Definitions of Computer Architecture

Computer/Electronics Circuit

There are different types of computers with different functions, speed and sizes. The computer that is use for business is different from that use for scientific work. Base on these differences computers are designed to suit the area of life it will be used. The area a computer will be used give rise to different configuration and designs of computers.

Computer architecture is the study that deals with analysis, design and configuration of computer system and what feature should be included.

Computer architecture covers computer systems, microprocessors, circuits, and system programs. Because of that computer science, computer engineering and electronics engineering fields overlaps extensively in computer architecture.

There are many definitions of computer architecture and these definitions are sometimes classified in different perspectives of the computer system. These perspectives may be that computer architecture is defined as:

Perspectives of Computer Architecture:

1. Hardware;
2. Software;
3. Hardware/Software;
4. Interface; OR
5. Integrated design

Literally, architecture as a word deals with the construction and designing of something. The something may be building, machine etc, but for the sake of our discussion here it is computers.
The hardware perspective defines computer architecture to be fully hardware – that is the design and the interconnection of hardware components. The software perspective defines computer architecture to be software only – that is the design and linking of computer software. The Hardware/Software perspective defines computer architecture to be fully hardware and software. The Interface perspective defines computer architecture to be that particular piece of design that connects computer hardware and software together. In other words it is the surface between the hardware and the software. The integrated design perspective defines computer architecture to be that particular design that incorporates both the hardware and the software.

Different between the hardware/software and the integrated design perspective:

The hardware/Software tends to design software differently and hardware differently. It is like designing concurrently a new software or hardware for a new hardware or software. While;
The integrated design does its design as one job. One can’t really differentiate if it is the hardware or the software that is being design. That is the hardware and the software is incorporated in the design as a whole.

Definitions of Computer Architecture

1. Computer architecture is the art of assembling logical elements into a computing device; the specification of the relation between parts of a computer system.

2. Computer architecture is the structure and organization of a computer's hardware or system software.

3. Computer architecture is a general term referring to the structure of all or part of a computer system.

4. Computer Architecture deals with both the design of computer components (hardware) and the creation of operating systems (software) to control the computer.

5. Computer architecture is the internal structure of a digital computer, encompassing the design and layout of its instruction set and storage registers.

6. Computer architecture defines how to command a processor.

7. Computer architecture defined as the science and art of selecting and interconnecting hardware components to create computers that meet functional, performance and cost goals.

8. In electronics engineering and computer engineering, computer architecture is a set of disciplines that describes a computer system by specifying its parts and their relations. For example, at a high level, computer architecture may be concerned with how the central processing unit (CPU) acts and how it uses computer memory.

9. Computer architecture is the structure, behaviour, and design of computers.

10. Computer architecture is a specification detailing how a set of software and hardware technology standards interact to form a computer system or platform. In short, computer architecture refers to how a computer system is designed and what technologies it is compatible with.

11. Computer architecture deals with how to design a circuit for a particular hardware.

12. Computer architecture refers to those attributes of a system visible to a programmer or, put another way, those attributes that have a direct impact on the logical execution of a programme.

14. In the context of software and electronic systems, an architecture is a particular arrangement of various hardware and software components that makes up a unique system.

15. The design of a computer and its components. This includes for which purposes it can be used, along with its memory and processing requirements and capabilities. This in turn affects variables such as what software may be used with it, and which peripherals are compatible. Also called architecture (2), or computer system architecture.

These definitions can be classify according to the aforementioned perspectives: for instance. definitions 11 and 15 are hardware and hardware/software perspectives respectively. what do you think about the rest?

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