抽象来说，电脑系统架构，是一个系统在其所处环境中最高层次的概念；它确定一台电脑硬件和软件之间的链接。具体地说电脑系统架构'指的是电脑系统设计的观念与架构，描述电脑在实做的设计原则。它确定一部电脑的：

并且电脑系统架构着重于「负责了计算机架构的中心功能：计算」的中央处理器（CPU）内部的运行动作与内存的访问。

注意，不要与处理器领域的微体系结构/微架构（Microarchitecture）相混淆。

In computer engineering, computer architecture is a set of rules and methods that describe the functionality, organization, and implementation of computer systems. Some definitions of architecture define it as describing the capabilities and programming model of a computer but not a particular implementation. In other descriptions computer architecture involves instruction set architecture design, microarchitecture design, logic design, and implementation.