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Internal hardware components of a computer

Official AQA 7517 section 4.7.1.

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AqaA LevelComputer ScienceFundamentals of computer organisation and

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Internal hardware components of a computer1 objectives

Internal hardware components of a computer: Have an understanding and knowledge of the basic internal components of a computer system. Although exam questions about specific machines will not be asked, it might be useful to base this section on the machines used at the centre. Understand the role of the following components and how they relate to each other: • processor • main memory • address bus • data bus • control bus • I/O controllers. Understand the need for, and means of, communication between components. In particular, understand the concept of a bus and how address, data and control buses are used. Be able to explain the difference between von Neumann and Harvard architectures and describe where each is typically used. Embedded systems such as digital signal processing (DSP) systems use Harvard architecture processors extensively. Von Neumann architecture is used extensively in general purpose computing systems. Understand the concept of addressable memory. 76

I/O controllerBus

Compare architectures using both structure and use: When asked to compare von Neumann and Harvard architectures, include their memory arrangements and a typical application for each.

Confusing the three buses: State clearly that the address bus carries addresses, the data bus carries data and the control bus carries control signals.

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