computer architecture

n (Computer Science) the structure, behaviour, and design of computers

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	computer architecture - the art of assembling logical elements into a computing device; the specification of the relation between parts of a computer systemspec, specification - a detailed description of design criteria for a piece of workneural net, neural network - computer architecture in which processors are connected in a manner suggestive of connections between neurons; can learn by trial and error
	2.	computer architecture - (computer science) the structure and organization of a computer's hardware or system software; "the architecture of a computer's system software"architecturestructure - the manner of construction of something and the arrangement of its parts; "artists must study the structure of the human body"; "the structure of the benzene molecule"complex instruction set computer, complex instruction set computing, CISC - (computer science) a kind of computer architecture that has a large number of instructions hard coded into the CPU chipreduced instruction set computer, reduced instruction set computing, RISC - (computer science) a kind of computer architecture that has a relatively small set of computer instructions that it can performcomputer science, computing - the branch of engineering science that studies (with the aid of computers) computable processes and structures

computer architecture

[kəm′pyüd·ər ′är·kə‚tek·chər] (computer science) The art and science of assembling logical elements to form a computing device.

computer architecture

The design of a computer system. It sets the standard for all devices that connect to it and all the software that runs on it. It is based on the type of programs that will run (business, scientific) and the number of programs that run concurrently.

Space and Time
All components in a computer are based on space (how much) and time (how fast). One example is the amount of memory a computer can access and how fast it can access it. Another is the width of the channels (16-bit, 32-bit, etc.) between the CPU and memory and between the CPU and peripheral devices and how fast they transfer data.

CISC vs. RISC
The way a computer's instructions are designed is a fundamental architectural component. The trend toward large, complicated instruction sets was reversed with RISC computers, which use simpler instructions. The result is a leaner, faster computer, but requires that the compilers generate more code for complex functions that used to be handled in hardware. Both CISC and RISC architectures are widely used. See RISC.

Special Purposes
Computers designed for single purposes, such as vector processors and database machines, require special architectures. In addition, computers designed from the ground up for fault tolerance also require unique designs.

noun

Synonyms for computer architecture

noun the art of assembling logical elements into a computing device

Related Words

spec
specification
neural net
neural network

noun (computer science) the structure and organization of a computer's hardware or system software

Synonyms

architecture

Related Words

structure
complex instruction set computer
complex instruction set computing
CISC
reduced instruction set computer
reduced instruction set computing
RISC
computer science
computing