includes monitor, processor, keyboard or
mouse
Input Unit: This particular unit consists of all the input devices that are involved in the
computer system. All the devices that are capable of taking input as well as converting the inputs
in binary or machine level language that is understandable by the computer system. The input
units in the computer system includes keyboard, scanner, keyboard, mouse and many more.
Central processing Unit: When the system takes the input in the computer system that is
entered by the input device, the processor in the system needs to process the input. The CPU is
the main part involved in computer system (Comer 2015). The CPU system takes the control of
the computer system and controls all the processes. The CPU gathers all the information or

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instructions from the memory and interprets the instructions about what can be done. The data in
the CPU is fetched from the input device or the memory device. The CPU has three different
components- Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU), Memory Registers, and Control Unit (CU).
ALU: This unit in the CPU performs the mathematical calculations and helps to take the
logical decisions in the computer system as well as takes the logical decisions. The arithmetic
calculations mainly includes the addition, subtraction, division, and multiplication. The logical
decisions mainly helps to compare two different data items to find out the smallest and biggest
one.
Control Unit: This unit coordinates as well as controls all the flow of data in the CPU and
out from the CPU. This unit also controls the ALU, the devices involved in input/output, and the
memory registers. This unit also carries out instructions that are stored in program. It helps to
decode the fetched instructions, send signals as well as helps to interpret the devices until the
operation is executed properly in other units.
Memory Registers: The register is considered as memory unit used temporarily in the
system. The memory registers stores data that are used by processor directly. The registers in the
memory registers are of different sizes and all the registers that are inside CPU system plays
specific roles to store the data, store the instruction, store the address location of the memory and
many more. Accumulators are used in main registers in ALU as well as contains operands that
are to be performed in ALU.
Output Unit: Output Unit mainly consists of the output devices attached with computer
system. This helps to concert binary data that are coming from the CPU to the humans that are
understandable by the humans.

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Interaction between logical system and physical components
The hardware components as well as the software components that are included in the
computer system work together so that it can be processes in the input. The CPU of the system
helps to process the input with the output of the computer system through the fetch execute
cycle. In this cycle, there are basic computer functions that performs basic operations in the
computers system. Interaction is mainly done by fetching the data, decoding the data as well as
executing the instruction data that are processed by the CPU. The interaction of the system is
mainly controlled by the operating system of the computer and there are driver software installed
in the operating system that helps in communicating with the hardware as well as the software so
that the application software can be executed.
2. Different types of memory, their roles and how these memories attached to
processor.
The memory is considered to be brain of the computer system that helps to store all data
as well information in the computer system. The memories helps to store as well as retrieve the
data in the computer system. There are primary memory as well as secondary memory in
computer system.
The primary memory are the storage devices that holds the content until the power is
applied the memory (Silberschatz, Gagne and Galvin 2018). When the power in the computer
system gets switched off, the memories does not hold the content any more. Example included in
primary memory is RAM (Random Access Memory). The RAM chip is a storage location that
stores all the information that are to be stored as well as accesses from all random location with
the memory module. Memory cells that are accessed for transferring the information from