Computer System Architecture and Components

Computer system Architecture

Contents
Introduction....................................................................................................................................3
LO1Understand how data can be represented within computer systems.....................................4
P1 explain using examples how numeric and alphanumeric data can be coded within a
computer system........................................................................................................................4
P3 convert numeric data between different number systems including floating point...............8
P4. Carry out Boolean logic operations...................................................................................12
LO2Understand the functions of computer system components.................................................13
P5 illustrate the key computer system components and how they interact.............................13
P6 explain the different types of memory that can be attached to a processor.......................18
P7 explain how polling and interrupts are used to allow communication between processor
and peripherals........................................................................................................................21
LO3 Understand the principles of processor operations.............................................................22
P8 compare Reduced Instruction Set Computer (RISC) chips and Complex Instruction Set
Computer (CISC) chips............................................................................................................22
P9 illustrate the use of the different processor registers in the fetch-execute cycle................25
Conclusion...................................................................................................................................28
References..................................................................................................................................30
List of figures:
Figure 1 Boolean logic operations...............................................................................................12
Figure 2 Block diagram of Computer system component............................................................14
Figure 3 input unit........................................................................................................................15
Figure 4 output unit......................................................................................................................16
Figure 5 memory unit...................................................................................................................17
Figure 6 CPU...............................................................................................................................18
Figure 7 different types of memory..............................................................................................19

Figure 8 RISC and CISC architecture.........................................................................................23
Figure 9 fetch-execute cycle........................................................................................................26
Introduction
In this report, I will discuss how alphanumeric and numerical data will be encoded in a
computer system. I will discuss numeric data, alphanumeric data and how the computer
understands the given instruction. I will discuss character encoding-ASCII.
Further, I will discuss how different types of data will be stored on the computer. I will
discuss how graphics, images, audio, the video will be stored in a computer system.
This report will contain how numeric data will be converted to different data type like
how binary number change to octal, hexadecimal, floating point. This report will also
contain details about Boolean logic gates and according to that, a truth table will be
generated. A brief discussion will carry about computer system architecture and its
components. After that different types of computer memory will be discussed,
information about interrupts occur when peripheral device interact with each other. I will
discuss different type of instruction set RISC and CISC and will also discuss fetch-
execute cycle.

LO1Understand how data can be represented within computer
systems
P1 explain using examples how numeric and alphanumeric data can be
coded within a computer system
Alphanumeric data are the type of data that contains digits as well as alphabets.
Alphanumerical data is a combination of numerals and alphabets. Alphanumerical data
allows 26 alphabets and 10 numerals for alphanumerical data. We cannot perform
mathematical operations on alphanumerical data. Alphanumerical data is used to store
passwords as they allow writing both numbers and alphabets it makes our password
strong. We can also write some characters in alphanumerical data. For example xy62,
hy65, yu5#
ASCII Code-
Another way of representing the alphanumeric data is using ASCII code. For example,
for A the ASCII code is 65. The computer understands only machine language.
Two's complement
It is a method which is used to change a positive integer number to negative integer
number. This method works as first we calculate one’s complement and then add
one.Example 12 represents 1100 in binary form.Two's complement of 12 is 0100.
Numeric data-
Numeric data are the type of data that contains only digits. Numeric data is always in
form of digits so any form of mathematical operations can be performed on numerical
data like subtraction, addition, division, and multiplication. Numerical data can be
arranged in ascended or descended from. For example 1234, 54 these all are numeric
data.
Binary number-
A binary number is a number which is presented in 0 and 1 form. As computer
understands only 0 and 1 form.

Example 24 represents 11000 in binary form.
Decimal number-
A decimal number is base -10 systems. In decimal number system it has 10 distinct
digits (0-9) for representing any number.
Example 256 is represented in the decimal system as 2*102+5*101+6=200+50+6.
Octal number
An octal number is a representation of number for representing long digit number in
form of a binary number as 0 and 1.It is a base-8 system that uses digits between 0 –
7.Example 8768 is an octal number which has a base-8.
Hexadecimal number
A hexadecimal number is a representation of number for representing long digit number
in form of a binary number as 0 and 1.It contains digits 0 -9 and letters A – F. The
alphabets A –F represents a value from 10 – 15.Example AA is a hexadecimal number
which is equal 10101010 in the binary number system. (Bbc, n.d).

P2 explain using examples how different types of data can be converted
and stored in computer systems
Basically, there are two types of data that are digital and analog data. Digital data is a
discrete type of data whereas analog data is the continuous type of data. Computers
use digital data and in the natural world, analog data are used. In computer system data
is non-continuous for example binary data that is non-continuous.
Graphics and images stored in different resolutions and formats. These all are stored in
form of digital information.An image is transferred in form of digital code and then it
again converted into an image for display. The image is made up of pixels. Pixels are
made up of binary numbers. 1 is for black and 0 is for white. An image is then made up
of binary. To create any image computer first know in advance the size of the image.
This advanced information is known as metadata. For example, if the image is to be
created as 8X8 it means 8 pixels across and 8 pixels down. Image supports many
formats jpeg, png. Png stands for Portable Network Graphics and Jpeg stands for Joint
Photographic Experts Group. Jpeg mostly used for photographs whereas on the other
end png used for an image which is related to the text, lines. Jpeg does not support for
transparency whereas png supports the transparency. For storing the sound in the computer
it needs to be converted into binary for this it needs to convert into a digital signal. The sound is
captured by the microphone and then it converts into a digital signal. Sound quality is dependent
on the time samples between data. As the time sample are close together it increases the
sound quality.The sample rate is defined as the frequency at which samples are taken.It is
measured in terms of hertz (Hz). When static images are played at a high rate a digital image is
formed.Usually, 24 frames per second are for digital frames. It can be up to 100 frames or more.
Digital films are measured in terms of frames rates per second (fps). It can also be measured in
terms of hertz (Hz). It is almost similar to sample rate. The total audio and image processed are
called bit rate. Sometimes it is necessary to compress the video.It can be done by reducing the
resolution, reducing the size, reducing the bit rate. Compression reduces the video quality. This
loss in quality is called artifacts. Compression is usually done to reduce the storage size and
processing time. It reduces the transfer time of the files. If compression is not performed then it
takes a lot of time to upload and download the video files, audio files, text files. Usually,
compression is of two type’s lossless and lossy compression. Lossy compression is

compression where data is lost during compression while lossless compression is the type of
compression where loss of data is not there (Eehawaii, n.d).

P3 convert numeric data between different number systems including
floating point
Decimal to binary
A decimal number includes 10 digits (0 - 9) whereas in the binary system there are only
two digits 0 and 1.
Steps to convert decimal to a binary number:
a. First, write down the decimal number as quotient and divide the quotient by 2.
b. Write down the remainder that is either 0 or 1.
c. Repeat the process until quotient becomes zero.
d. Starting from bottom to up the new number formed is a binary number.
Example 40
Number Remainder
40/2 0
20/2 0
10/2 0
5/2 1
2/2 0
1 1
The binary formed is 101000.
Binary to decimal
Steps to convert binary to decimal number:-
a. First, write down the binary as 0 and 1.
b. Starting from right to left write the power of 2.Start as 20.
c. Increase exponent by one every time as we move from right to left.
d. Continue until when the list is equal to no of digits in the binary number.