ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book discusses the history of computer systems, and examines some of the machines which introduced important new features that have become standard requirements on all subsequent general-purpose computers. It talks about the underpinning technologies which are used to build computers. The book focuses on basic computer architecture from a historical perspective, and introduces the significant architectural developments which have had lasting value in improving the performance and/or cost-effectiveness of general-purpose computers. The evolution of computer architecture has been marked by the introduction of increasingly sophisticated solutions to the fundamental problem of maximizing performance whilst minimizing cost. The book presents a description of the VAX-11nso, a very sophisticated Complex Instruction Set Computers machine, and introduces by way of contrast the basis of the Reduced Instruction Set Computer approach.
