UNIT-1
1. Computer architecture describes how a system is built from its components.
This can be a high-level overview or a detailed explanation, including the
instruction set architecture, microarchitecture, logic design, and
implementation.
It is about designing a computer system to balance performance, efficiency,
cost, and reliability.
2. Computer Organization is about how the components of a computer system,
like the CPU, memory, and input/output devices, are connected and work together
to execute programs. It focuses on the operational aspects and how hardware
components are implemented to support the architecture.
Computer Architecture VS Computer Organization
Computer Architecture Computer Organization
Computer Architecture is concerned with
Computer Organization is concerned with
the way hardware components are
the structure and behaviour of a computer
connected together to form a computer
system as seen by the user.
system.
It acts as the interface between hardware It deals with the components of a
and software. connection in a system.
Computer Organization tells us how
Computer Architecture helps us to
exactly all the units in the system are
understand the functionalities of a system.
arranged and interconnected.
A programmer can view architecture in
Whereas Organization expresses the
terms of instructions, addressing modes
realization of architecture.
and registers.
While designing a computer system An organization is done on the basis of
, architecture is considered first. architecture.
Computer Architecture deals with high- Computer Organization deals with low-
level design issues. level design issues.
Architecture involves Logic (Instruction Organization involves Physical
sets, Addressing modes, Data types, Cache Components (Circuit design, Adders,
optimization) Signals, Peripherals)
Classification of Computers
The computer systems can be classified on the following basis:
1. On the basis of size.
2. On the basis of functionality.
3. On the basis of data handling.
Classification on the basis of size
1. Super computers : The super computers are the most high performing
system. A supercomputer is a computer with a high level of performance
compared to a general-purpose computer.
The actual Performance of a supercomputer is measured in FLOPS instead
of MIPS. All of the world’s fastest 500 supercomputers run Linux-based
operating systems.
Supercomputers actually play an important role in the field of computation,
and are used for intensive computation tasks in various fields, including
quantum mechanics, weather forecasting, climate research, oil and gas
exploration, molecular modeling, and physical simulations.
eg: PARAM, jaguar, roadrunner.
2. Mainframe computers : These are commonly called as big iron, they are
usually used by big organizations for bulk data processing such as statistics,
census data processing, transaction processing and are widely used as the
, servers as these systems has a higher processing capability as compared to
the other classes of computers, most of these mainframe architectures were
established in 1960s, the research and development worked continuously
over the years and the mainframes of today are far more better than the
earlier ones, in size, capacity and efficiency.
Eg: IBM z Series, System z9 and System z10 servers.
3. Mini computers : These computers came into the market in mid 1960s and
were sold at a much cheaper price than the main frames, they were actually
designed for control, instrumentation, human interaction, and
communication switching as distinct from calculation and record keeping,
later they became very popular for personal uses with evolution.
Eg: Personal Laptop, PC etc.
4. Micro computers : A microcomputer is a small, relatively inexpensive
computer with a microprocessor as its CPU. It includes a microprocessor,
memory, and minimal I/O circuitry mounted on a single printed circuit
board.The previous to these computers, mainframes and minicomputers,
were comparatively much larger, hard to maintain and more expensive. They
actually formed the foundation for present day microcomputers and smart
gadgets that we use in day to day life.
Eg: Tablets, Smartwatches.
Classification on the basis of functionality
1. Servers : Servers are nothing but dedicated computers which are set-up to
offer some services to the clients. They are named depending on the type of
service they offered. Eg: security server, database server.
2. Workstation : Those are the computers designed to primarily to be used by
single user at a time. They run multi-user operating systems. They are the
ones which we use for our day to day personal / commercial work.
1. Computer architecture describes how a system is built from its components.
This can be a high-level overview or a detailed explanation, including the
instruction set architecture, microarchitecture, logic design, and
implementation.
It is about designing a computer system to balance performance, efficiency,
cost, and reliability.
2. Computer Organization is about how the components of a computer system,
like the CPU, memory, and input/output devices, are connected and work together
to execute programs. It focuses on the operational aspects and how hardware
components are implemented to support the architecture.
Computer Architecture VS Computer Organization
Computer Architecture Computer Organization
Computer Architecture is concerned with
Computer Organization is concerned with
the way hardware components are
the structure and behaviour of a computer
connected together to form a computer
system as seen by the user.
system.
It acts as the interface between hardware It deals with the components of a
and software. connection in a system.
Computer Organization tells us how
Computer Architecture helps us to
exactly all the units in the system are
understand the functionalities of a system.
arranged and interconnected.
A programmer can view architecture in
Whereas Organization expresses the
terms of instructions, addressing modes
realization of architecture.
and registers.
While designing a computer system An organization is done on the basis of
, architecture is considered first. architecture.
Computer Architecture deals with high- Computer Organization deals with low-
level design issues. level design issues.
Architecture involves Logic (Instruction Organization involves Physical
sets, Addressing modes, Data types, Cache Components (Circuit design, Adders,
optimization) Signals, Peripherals)
Classification of Computers
The computer systems can be classified on the following basis:
1. On the basis of size.
2. On the basis of functionality.
3. On the basis of data handling.
Classification on the basis of size
1. Super computers : The super computers are the most high performing
system. A supercomputer is a computer with a high level of performance
compared to a general-purpose computer.
The actual Performance of a supercomputer is measured in FLOPS instead
of MIPS. All of the world’s fastest 500 supercomputers run Linux-based
operating systems.
Supercomputers actually play an important role in the field of computation,
and are used for intensive computation tasks in various fields, including
quantum mechanics, weather forecasting, climate research, oil and gas
exploration, molecular modeling, and physical simulations.
eg: PARAM, jaguar, roadrunner.
2. Mainframe computers : These are commonly called as big iron, they are
usually used by big organizations for bulk data processing such as statistics,
census data processing, transaction processing and are widely used as the
, servers as these systems has a higher processing capability as compared to
the other classes of computers, most of these mainframe architectures were
established in 1960s, the research and development worked continuously
over the years and the mainframes of today are far more better than the
earlier ones, in size, capacity and efficiency.
Eg: IBM z Series, System z9 and System z10 servers.
3. Mini computers : These computers came into the market in mid 1960s and
were sold at a much cheaper price than the main frames, they were actually
designed for control, instrumentation, human interaction, and
communication switching as distinct from calculation and record keeping,
later they became very popular for personal uses with evolution.
Eg: Personal Laptop, PC etc.
4. Micro computers : A microcomputer is a small, relatively inexpensive
computer with a microprocessor as its CPU. It includes a microprocessor,
memory, and minimal I/O circuitry mounted on a single printed circuit
board.The previous to these computers, mainframes and minicomputers,
were comparatively much larger, hard to maintain and more expensive. They
actually formed the foundation for present day microcomputers and smart
gadgets that we use in day to day life.
Eg: Tablets, Smartwatches.
Classification on the basis of functionality
1. Servers : Servers are nothing but dedicated computers which are set-up to
offer some services to the clients. They are named depending on the type of
service they offered. Eg: security server, database server.
2. Workstation : Those are the computers designed to primarily to be used by
single user at a time. They run multi-user operating systems. They are the
ones which we use for our day to day personal / commercial work.
