The 3 box model
This diagram explains the basic principles of the CPU(central processing unit) and was named by John Von Neumann in 1945.)
The 3 box model consists of 4 main parts. The processor, which runs programmes and looks after the components. The processor can contain upt 1 billion logic gates or as few as 1 million. The Main memory, whic is also known as the IAS(Immediate Access Storage) The IAS is made up of
- RAM - (Random Access Memory) is volitile and all memory on it is deleted when ever the computer is turned off.
- ROM - (Read Only Memory) is not volitile and the memory on it is not deleted whenever the computer is turned off.
- I/O - (Inputs/Outputs) everything outside the CPU is known as a peripheral and the I/O controllers allow the cpu to communicate with these devices without the CPU knowing exactly how they work.
- Procesor - Is the brain of the system and controlls all other parts of the CPU. It can do as many ctions per minute as how many time the clock ticks within it, normally around 5 billion times a second in modern computers.
- Buses - Buses allow diffeerent parts of the CPU to communicate with eachother. They travel along wires on at a time carrying a single bit. Most computers have either 32 or 64 of these wires working simultaneously allowing the computer to transfer 32bits or 64bits of information at a time.