Computer Organization

and Assembly Language

Jimmy DV. Roldan, MSIT

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Course Description

General microprocessors organization,

implementation of arithmetic algorithms, input-
output peripherals, memory organization, and
basic interfacing of devices. Assembly language
will be covered as well.

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Course Objectives
1. Discuss the characteristics of low-level and high-
level languages.
2. Describe the basic operational concepts of the
CPU.
3. Differentiate logical memory and physical
memory.
4. Identify the different addressing modes.
5. Identify and apply the different data transfer,
arithmetic, shift, rotate, conditional jump, and
loop instructions.
6. Apply the different programming techniques.
7. Write Assembly programs using the different
techniques.

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Basic Structure of Computer
Hardware and Software

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What is a digital computer?

Digital Computer – a fast electronic calculating

machine that accepts digitized input
information, processes it according to a list of
internally stored instructions, and produces the
resulting output information.

The list of instructions is called a computer

program and the internal storage is called a
computer memory.

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Types of Computers

Personal Computer – the most common

computer which has found wide use in homes,
schools, and business offices.

Workstations – although still of desktop

dimensions these machines have a
computational power which is significantly
higher than that of personal computers.

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Types of Computers

Mainframe – a large and powerful computer

used for business data processing in medium to
large corporations that require much more
computing and storage capacity than
workstations can handle.

Supercomputers – used for large-scale

numerical calculations found in applications
such as weather forecasting and aircraft design
and simulation.

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Functional Units of a Computer

Input Unit – accepts coded information from

human operators or from other computers.

Examples : keyboard, joystick, mouse, input

pen, touch screen, trackball, scanner, bar code
readers, microphone,floppy disks, magnetic
tapes, compact discs.

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Functional Units of a Computer

The Memory Unit / Primary Storage – where

programs are stored during their execution. The
main memory is a fast memory capable of
operating at electronic speeds.

It is also known as the Random Access Memory

(RAM). It is a memory in which any location can
be reached in a short fixed amount of time.

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Functional Units of a Computer
The MM is divided into the following:

1. Input Storage Area – accepts and stores the

input data to be processed.
2. Working Storage Space – holds the data
being processed as well as the intermediary
results of such processes.
3. Output Storage Area – maintains the final
output or processed results of the operation.
4. Program Storage Area – holds the program
or processed instructions given by the user.
It stores the entire program that is being
executed.
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Functional Units of a Computer

The Secondary Storage or Auxiliary Storage –

used when large amounts of data have to be
stored (on a more permanent basis),
particularly if some of the data need not be
accessed frequently.

Examples : magnetic disks, floppy disks, hard

drives, flash drives, compact discs, DVDs.

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Functional Units of a Computer

The Processing Unit – also called the Central

Processing Unit (CPU) or the Central Processor.
It contains a number of high speed storage
elements called registers that are used for
temporary storage of frequently used operands.
It is mandatory for data to be stored in a register
before it can be processed.

The CPU is composed of the Arithmetic and

Logic Unit and the Control Unit.

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Functional Units of a Computer

Arithmetic and Logic Unit (ALU) – where all

arithmetic and logic operations and
manipulation of numbers take place.

Control Unit – the nerve center of a computer. It

controls the entire activity of the CPU. It
controls and coordinates the order and
execution of program instructions. It accesses
instructions in sequence, interprets them, and
directs their implementation.

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Functional Units of a Computer

The Output Unit – sends processed results to

the outside world.

Examples : display screens, printers, plotters,

modems, microfilms, synthesizers, high tech
blackboards, film recorders.

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Basic Operations of a Computer
The operation of a computer can be summarized as
follows:

1. The computer accepts information in the form of

programs and data through an input unit and
stores it in memory.
2. Information stored in the memory is fetched,
under program control, into an arithmetic and
logic unit, where it is processed.
3. Processed information leaves the computer
through an output unit.
4. All activities inside the machine are directed by
the control unit.

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Basic Concepts of Computer
Architecture
Computer Architecture – the design of computers,
including their instruction sets, hardware
components, and system organization.

Most computers follow the Von Neumann

Architecture also known as the Stored Program
Architecture or the Fetch-Decode-Execute
Architecture.

Von Neumann Architecture simply means that

programs (together with their data) are stored in the
main memory during execution.

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Types of Programming
Languages

Machine Language – the natural and primitive

language that the computer actually
understands. This programming language
consists of 0’s and 1’s which makes
programming very difficult.

Assembly Language – uses abbreviations or

mnemonics in place of binary patterns in order
to make the task of programming easier.

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Types of Programming
Languages

Assembly Language programs has to be

converted to machine language before a
computer can execute it. An assembler is a
special program that translates assembly
language mnemonics into machine language.

High Level Language – uses English-like

commands or instructions. It is also known as
the third generation language (3GL).

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Types of Programming
Languages

A high-level language has to be converted to

machine language before a computer can
execute it. A compiler is a special program that
translates high-level language instructions to
machine language.

Examples: FORTRAN, CoBOL, BASIC, Pascal

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Types of Programming
Languages

Fourth Generation Language (4GL) – designed

with a specific purpose in mind such as the
development of commercial business software.

All 4GLs are designed to reduce:

• Programming effort;
• The time it takes to develop software;
• the cost of software development.

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Types of Programming
Languages
Some successful 4th Generation Languages are:
• Database query languages
1. MySQL
2. MS-SQL
• Report Generators
1. Crystal Reports
2. Jasper Reports

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Advantages of High Level
Languages

1. Easy-to-Learn – low level languages are more

cryptic than high-level languages.
2. Predefined Functions – most high level
languages provide many pre-defined
functions and sub-routines, thereby
simplifying programming tasks.
3. Portability – it can be run in any platform.

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Advantages of Low Level
Languages

Compact Code – programs are executed in their

machine language format. Programs written in a
high level language should still be compiled and
translated to machine language. Most compilers
are not optimized to generate compact codes.

Speed – directly related to compact code. The

shorter the code, the shorter the execution time
of the program.

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Advantages of Low Level
Languages

Flexible – low level language does not constrain

the programmer to follow a certain programming
convention (modularity) or a rigid coding
constraint.

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Assignment

1. Review for a Quiz next week based on what

we have discussed.
2. Review the number system and be ready for
recitations.

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Computer Organization
and Assembly Language

Jimmy DV. Roldan, MSIT

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