Learn: Von Neumann Architecture - The Stored Program Concept

Welcome!Welcome back! You've already explored essential parts of the CPU like the ALU, Control Unit, and Cache. Today, we'll build on that knowledge and learn about the Von Neumann Architecture and its stored program concept.

What is the Von Neumann Architecture?The Von Neumann Architecture is a design model for computers. It describes how the CPU interacts with memory to execute instructions. This design is used in almost all modern computers.

The Stored Program ConceptThe Stored Program Concept means that instructions (programs) and data are both stored in memory. This allows the CPU to fetch, decode, and execute instructions from memory during the fetch-execute cycle.

Memory Address Register (MAR)The Memory Address Register (MAR) stores the memory address of the data or instruction that the CPU wants to access. The address is sent to the memory to retrieve the required data or instruction.

Memory Data Register (MDR)The Memory Data Register (MDR) stores the actual data or instruction retrieved from or written to memory. This data is then sent to the CPU or back to memory.

How Does the Stored Program Concept Work?During the fetch-execute cycle, the CPU fetches instructions from memory using the Program Counter and MAR. It decodes the instructions and executes them, potentially storing results back in memory.

Review Time!Great work! You've learned about the Von Neumann Architecture, the Stored Program Concept, and key registers like MAR, MDR, and the Program Counter. Let's test your understanding!