The Architecture of Computer Hardware, Systems Software, & Networking: An Information Technology Approach, 5th Edition

CHAPTER 11

MODERN COMPUTER SYSTEMS

Copyright 1994 by Patrick Hardin/www.CartoonStock.com

11.0 INTRODUCTION

It's time to put all the pieces together!

In the last five chapters, we carefully explored various fundamental hardware components of computer systems. We explained in detail the operation of the computer CPU and introduced some of the many variations on the basic CPU design found in different systems. You learned that there is a fundamental set of instructions that make up the repertoire of a computer and that each instruction is performed in a series of simple steps known as a fetch–execute cycle. You have seen examples of the differences in instruction sets and memory addressing techniques that distinguish computers from one another and extend the flexibility of the basic architecture. We explored various CPU architectures, memory enhancements, and CPU organizations that expand the processing power of the CPU. We also considered various techniques used to perform I/O operations. We explored the advantages of adding additional CPUs in the form of multiprocessing and of off-loading operations into additional processors such as GPUs built into I/O modules. In addition, we presented the workings of various peripheral devices. You have also seen some of the interactions between the different components in the computer system. You've learned that various buses tie everything ...