Computer architecture

In computer science, Computer Architecture is the design, organization, optimization and verification of a computer system, usually focusing on the CPU, memory and other peripheral devices and the interfaces that those components communicate through. In a more concrete sense, a computer architecture may refer to a specific platform such as SPARC, X86 or PowerPC and ARM or 680x0.

Computer Architectures can span multiple purposes such as general desktop computing as in the case of the x86, PowerPC and SPARC architectures, or more specific purposes such as embedded computing where the ARM and 680x0 processor lines are preferred. The lines tend to blur though on exactly what system architecture is best and ultimately is left up to the engineer designing the system. For instance, the Intel 386 processor (X86 family) appeared initially on desktop and server systems for its first run but now resigns itself to small embedded devices because the power requirements and cost per unit is much less than faster processors which typically are not necessary.

The Motorola 68000 series processors once powered Apple's line of computers before being replaced by PowerPC and now Intel X86 processors. The 68000 can now be found in embedded platforms and in antiquated legacy hardware that has not been replaced with newer, faster systems.