Introduction to Computer Systems

To learn about the von Neumann Architecture, the five specialist registers and how they work and the fetch-decode execute cycle. In addition, the link between the fetch-decode execute cycle and the registers will be outlined.

There are issues in relation to the von Neumann Architecture. We will also get into the advantages and disadvantages of the different types of processors and computer architectures such as Harvard architecture.

Programming is covered in this module. Assembly language is a programming language, which is a low level language. High level languages are also covered. This module covers mostly the different mnemonics assembly language covers, the LMC architecture along with its association in relation to the von Neumann architecture.

The factors that impact the CPU’s performance is an important topic as we need to look after the CPU and therefore our computers.

There is more detail in relation to what happens if we were to overclock the CPU. This is where we get into the physics behind it. This is the reason why a lot of electronics and physics are covered.

Without logic gates, there would be no CPU. This topic links Computer Science and Electronics together as these involve circuits. This topic will be useful, especially if you are looking to go into teaching. A question on logic gates and truth tables are the types of the questions major exam boards have to ask. In short, they come up in every examination at GCSE and A Level.

Note: Combinatorial is also referred to as combinational

It is good to know what is required to actually make the logic gates. Diodes and transistors are the components most definitely covered.

This module will provide an introduction to semiconductors. In addition, a link between logic gates and semiconductors is covered. A link between computer memory and semiconductors is also covered.

Sequential logic systems is different to combinatorial logic systems. A D-Type flip flop can be used to make a binary counter. This module will also cover the workings of Binary Coded Decimal (BCD), the operation of the 4511 BCD 7-Segment Display Decoder, Driver & Latch and how it can be used in conjunction with the 4510 BCD Counter and also the operation of the 4017 decade counter.

This lecture provides an introduction to the different types of numbers and also the different number systems.

We need to know what the binary, denary and hexadecimal numbers mean so converting between these number bases will be very useful, especially if you are looking to go into teaching. This is the type of question major exam boards have to ask. In short, they come up in every examination at GCSE and A Level.

This module covers binary addition including the concept of overflow. This topic will be useful, especially if you are looking to go into teaching or studying Computer Science. This is the type of question major exam boards have to ask. In short, they come up in every examination at GCSE and A Level.

In this lecture, I will go over how to deal with negative numbers in binary. The two methods I cover are Twos Complement and Sign and Magnitude.

There are two ways of converting decimal numbers in binary. These are fixed-point and floating-point. These are used when we need more accuracy and greater range. This topic will be useful, especially if you are looking to go into teaching. This is the type of question major exam boards have to ask. In short, they come up in every examination at A Level.

Sound stored as a binary number. Sampling is covered along with its limitations. This module will also go into the Nyquist theorem. There are some physics aspects of sound and binary including sound synthesis.

Images are stored as a binary number. There are two different types of images, which are bitmap and vector. Bitmap will pixelate whereas vectors don’t.

Characters are stored as a binary number. There are standardised character sets, including Unicode and American Standard Code for Information Interchange (ASCII).