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Draw a block diagram of a computer’s CPU showing all the basic building blocks such as program counter, accumulator,address and data registers, instruction register, control unit etc.,and describe how such an arrangement can work as a computer, ifconnected properly to memory, input/output etc.

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By Dipali Umre

Block diagram of computer’s CPU :

1. Central Processing Unit (CPU):

  • The brain of the computer.
  • Performs calculations and executes instructions.

2. Control Unit:

  • Manages the operation of the CPU.
  • Controls the flow of data and instructions within the CPU.

3. Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU):

  • Performs arithmetic (like addition, subtraction) and logical operations (like AND, OR).

4. Registers:

  • Small, fast storage locations inside the CPU.
  • Hold data temporarily during processing.

5. Program Counter (PC):

  • Keeps track of the memory address of the next instruction to be executed.

6. Instruction Register (IR):

  • Holds the current instruction being executed.

7. Accumulator (ACC):

  • Stores the results of calculations temporarily.

8. Memory Address Register (MAR) and Memory Data Register (MDR):

  • MAR holds the address in memory being read from or written to.
  • MDR holds the data being transferred to or from memory.

9. Clock:

  • Synchronizes the operations of the CPU.

Arrangement of CPU, memory, input/output to work as a computer :

  1. Input Unit:
    • Devices like keyboard, mouse, etc., feed data and instructions into the computer.
  2. Memory:
    • RAM holds data and instructions currently being used by the CPU.
    • CPU interacts with memory through the address bus and data bus.
  3. Processing:
    • CPU fetches instructions from memory into the IR using the PC.
    • Instruction in the IR is decoded and executed by the control unit.
    • ALU performs calculations and manipulates data stored in registers like ACC.
  4. Output Unit:
    • Devices like monitor, printer, etc., receive processed data and display or print it.
  5. Control:
    • Control unit coordinates the flow of data and instructions between CPU, memory, and I/O devices.
    • It ensures instructions are executed in the correct sequence.
  6. Feedback Loop:
    • Results from processing may lead to new data being input, stored, or displayed, forming a continuous loop of operation.
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