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3. Lab 3: Hardware & Diagrams

To understand how computers work, it's essential to know their basic architecture, components, and how information is processed. These foundational concepts — from CPU cycles and registers to machine language and simulations — help you build mental models of how software and hardware interact. This knowledge also supports your understanding of programming, debugging, and system design later in your studies.

Diagrams like state machines and ER models are essential tools for planning processes and data structures clearly and logically.

3.1 Preparation

Please complete section preparation before your lab. Use the lectures to discuss any questions you have. Document your preparation in a file lab3.md.

3.1.1 Hardware

  1. Read and understand hardware.

  2. Explain the Von Neumann architecture in your own words, including the main components and their functions.

    • What is a key problem of the Von Neumann architecture?
    • How does the Harvard architecture differ from the Von Neumann architecture?

  3. What does a CPU’s clock speed measure, and what is its unit?

  4. Why does a higher clock speed not always mean better CPU performance?
  5. Describe the phases of the instruction cycle (e.g. fetch, decode, execute) in your own words.
  6. What is a register?
  7. What is a logic gate? Give three examples.
  8. What elements make up machine language?
  9. Pick one of the simulators and see how far you get. Note your learnings.

3.1.2 Diagrams

  1. Read and understand uml.
  2. Explain the difference between a state and a transition in a state machine diagram.
  3. Create a state machine diagram for a chat. Your diagram should include the following states: Sent, Delivered, Read.

  4. Explain the difference between 1:1, 1:n, and m:n relationships in an entity-relationship diagram. Provide one example for each.

  5. Draw an entity-relationship diagram for a university system with the entities:

    • Student
    • Course
    • Instructor
    • Department

3.2 During the Lab

  • We will address any questions you have.
  • You will present selected tasks.

3.3 After the lab

Prepare the test.