Where are CPU Computation Results Stored in a Von Neumann Architecture?

In a computer system built on the Von Neumann architecture, when the Arithmetic Logic Unit or ALU performs computations during the execution phase of the instruction execution cycle, the immediate CPU computation results are first temporarily stored in high-speed memory locations within the Central Processing Unit itself. These very fast storage areas are called registers. Registers are crucial for the processor’s operations because they provide rapid access to data. Often, a specific type of register known as an accumulator is used to hold the outcomes of arithmetic or logical operations, or the results may be placed in general-purpose registers, depending on the particular instruction and the processor’s design.

While registers hold the immediate computation outcomes for speedy access by the CPU, they are primarily for temporary data storage during active processing. For more persistent storage, or if the data needs to be accessed by other parts of the computer system or by subsequent instructions not immediately following, these CPU computation results are typically written back to main memory. This main memory, also widely known as Random Access Memory or RAM, serves as the primary working memory where both program instructions and data operands are stored. Storing the processed data from the registers into RAM ensures that the results are accessible for further use by the system, effectively managing the flow of information and computation outcomes within the Von Neumann architecture.