Computer Architecture

Spring 2015

Instructor:  Dr. M. Bag-Mohammadi

Grade:Click here

Textbook:

D. Patterson and J. Hennessy, Computer Organization and Design: The Hardware/Software Interface, Morgan Kaufmann Publishers, Inc., Fifth Edition: 2013.

 

What’s Computer Architecture?

Computer Architecture is the science and art of selecting and interconnecting hardware components to create computers that meet functional, performance and cost goals. Computer architecture is not about using computers to design buildings.

Goals

Primary goals of the course are:

	To introduce computer architecture design.
	Specific topics include: The design of computer systems and components. Processor design, instruction set design, and addressing; control structures and microprogramming; memory management, caches, and memory hierarchies; and interrupts and I/O structures

Prerequisite knowledge and/or skills

	Logic design and Boolean algebra
	Assembly language programming
	Ability to use design tools available on computer

Topics covered

	Introduction, basic computer organization
	Instruction formats, instruction sets and their design
	ALU design: Adders, subtracters, logic operations
	Datapath design
	Control design: Hardwired control, microprogrammed control
	More on arithmetic: Multiplication, division, floating point arithmetic
	RISC machines
	Pipelining
	Memory systems and error detection and error correction coding
	I/O

Exams

	There will be 1 exam during the semester and a final exam at the end of the semester.
	All exams will be open book and open notes.

Homework 

	Assignments are due seven days from the initial day of the assignment (i.e. the following Sunday).
	Late homework will be docked 50% per class period late, unless approved arrangements are made in advance.
	All coursework must be clear, legible, and have the name, course, and assignment number in the upper right hand corner of the page.
	Cooperative group study on the homework is encouraged, but simply copying someone else’s work is unethical and will leave you unprepared for exams.

Grading Policy:

Final grades in the course will be based on the following weighting distribution.

	Homework……12%
	Midterm 1…… 35%
	Final Exam…..35%
	Project............18%

Students are responsible for their own learning, through reading and studying the text, reviewing the lectures, and working out the homework problems.  I strongly advise that you read the upcoming material before it appears in lecture; the material will make much more sense that way. 

Lecture Notes: