What is computer architecture?
Q: What is computer architecture?
A: Computer architecture is the conceptual design and fundamental operational structure of a computer system. It involves the technical drawings and functional description of all design requirements, such as speeds and interconnections, in order to create computers that meet performance, cost, and functional goals.
Q: What are the three main subcategories of computer architecture?
A: The three main subcategories of computer architecture are Instruction Set Architecture (ISA), Microarchitecture (also known as Computer Organization), and System Design.
Q: What does ISA involve?
A: Instruction Set Architecture (ISA) involves an abstract model of a computing system that is seen by a machine language or assembly language programmer. This includes the instruction set, memory address modes, processor registers, and address and data formats.
Q: What does microarchitecture involve?
A: Microarchitecture involves a lower level detailed description of the system which is sufficient for completely describing the operation of all parts of the computing system as well as how they are interconnected and interact with each other to implement ISA.
Q: What does System Design involve?
A: System Design involves all other hardware components within a computing system such as system interconnects like computer buses and switches; memory controllers; CPU off-load mechanisms like direct memory access; multi-processing issues; etc.
Q: How is implementation broken down into three pieces?
A: Implementation can be broken down into Logic Implementation which includes designing blocks defined in microarchitecture at register-transfer or gate levels; Circuit Implementation which includes transistor-level design for basic elements or larger blocks; Physical Implementation which includes drawing out physical circuits, placing different circuit components on a chip floor plan or board, routing wires connecting them together.
