OCR J277/01 – 1.1 System Architecture

Posted on by Administrator Posted in J277 - Computer Science GCSE (OCR)
1.1 System Architecture - Overview / Checklist
1.1.1 Architecture of the CPU
The purpose of the CPU:

    The Fetch – Decode – Execute Cycle

Common CPU components and their function:

    ALU (Arithmetic Logic Unit)
    CU (Control Unit)
    Cache
    Registers

Von Neumann architecture:

    MAR (Memory Address Register)
    MDR (Memory Data Register)
    Program Counter
    Accumulator
1.1.2 CPU performance
How common characteristics of CPUs affect their performance:

    Clock speed
    Cache size
    Number of cores
1.1.3 Embedded systems
The purpose and characteristics of embedded systems
Examples of embedded systems

Recommended Resources

1.1.1 Architecture of the CPU

The Von Neumann Processor Architecture

John Von Neumann (1903-1957) was a Hungarian-American mathematician, physicist and computer scientist and a founding figure in computer science, with significant contributions to computing hardware design. The Von Neumann architecture refers to a processor architecture which has access to a … Continue reading


The FDE Cycle… In your own words

Before completing this task, you will need to revisit the main characteristics of the Von Neumann Processor Architecture. You task is to write a description in your books or on the space provided below to describe, in your own words, … Continue reading


1.1.2 CPU performance

Hardware Contest

In this hardware contest, you will be presented with two computers at a time (desktops or laptops). Your task is to compare the technical specifications of both computers and discuss and justify which computer seems to have the highest specifications. … Continue reading


1.1.3 Embedded systems

Embedded Systems in a Smart World

In our modern world, we are surrounded by technology and more and more every day objects now include built-in some computer system. Such objects are called embedded systems and we can define an embedded system as follows: As opposed to … Continue reading


Further Reading…

Extra Resources

LMC Simulator

LMC simulators are based on the Little Man Computer (LMC) model of a computer, created by Dr. Stuart Madnick in 1965. The LMC simulator is generally used to for educational purposes, because it models a simple Von Neumann architecture computer … Continue reading


From transistors to micro-processors

Vacuum Tubes and Transistors: Many consider the transistor to be one of the most important inventions of all time. Though the precursors of the transistor were invented in 1907 (at the time they were not transistors yet, they were vacuum … Continue reading


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