3.1 Computer Architecture

• CPU (central Processing Unit) - the main component of a computer that processes data and instructions.
• Microprocessor - an integrated chip that performs arithmetic and logic operations. They're general low level and often used for specific use.
• Von Neumann Architecture - the structure of the CPU and how it operates with other pieces of hardware such as memory, storage.

  
• Control Unit (CU) - controls the flow of data around the CPU, it sends control signals to different components instructing them to read, write data
• Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU) - performs/executes calculations required to execute instructions such as ( +, -, *, / )
• Program Counter (PC) - A register that stores the address of the next instruction to be fetched from memory.
• Memory Address Register (MAR) - stores the address of the instruction to be fetched from or written to memory.
• Memory Data Register (MDR) - a register that stores the fetched data from the memory. It is then sent to the ALU to be executed.
• Current Instruction Register (CIR) - stores the instruction the CPU is currently decoding or executing.
• Accumulator - temporarily stores the result of the calculation of the ALU.
• Buses - A bus is a single wire that carries data between components of a computer system.
• Data Bus - carries data between the CPU and the memory bidirectionally.
• Control Bus - transfers control signals from the Control unit to other components
• Address Bus - the bus that sends a memory address from the CPU to the memory.
• Control bus - the bus which sends and receives status messages to components to prevent crashes.