Computer Architecture free essay sample

The purpose of conducting this assignment is to explore about 32-bit and 64-bit processor architecture as it is important to us in other to understand more about computer architecture. Comparing the implementation of the 32-bit and 64-bit processor architecture will help us to understand and distinguish between the 32-bit and 64-bit architecture more easily. At the end of this assignment, we can understand the meaning of 32-bit and 64-bit processor architecture as well as how they affect the bus width (data and address), memory addresses, RAM size, register, integer size and file size. We also will understand the compatibility issues of 32-bit and 64-bit processor architecture. To know their features and application we must understand the background and history of x86 and Advanced RISC Machine/Acorn RISC should be revised. All these tasks were divided and distributed among two group members and were compiled with conclusion. 1. What 32-bit and 64-bit processor architecture mean? 32-bit and 64-bit processor architecture is how the computer is built. We will write a custom essay sample on Computer Architecture or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page It refers to how much the memory and address space are in the computer. This architecture affects the performance of the computer where double number of bits, double the rate a processor can move data. Therefore, 32-bits and 64-bit processor architecture have different size of data, RAM storage and size of file where 64-bit have better performance compare to 32-bit processor. Furthermore, 64-bit processor can run almost all 32-bit programs. 2. How they affect the buses width (data and address), memory address, RAM size, register, integer size and file size? Different n-bit of processor give different level of performance where it affect some component in computer. Bus width refers to how much the data can transmit at one time. So, if we have 64-bit of processor, our computer bus also should have 64-bit. This can avoid transferring extra data and no extra data processing done. More bit processor can store more data where RAM size is depending on processor. For example, 32-bit operating system can store 4 gigabyte of data while 64-bit operating system can store up to 1terabyte of ata. Besides, 64-bit have more address space for register than 32-bit processor where 64-bit can give better performance. As the time goes on, the file becomes more complex. The register need more space to store all this data. Therefore, a person who need store many data is preferable to buy 64-bit processor computer. This is because as they need more data to store, the 32-bit processor have limit file size but 64-bit can provide them extra file size. 3. Discuss the compatibility issues of the 32-bit and 64-bit processor. 4-bit processor can do task faster than 32-bit processor as 64-bit have more memory space. Hence, as a backward compatible to 32-bit program, 64-bit operating system can run almost all 32-bit programs through the special compatibility mode. Windows 64-bit covert 32-bit data structure into 64-bit aligned structure where windows 64-bit generates native 64-bit system call (Remah, 2012). This is how 64-bit operating system are design as backward compatible to 32-bit program. 4. The background, history, features and application of x86 and Advanced RISC Machine/Acorn RISC Machine (ARM). Background and history a)x86 †¢The 8086 also called iAPX86 is a 16-bit microprocessor chip designed by Intel between early 1976 and mid-1978, when it was released. The 8086 gave rise to the x86 architecture of Intels future processors. b)Advanced RISC Machine/Acorn RISC Machine (ARM) †¢Advanced RISC Machine (ARM) is a processor architecture base on a 32-bit reduced instruction set (RISC) computer. Licensed worldwide, the ARM architecture is the most commonly implemented 32-bit instruction set architecture. Acorn computer group develop the first RISC in 1985, which was followed by its released of the first budget-friendly pc processor. In 1990 ARM was released. It was the result of collaborative effort between acorn and apple computer to establish a new microprocessor standard. Features a)x86 †¢provides a logical framework for executing instructions through a processor and allows software programs and instructions to run on any processor in the Intel 8086 family b)Advan ced RISC Machine/Acorn RISC Machine (ARM) Load/store-based architecture, single-cycle instruction execution, consistent 1632 bit register file, link register, easy decoding addressing modes, fixed 32-bit instruction set. Application a)X86 †¢application used in Computer Operating system such as DOS, Linux, Mac OS x, Solaris and Windows. b)Advanced RISC Machine/Acorn RISC Machine (ARM) †¢application used in Computer Operating system such Windows CE, Linux, Android, Windows 7 full version, Windows 7 Embedded , Windows Vista , Windows XP full version , Windows XP Embedded. . Explain six (6) differences between x86 and ARM. x86ARM 1) Support for operating systems Linux, Windows CE, Android 1) Support for operating systems Windows CE, Linux, Android, Windows 7 full version, Windows 7 Embedded , Windows Vista , Windows XP full version , Windows XP Embedded 2) embedded applications is to a large extent to pick an ecosystem with additional hardware and software components. 2) ARM in embedded applications is to a small extent to pick ecosystem. 3) Supports data types of byte 8-bit,16- bit ) Supports data types of byte 32-bit, 64-bit 4) x86 structure of computer system is better in performance4) ARM p rocessor, its CPU rarely appeared 1G of few megabytes. 5 provides a logical framework for executing instructions through a processor5 Load/store-based architecture, single-cycle instruction execution 6) X86-architecture has been widely used in desktops and servers over the years and the evolution has led to not only increased general computing performance 6) ARM architecture on the other hand is offered in wide variety of System-on-a-chip. Conclusion From our review, we can conclude that the 32-bit CPU and ALU architectures, they are based on registers, address buses, or data buses of that size. Beside that, a processor with 32-bit memory addresses can directly access 4 Giga Byte of byte-addressable memory. 32-bit is much slower than 64-bit because it can only address 32-bit of data at a time compared to 64-bit which can address 64-bit of data at a time. For the 64-bit, it is the use of processors that have data path widths, integer size, and memory addresses of 64 bits (8 octets) wide. 4-bit CPU and ALU architectures are those that are based on registers, address buses, or data buses of that size. A 64-bit system can move twice as much data around and are able to process more data than 32-bit. In conclusion, both of this processor has their advantages and disadvantages. Speed is one of the major differences between these two types of processor whereas 64-bit is more faster than 32-bit. Most program can run on a 32-bit version and not all program can run on a 64-bit version which is a disadvantage for the 64-bit. References http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/64-bit_computing http://computer. yourdictionary. com/articles/what-32-bit-architecture. html http://www. phatcode. net/res/260/files/html/SystemOrganization. html http://www. brokenthorn. com/Resources/OSDev7. html http://www. techsupportalert. com/content/how-windows7-vista64-support-32bit-applications. htm http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Intel_8086 http://www. techopedia. com/definition/5900/advanced-risc-machine-arm http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/X86-64#Architectural_features