Computer architecture
Summary
This course completes the overview of computer architecture started on the first year (CS-173 DSD).
Content
- Complex digital systems in Verilog
- Basic components of a computer
- Instruction Set Architectures (RISC-V)
- Memory Hierarchy
- IOs and Exceptions
- Instruction Level Parallelism
- Multiprocessors and Cache Coherence
Learning Prerequisites
Required courses
CS-173 Fundamentals of digital systems
Recommended courses
None
Important concepts to start the course
- Digital logic (combinational and sequential circuits, FSMs)
- Basic notions of processors and assembly
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the course, the student must be able to:
- Structure nontrivial assembly language programs
- Add interrupt handling logic in a processor and write simple exception handlers in assembler
- Understand the design principles of a modern memory hierarchy
- Understand the interaction mechanisms of system software with hardware
- Design pipelined digital circuits at Register Transfer Level
- Optimize the performance of a processor pipeline by reordering instructions
Teaching methods
- Ex cathedra
- Exercises
- Projects
Expected student activities
- Attending the course and exercise/lab sessions
- Completing the exercises and lab assignments
- Participating in the discussion on the forum
Assessment methods
- Graded lab assignments
- Midterm exam
- Written exam
Supervision
| Office hours | Yes |
| Assistants | Yes |
Prerequisite for
Computer Systems
In the programs
- Semester: Fall
- Exam form: Written (winter session)
- Subject examined: Computer architecture
- Lecture: 4 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
- Exercises: 2 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
- Labs: 2 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
- Type: mandatory
- Semester: Fall
- Exam form: Written (winter session)
- Subject examined: Computer architecture
- Lecture: 4 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
- Exercises: 2 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
- Labs: 2 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
- Type: optional
- Semester: Fall
- Exam form: Written (winter session)
- Subject examined: Computer architecture
- Lecture: 4 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
- Exercises: 2 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
- Labs: 2 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
- Type: optional
- Semester: Fall
- Exam form: Written (winter session)
- Subject examined: Computer architecture
- Lecture: 4 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
- Exercises: 2 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
- Labs: 2 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
- Type: optional