
Inside the machine
Objectives
• Explain the basic concepts of computer architecture (5): Instruc-
tion execution cycles (5.1); bit, byte, word (5.2); addressing mem-
ory (5.3); interfacing and peripherals (5.5).
• Describe the differences between mainframe, mini- and micro-
computers (6).
• Describe the characteristics of main memory and backing storage
devices (7.1).
The working core of any computer, of any size, is the unit called the central
processing unit (CPU). The CPU for a large mainframe computer will be a
large electronic circuit constructed using transistors which have been chosen
for outstandingly fast operation. A desktop microcompute ...