computer architecture focusing on memory systems

 

Computer Architecture Concepts

Memory Systems

Memory systems include hierarchical storage from fast CPU registers to slower hard drives. The idea is to store frequently used data in faster memory components like cache.

Functional Organization

This refers to how computer components (ALU, memory, control unit, I/O devices) are connected to perform tasks efficiently.

Multiprocessor and Alternative Architectures

These architectures like SIMD, MIMD, VLIW, and EPIC help to increase computing performance by enabling parallel processing.

Interconnection Networks

Interconnection networks like buses, point-to-point networks, and mesh architectures are used to connect different components in a multiprocessor system.

Shared Memory Systems & Cache Coherence

In shared memory systems, multiple processors access the same memory, making cache coherence protocols (like MESI) essential to avoid inconsistencies in data.

Memory Models and Consistency

Memory models define how reads and writes happen in a system, and memory consistency ensures that processors see the same order of operations on shared memory.

Performance Enhancements

Techniques like pipelining, superscalar execution, out-of-order execution, and branch prediction are used to enhance CPU performance.

Contemporary Architectures

Modern architectures include multicore processors, GPUs, and distributed computing systems, optimized for handling complex tasks in parallel.