Computer organization

Computer Organization

How does a computer actually work? How do they transform what you type into a program that shows cute cat pictures?

Big ideas in computer organization

Information layer

• Binary values and number systems
• Data representation

Hardware layer

• Logic gates and circuits
• Computing components

Computer architecture

• Outline the architecture of the central processing unit (CPU) and the functions of the arithmetic logic unit (ALU) and the control unit (CU) and the registers within the CPU
• Primary memory
• Cache memory
• The machine instruction cycle

Secondary memory

• Persistent storage

Operating systems and application systems

• Operating system
• Application software
• Common features of applications

Binary representation

• Bits, bytes, binary, denary/decimal, hexadecimal
• Binary values and number systems
• Data is represented in the computer

Simple logic gates

• Gates and Circuits
• Boolean operators
• Truth tables
• Logic diagram