answersLogoWhite

0


Best Answer

There are basically two types of digital computer architectures. The first one is called Von Neumann architecture and later Harvard architecture was adopted for designing digital computers.

Von Neumann Architecture:

  • It is named after the mathematician and early computer scientist John Von Neumann.
  • The computer has single storage system(memory) for storing data as well as program to be executed.
  • Processor needs two clock cycles to complete an instruction.Pipelining the instructions is not possible with this architecture.
  • In the first clock cycle the processor gets the instruction from memory and decodes it. In the next clock cycle the required data is taken from memory. For each instruction this cycle repeats and hence needs two cycles to complete an instruction.
  • This is a relatively older architecture and was replaced by Harvard architecture.

Harvard Architecture:

  • The name is originated from "Harvard Mark I" a relay based old computer.
  • The computer has two separate memories for storing data and program.
  • Processor can complete an instruction in one cycle if appropriate pipelining strategies are implemented.
  • In the first stage of pipeline the instruction to be executed can be taken from program memory.In the second stage of pipeline data is taken from the data memory using the decoded instruction or address.
  • Most of the modern computing architectures are based on Harvard architecture.But the number of stages in the pipeline varies from system to system.
These are the basic differences between the two architectures.A more comprehensive list can be found here with respect to ARM class of processors.
User Avatar

Wiki User

11y ago
This answer is:
User Avatar
More answers
User Avatar

Wiki User

12y ago
  • Von Neumann uses one common memory system to store both instructions and data.
  • Harvard uses two separate memory systems, one storing instructions and the other storing data.

However modern computers use a bit of both, making it hard to classify them. Usually the processor core is isolated from directly accessing main memory by cache memory, which is usually divided into instruction and data cache. Thus the processor core itself is implemented as a Harvard architecture, but since both instruction and data cache interface to one common memory system the machine runs as if it was a Von Neumann architecture.

This answer is:
User Avatar

Add your answer:

Earn +20 pts
Q: How do you differentiate between Harvard and Von Neumann architecture?
Write your answer...
Submit
Still have questions?
magnify glass
imp
Related questions

What is the main difference between a von neumann and a Harvard machine?

difference between von neumann and harvard machine


Difference between van humann architecture and hardvard architecture?

In the Von Neumann (not "von humann") architecture instructions and data share the same bus and address space, while in the Harvard architecture instructions and data are accessed through separate buses.


What are the differences between von neumann architecture and bus architecture?

there is no dif


Difference between von newman and Harvard computer architecture?

In a von Neumann architecture, program and data are stored in the same memory and managed by the same information-handling subsystem. In the Harvard architecture, program and data are stored and handled by different subsystems. This is the essential difference between the two architectures. In the original "Harvard computer", built in 1944 and for which the architecture is named, the program-handling task and the data-handling task were sufficiently different to result in two different storage technologies. Today, the vast majority of computers are von Neumann architecture because of the efficiencies gained in designing, implementing, and operating one memory system instead of two. However, in some niches, particularly certain embedded applications where the program is more-or-less hard wired, task requirements are such that the Harvard architecture can provide distinct operational advantages. Under certain conditions, a Harvard computer can be much faster than a von Neumann computer because data and program do not contend for the same information pathway, and storing the program in an immutable read-only memory can result in vast reliability improvements.


What is the difference between Harvard and modified Harvard architecture?

Harvard architecture:The original Harvard architecture computer, the Harvard Mark I, employed entirely separate memory systems to store instructions and data. The CPU fetched the next instruction and loaded or stored data simultaneously and independently. This is by contrast with a Von Neumann architecture computer, in which both instructions and data are stored in the same memory system and (without the complexity of a cache) must be accessed in turn. The physical separation of instruction and data memory is sometimes held to be the distinguishing feature of modern Harvard architecture computers. However, with entire computer systems being integrated onto single chips, the use of different memory technologies for instructions (e.g. Flash memory) and data (typically read/write memory) in Von Neumann machines is becoming popular. The true distinction of a Harvard machine is that instruction and data memory occupy different address spaces. In other words, a memory address does not uniquely identify a storage location (as it does in a Von Neumann machine); you also need to know the memory space (instruction or data) to which the address applies.Modified Harvard architecture:A pure Harvard architecture computer suffers from the disadvantage that mechanisms must be provided to separately load the program to be executed into instruction memory and any data to be operated upon into data memory. Additionally, modern Harvard architecture machines often use a read-only technology for the instruction memory and read/write technology for the data memory. This allows the computer to begin execution of a pre-loaded program as soon as power is applied. The data memory will at this time be in an unknown state, so it is not possible to provide any kind of pre-defined data values to the program.The solution is to provide a hardware pathway and machine language instructions so that the contents of the instruction memory can be read as if they were data. Initial data values can then be copied from the instruction memory into the data memory when the program starts. If the data is not to be modified (for example, if it is a constant value, such as pi, or a text string), it can be accessed by the running program directly from instruction memory without taking up space in data memory (which is often at a premium).


What is the difference between General Processor and DSP?

DSP's are mainly based on Harvard architecture to perform task faster with hard wired instructions as compared to Microcontrollers which are mainly available with von neumann architecture (some microcontrollers like PIC is an exception). The DSP can compute the numerical parts of your application faster than the microcontroller can. Because that's what it's designed to do. You might also find that DSPs have more of the "right sort" of integrated peripherals, compared to microcontrollers.


Explain van neumann architecture of computer system?

John Von Neumann's: One shared memory for instructions (program) and data with one data bus and one address bus between processor and memory. Instructions and data have to be fetched in sequential order (known as the Von Neumann Bottleneck), limiting the operation bandwidth. Its design is simpler than that of the Harvard architecture. It is mostly used to interface to external memory.explain correctly what is von neumann concept?an automatic programmable computer using a single shared common memory for storing both instructions and data.This is in contrast to Harvard Architecture, which is an automatic programmable computer using two physically separate memories for storing instructions and data.Most modern computers use a mixture of both: the CPU itself is Harvard, getting instructions and data from two physically separate caches; but the system as a whole is von Neumann, loading both caches from a single common shared memory.


Differentiate between general and specific reserve?

differentiate between general and specific reserve?


Differentiate between javascript and HTML?

Differentiate a pilot and a plane!


Can you give some example sentences using the word 'differentiate'?

It's important to differentiate between right and wrong. She could not differentiate between the two identical twins. The new software features were designed to help differentiate their product from competitors. The expert could easily differentiate authentic artwork from fakes.


Differentiate between transparent bridge and spanning bridge?

Differentiate between a simple bridge and transparent bridge


Differentiate between physical assets from physical liabilities?

differentiate between physical assets from physical liabilities