NAME: MOSES NIMROD
MATRIC: U22/FEA/SED/1075/1075
DEPT: COMPUTER SCIENCE EDUCATION
The difference between Von Neumann Architecture and Harvard Architecture
can be understood through their structure and how they handle memory.
Von Neumann Architecture
Definition:
In Von Neumann Architecture, the same memory space is used for both data
and instructions. This means that the CPU fetches instructions and data from
the same memory unit, which can lead to a bottleneck known as the "Von
Neumann bottleneck."
Diagram:
```
+------------------+
| Memory |
+------------------+
/ \
/ \
+-------+ +-------+
| CPU | | I/O |
+-------+ +-------+
```
Key Features:
- Single memory for both instructions and data.
- Simplicity in design.
- Potential bottleneck due to shared memory access.
Harvard Architecture
Definition:
In Harvard Architecture, separate memory spaces are designated for
instructions and data. This allows the CPU to fetch instructions and data
simultaneously, enhancing performance.
Diagram:
```
+------------------+ +------------------+
| Instruction | | Data |
| Memory | | Memory |
+------------------+ +------------------+
/ \ / \
/ \ / \
+-------+ +-------+ +-------+ +-------+
| CPU | | I/O | | CPU | | I/O |
+-------+ +-------+ +-------+ +-------+
```
Key Features:
- Separate memory for instructions and data.
- Allows simultaneous access to both, improving performance.
- More complex design and implementation.
Conclusion
In summary, the main difference lies in how they manage memory: Von
Neumann uses a single shared memory for both data and instructions, while
Harvard uses separate memories, allowing for faster processing. This
distinction affects the performance and complexity of computer systems
based on these architectures.
