Types of processors

Von Nuemann Architecture

Instructions and data are stored in the same memory. They also are both transferred by a single shared bus between main memory and the CPU. This architecture simplifies the design and operation of a CPU

Harvard architecture

Stores instructions and data in separate memories, each with its own dedicated bus. This architecture is more commonly used in embedded systems and DSP, where high speed is prioritised over design simplicity

Contemporary processor architecture

Combines both Von Neumann and Harvard architectures. Uses a single main memory to store both instructions and data, while cache is divided into separate instruction and data caches.

DSP

A specialised processor designed to process digital signals quickly and efficiently. It is optimised to perform mathematical operations quickly and repeatedly

Stored program concept

A program must be loaded into main memory to be executed by the processor. The instructions are fetched one at a time, decoded and executed sequentially by the processor. The sequence of instructions can only be changed by a conditional or a unconditional jump instruction

Co-processor systems

It is an additional processor that works alongside the main processor to perform specific tasks. It generally performs a limited and specialised range of instructions, rather than general-purpose processing

Multi-core/parallel systems

Divides workloads between multiple cores, allowing several tasks to be performed simultaneously

GPU

A specialised electronic circuit designed to efficiently process computer graphics and images. It contains thousands of small, efficient cores that are designed for parallel processing. This allows the GPU to process large amounts of visual data simultaneously. GPUs can work alongside a CPU to accelerate other applications