Document (26)
Document (26)
Document (26)
Computers operate on the principles of electricity, where the flow of current represents information.
Binary, a base-2 system using only 0s and 1s, perfectly aligns with this electrical nature. A circuit can
be either "on" (1) or "off" (0), making it simple to represent and manipulate data.
In contrast, decimal, a base-10 system, requires more complex circuitry to represent ten different
states. This complexity would significantly increase the size, cost, and power consumption of
computers. Additionally, binary arithmetic is straightforward, involving only simple logical operations
like AND, OR, and NOT. This simplicity contributes to faster processing speeds.
While humans are accustomed to decimal, binary's efficiency and compatibility with electrical
components make it the ideal choice for computers. It forms the foundation upon which all digital
operations are built, enabling the incredible capabilities of modern computing devices.
Serial and parallel data transmission are two fundamental methods for transferring data between
devices. Serial transmission sends data bit by bit over a single channel, like cars on a one-lane road.
This method is simpler and more cost-effective, making it suitable for long-distance communication.
However, it’s slower due to the sequential nature of data transfer.
Parallel transmission, on the other hand, sends multiple bits simultaneously over multiple channels,
akin to cars on a multi-lane highway. This approach offers significantly higher data transfer rates,
making it ideal for short-distance, high-speed applications like internal computer communication.
However, it requires more complex circuitry and is more susceptible to interference, limiting its
effectiveness over longer distances.
In conclusion, the choice between serial and parallel transmission depends on the specific
requirements of the application. Serial transmission is better suited for long-distance, low-speed
communication, while parallel transmission excels in short-distance, high-speed scenarios.
The ALU is the “brain” of a computer, responsible for performing arithmetic and logical operations. It’s
like a calculator within the CPU, capable of:
* Comparison operations: Checking if one value is greater than, less than, or equal to another.
CU (Control Unit)
The CU is the “traffic cop” of the CPU, directing and coordinating the activities of all other components.
It fetches instructions from memory, decodes them, and sends control signals to other parts of the CPU
to execute the instructions. Key functions of the CU include:
Registers
Registers are high-speed storage locations within the CPU that hold data temporarily. They are used to
store:
Types of Registers:
* Program Counter (PC): Holds the address of the next instruction to be fetched.
* Memory Address Register (MAR): Holds the address of the memory location to be accessed.
* Memory Buffer Register (MBR): Stores data being transferred to or from memory.
* Fetch: The CU fetches an instruction from memory and stores it in the IR.
* Execute: The CU sends control signals to the ALU and other components to perform the operation.
The ALU performs the arithmetic or logical operation on data stored in registers.
* Store: The result of the operation is stored in a register or written back to memory.
By understanding the roles of the ALU, CU, and registers, we can appreciate the complexity and
efficiency of modern computer processors.