What do you mean by Computer Architecture
and Computer Organization
Computer architecture and computer organization are related but
distinct concepts in the field of computer science.
Computer Architecture is a functional description of requirements and design
implementation for the various parts of a computer. It deals with the functional
behavior of computer systems. It comes before the computer organization while
designing a computer.
Computer architecture refers to the design of the internal workings of a
computer system, including the CPU, memory, and other hardware
components. It involves decisions about the organization of the hardware,
such as the instruction set architecture, the data path design, and the control
unit design.
Computer architecture is concerned with optimizing the performance of a
computer system and ensuring that it can execute instructions quickly and
efficiently.
Computer Organization refers to the operational units and their interconnections
that implement the architecture specification. It deals with how the components of a
computer system are arranged and how they interact to perform the required
operations.
Computer Organization comes after the decision of Computer Architecture
first. Computer Organization is how operational attributes are linked together
and contribute to realizing the architectural specification. Computer
Organization deals with a structural relationship.
The organization describes how it does it.
Computer organization is concerned with the physical implementation of the
architecture design and includes decisions about the interconnection and
communication between components, such as the bus structure, memory
hierarchy, and input/output systems.
In summary, computer architecture is focused on the design of the internal
workings of a computer system, while computer organization is focused on the
implementation of that design. Computer architecture is concerned with the high-
level design decisions, while computer organization deals with the low-level
implementation details.
Difference between Computer Architecture and Computer Organization:
S.
No. Computer Architecture Computer Organization
Architecture describes what the
The Organization describes how it does it.
1. computer does.
Computer Architecture deals with the
Computer Organization deals with a
functional behavior of computer
structural relationship.
2. systems.
In the above figure, it’s clear that it In the above figure, it’s also clear that it
3. deals with high-level design issues. deals with low-level design issues.
Whereas Organization indicates its
Architecture indicates its hardware.
4. performance.
As a programmer, you can view
The implementation of the architecture is
architecture as a series of instructions,
called organization.
5. addressing modes, and registers.
For designing a computer, its For designing a computer, an organization
6. architecture is fixed first. is decided after its architecture.
Computer Architecture is also called Computer Organization is frequently
7. Instruction Set Architecture (ISA). called microarchitecture.
Computer Architecture comprises
Computer Organization consists of
logical functions such as instruction
physical units like circuit designs,
sets, registers, data types, and
peripherals, and adders.
8. addressing modes.
S.
No. Computer Architecture Computer Organization
The different architectural categories CPU organization is classified into three
found in our computer systems are as categories based on the number of address
follows: fields:
1. Von-Neumann Architecture 1. Organization of a single
2. Harvard Architecture Accumulator.
3. Instruction Set Architecture 2. Organization of general
4. Micro-architecture registers
9. 5. System Design 3. Stack organization
It makes the computer’s hardware It offers details on how well the computer
10. visible. performs.
Architecture coordinates the hardware Computer Organization handles the
11. and software of the system. segments of the network in a system.
It escapes the software programmer’s
The software developer is aware of it.
12. detection.
Examples- Intel and AMD created the Organizational qualities include hardware
x86 processor. Sun Microsystems and elements that are invisible to the
others created the SPARC processor. programmer, such as interfacing of
Apple, IBM, and Motorola created the computer and peripherals, memory
13. PowerPC. technologies, and control signals.
