What is Computer Architecture?
It refers to those attributes of the system that are visible to the software
programmer and have a direct impact on the logical execution of a program like
a number of bits used to represent various data types, the instruction set of the
computer, technique for addressing memory, method used for input, output, etc.
It basically defines the system in an abstract manner.
It deals with the concepts that the programmer deals with directly.
Includes logical units like instruction set, different types of addressing modes.
The following 3 main categories are considered while considering design of
architecture: System Design(contains hardware components that are used for
building the system), Instruction Set Architecture(includes all the instructions
provided to the computer system) and Micro Architecture( give minute detail
about storage element)
What is Computer Organization?
It refers to the operational unit and the interconnection between them that achieve the
architectural specifications. It tells us about different functional blocks of the system.
It is basically the realization of architecture and deals with functional structure and various
structural relationships.
It deals with the concept that is transparent from the programmer.
It includes physical connection component like circuits with adder subtractors.
Single Accumulator Organisation, General Register organisation, Stack Organisation are the 3
types of CPU organisation.
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Differences between Computer Architecture and Computer Organization
COMPUTER ORGANISATION COMPUTER ARCHITECTURE
1. Computer organisation is concerned with 1.Computer Architecture is concerned with the
the way hardware component are connected structure and behaviour of the computer
together to form a computer system. system as seen by the user.
2. While designing a computer system, an 2. While designing computer system,
organisation is decided after the architecture. architecture is decided first.
3. It involve physical units such as circuit 3. It involves logical components such as
design, adders, signals, peripherals etc. Instruction Set, Addressing Modes etc.
4. It describes how computer system works. 4. It describes how computer system designed.
5. It deals with the components of a 5. It acts as an interface between hardware
computer and the interconnection of and software.
components.
6. Computer Organisation deals with low-level 6. Computer architecture deals with high-level
design issues. design issues.
7. Computer Organisation defines the physical 7. Computer architecture defines the logical
aspects of the computer system. aspects of computer system.
8. It deals with the organizational structure of 8. It deals with the functional behaviour of the
the computer and the various structural computer system.
relationship.
9. It is also called micro architecture. 9. It is also called as instruction set
architecture.
10. It is transparent from the software 10. It is visible to the software programmer.
programmer.
11. How to do?(implementation of the 11. What to do? (Instruction Set)
architecture)
The von Neumann architecture—also known as the von Neumann model or Princeton
architecture—is a computer architecture based on a 1945 description by John von
Neumann.
