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

Layer 1: Information layer

• Binary values and number systems
• Data representation

Layer 2: Hardware layer

• 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

Simple logic gates

IB standards related to computer organizations

• 2.1.9 Define the terms: bit, byte, binary, denary/decimal, hexadecimal. Level: 1
• 2.1.10 Outline the way in which data is represented in the computer. Level: 2
• 2.1.11 Define the Boolean operators: AND, OR, NOT, NAND, NOR and XOR. Level: 1
• 2.1.12 Construct truth tables using the above operators. Level: 3
• 2.1.13 Construct a logic diagram using AND, OR, NOT, NAND, NOR and XOR gates. Level: 3