Hardware Study Guide

The von Neumann architecture is a foundational computer design concept where both program instructions and data are stored together in the same main memory. This unified memory space allows the Central Processing Unit (CPU) to access instructions and data through the same pathways, which is crucial for the fetch-decode-execute cycle. During this cycle, the CPU uses various components: the control unit (CU) manages and coordinates operations; the arithmetic logic unit (ALU) performs calculations and logical operations; and registers serve as small, high-speed storage locations for temporary data. Communication between these CPU components and main memory occurs via buses: the address bus carries memory addresses for data or instructions, the data bus transmits the actual data or instructions, and the control bus carries control signals to coordinate operations. The clock synchronises all internal operations of the CPU, ensuring precise execution of each step in the cycle.