Syllabus

Topics

1. Course Overview
• Recap from CIT 593 (Levels of Abstraction, Computer Architecture, Von Nueman Model)
• Computer Organization vs. Computer Architecture
• Introduction to Computer System components


2. Digital Circuits/Logic
• Brief introduction to electronic devices (esp. transistors) and how logically they behave as switches
• How digital logic relates to Boolean algebra
• Combine basic operations to realize micro architecture (i.e. detailed organization of a processor implementation)
  • How to implement a single function using combinational logic(e.g., addition, multiplexor)
  • How memory is realized using sequential logic
  • Logic to datapath - putting it all together(E.g. LC3 processor datapath)


3. Pipelining
• Review instruction processing
• Introduce the concept of pipelining, and its advantages
• Factors limiting pipelining: resource conflicts and data hazards and how we overcome these
• RISC vs CISC ideology


4. Memory
• Concept of memory hierarchy
• What is cache? Its advantages and cache mapping schemes
• What is virtual memory? Its advantages and mapping schemes


5. I/O Architecture and Storage Systems
• Review I/O
• I/O performance importance
• I/O subsytems – control methods, bus operations
• Storage Systems: e.g. magnetic disks, optical disks


6. System Software
• Operating System (O.S) design
• O.S. services
• Concept of processes, and threads
• Programming Tools
• Introduction to concept of Virtual Machine - e.g. JAVA VM


7. Additional Topics (Time Permitting)
   1. Alternative Architecture e.g. Superscalar/Vector/VLIW, Shared/Distributed Memory Multiprocessors, Chip Multiprocessor
   2. Network Organization and Architecture

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