Overview
Named after mathematician John von Neumann, this architecture is the foundation for most modern computers. It features a single storage system (memory) for both instructions and data, a central processing unit (CPU), and input/output mechanisms.
Key Components
- Central Processing Unit (CPU): Contains the Control Unit and Arithmetic Logic Unit.
- Main Memory Unit: Stores both data and instructions.
- Buses: Provide the communication pathways between components.
The Von Neumann Bottleneck
A significant limitation where the shared bus between the CPU and memory limits the throughput, as the processor cannot fetch an instruction and data simultaneously.