English

Every autumn semester

The goal of this course is to introduce the operation of computer systems at the level of Instruction Set Architectures (ISA). It aims to provide a basic understanding of the design principles that govern modern computer architectures and their components. Especially it pays attention to (super scalar) pipelining and memory hierarchy techniques including caches. Implementation and efficiency issues are exemplified. Metrical performance analysis methods are discussed to evaluate architectural alternatives.

The course introduces the foundations of low-level computer functioning. The course syllabus includes, among other things, the main parts of computer system and low-level programming techniques and the techniques of RISC-processors and pipelining, cache memory and virtual memory. The course also illuminates the alternative design principles of modern computer architectures in order to provide an understanding of their impact on performance. Quantitative methods to evaluate design principles for performance constitutes an important subject of the course. In coarse overview the lectures treat:

· Performance

· ISA principles

· Pipelining

· Memory Systems

- I/O, Multiprocessor

- understand a computer architecture

- know how to quantify the potential performance of a computer

- have an overview of the architectural alternatives and technological restrictions to solve a computing problem.

· Be skilled in establishing computer functionality

· Be well-versed in system simulation

· Be experienced in architecture quantification

· Have an operational knowledge of architectures

have learnt trade-offs in creating computer support for solving problems

Lectures

Laboratory exercises

Written exam

Oral exam

Failed, pass

Hennesy, J. & Patterson, D.: Computer Architecture – A Quantitative Approach. ISBN 9780123704900.

The course is based on EITF20
Course Coordinator: Liang Liu, liang.liu@eit.lth.se

EITF20F

 -03-02

Professor Thomas Johansson