created: 06/25/96; 2^nd edition: 05/13/01; audio: 12/06/03; minor changes: 09/06/05

CHAPTER 4 — Computer Systems

This chapter discusses how computer systems are organized, with special attention paid to main memory. Most of this you probably know already, but look it over anyway.

Chapter Topics:

Components of a Computer System
Device Controllers
Main Memory
Addresses
Virtual Memory
Cache Memory
Contents of Memory

QUESTION 1:

Does a computer system based upon one type of processor chip (say MIPS) look about the same as a system based upon another type of chip (say Pentium)?