CSCI 240
Computer Architecture
Fall Semester 2003
Welcome to CSCI 240. For this course, we will centralize the distribution of information on this course web page. This page can be found on the Clark web server at http://babbage.clarku.edu/~jbreecher/arch/arch.html.
Basic Information - Course Description
- Textbook
- Lectures
- Your Evaluation
- Weekly Events
- The Projects
Basic Information
| Professor: | Dr. Jerry Breecher, jbreecher@clarku.edu |
| Meeting Time: | Monday, Thursday 2:50 p.m. - 4:05 p.m. |
| Office Hours: | Monday, Wednesday, Thursday: 9:00 - 11:00 |
Course Description
Computer Architecture
A study of the design of computers. Topics include the design of combinatorial and sequential circuits, design methodology of a basic computer, central processor organization, microprogramming, memory organization, input-output organization, and arithmetic processor design. As time permits, further topics, such as vector and parallel processing, are discussed. A functional, logical (theoretical) approach is adopted. Physics 219, Electronics Laboratory, is recommended so that students gain hands-on experience with computer chips. The science of design is stressed together with the existing machines. Prerequisite: CSCI 140.
Textbook
Hennessy and Patterson, Computer Architecture, A Quantitative Approach, Third Edition, Morgan Kaufmann ISBN 1-55860-596-7.
Lectures
In the Table below are pointers to the notes for the course. The formats available can be read by Microsoft Powerpoint (.ppt) or read by Acrobat in .pdf format. Lectures generally will be from these notes. Feel free to print them out and use them during class to avoid extensive notetaking. You can simply annotate these notes rather than writing everything.
An added advantage of written out notes is that you know what to read in the text. In general, I follow the book fairly closely so you should have no trouble figuring out where to find material to amplify these course notes.
| Lecture Title | PowerPoint | Adobe Acrobat |
| Fundamentals of Computer Design | Fundamentals.ppt | Fundamentals.pdf |
| Instruction Set Principles and Examples | Instruction_Sets.ppt | Instruction_Sets.pdf |
| Endedness.ppt | Endedness.pdf | |
| Appendix A - Pipelining | Pipelining1.ppt | Pipelining1.pdf |
| Chapter 3 - Instruction Level Parallelism 1 | Instruction Level Parallelism 1.ppt | Instruction Level Parallelism 1.pdf |
| Chapter 3 - Instruction Level Parallelism 2 | Instruction Level Parallelism 2.ppt | Instruction Level Parallelism 2.pdf |
| Chapter 4 - Instruction Level Parallelism 3 | Instruction Level Parallelism 3.ppt | Instruction Level Parallelism 3.pdf |
| Memory Hierarchy Design I | Memory.ppt | Memory.pdf |
| Memory Hierarchy Design - SupplementI | Memory - Supplement.ppt | Memory - Supplement.pdf |
| Storage Systems | Storage.ppt | Storage.pdf |
| Multiprocessors | Multiprocessors.ppt | Multiprocessors.pdf |
Your Evaluation
Your evaluation in this course is determined by:
10% Quizzes
30% Projects
25% Midterm Exam
35% Final Exam
There is a series of "Monday Deliverables". Sorry if this wrecks your weekend! These Deliverables include a mix of Quizzes (Very Short - one or two questions only.) There will also be numerous practical projects. Some of these you will give to me in written form, some will be verbal reports. More details later.
Weekly Events
Here's how the material and deliverables break down for the semester.
|
DATE |
TOPICS |
MONDAY DELIVERABLES |
|
Aug. 27 |
Course Overview Chapter 1 - Fundamentals | |
|
Aug. 28 |
Chapter 1 - Fundamentals | |
|
Sep. 4 |
Chapter 1 - Fundamentals |
|
|
Sep. 8, 11 |
Chapter 2 - Instruction Set Principles |
Quiz on Chapter 1 |
|
Sep. 15, 18 |
Chapter 2 - Instruction Set Principles |
|
|
Sep. 22, 25 |
Chapter 3 - Pipelining |
Project 2.1 - Verbal |
|
Sept. 29, 2 |
Chapter 3 - Pipelining |
|
|
Oct. 6, 9 |
Chapter 3 - Pipelining |
Project 3 - Verbal |
|
Oct. 13, 16 |
Chapter 4 - Pipelining II MIDTERM EXAM |
|
|
Oct. 20, 23 |
MIDTERM BREAK Chapter 4 - Pipelining II |
|
|
Oct. 27, 30 |
Chapter 4 - Pipelining II Sections from Chapter 8 - Multiprocessors |
Project 4.1 - Verbal |
|
Nov. 3, 6 |
Sections from Chapter 8 - Multiprocessors Chapter 5 - Memory Hierarchy |
Project 5.1 - Verbal |
|
Nov. 10, 13 |
Chapter 5 - Memory Hierarchy |
Quiz on Chapter 4 |
|
Nov. 17, 20 |
Chapter 5 - Memory Hierarchy NO Class - Thanksgiving |
|
|
Nov. 24, 27 |
Chapter 5 - Memory Hierarchy NO Class - Thanksgiving |
Project 6.1 - Verbal |
|
Dec. 1, 4 |
Chapter 6 - Storage |
Quiz on Chapter 5 |
|
Dec. 8 |
Chapter 6 - Storage |
|
|
Dec. 15 |
FINAL EXAM --- 4:00 - 6:00 PM |
|
The Projects
For many of the Monday Deliverables, a Project is requested. Each project is a small experiment or measurement that you will perform. They typically require coding of a small program and then execution of that program on the computer of your choice.
You will need to learn how to program in "C" and Intel Assembler in order to do these projects.
Plan on working in teams of two people on the verbal projects.
| NAME |
BRIEF DESCRIPTION |
POWERPOINT |
ADOBE ACROBAT |
| Project 2.1 |
Messing With Assembler Code |
Lab2.1.ppt | Lab2.1.pdf |
| Project 3 |
Structural, Data and Control Hazards |
Lab3.ppt | Lab3.pdf |
| Project 4 |
Looking at compiled code. |
Lab4.ppt | Lab4.pdf |
| Project 5 |
Exploring the Memory Hierarchy |
Lab5.ppt | Lab5.pdf |
Feedback (constructive criticism) on these course web pages is welcome, and should be directed to jbreecher@clarku.edu.