Question

Identify and discuss the FOUR (4) main components’ function in Von Neumann architecture for any general-purpose computer based.

Answer 1

The Four Basic components of Von Neumann architecture for any general purpose computer are

1. Control Unit
2. Arithmetic and Logic Unit            
3. Memory
4. Input and Output device.

CONTROL UNIT

As the name specifies it controls all the activities of the computer. More precisely it controls the activities of ALU and Input /Output devices and also control the activities performed by them.

Arithmetic and Logic Unit

As the name specifies this unit is responsible for handling all types of arithmetical operations and logical operations.

Memory

                Basically Memory unit denotes to Random Access Memory. It is the main memory or primary memory of a computer. It is very fact and have a direct access with CPU. The RAM is used during the execution process of the instructions and each data will locate in it and identified by an uniquely identified address.

Input/Output Device.

                As the name specifies these are helpful for the user to input the data into the system and to visualize the result in the output screen. Different types of input devices are available as keyboard, mouse,joystick etc…. The output devices are also of different types as monitor, Printer, Plotter etc…

Collectively the ALU, CU and different registers are called as CPU. It is call as the central processing unit. The registers are high speed storage areas. Before processing the data first it should be located inside the registers. Different types of registers are used such as PC(Program Counter ),AC (Accumulator),CIR(Current Instruction Register),MAR(Memory address register),MDR (Memory data register)