CS 570: Advanced Computer Architecture

Objectives

• To learn the science and art of selecting and interconnecting hardware components to create a computer that meets functional, performance and cost goals.
• To learn qualitative and quantitative examination of computer design tradeoffs.

Prerequisites

• CS 470.

Course Materials

• Text
  • John L. Hennessy, David A. Patterson. Computer Architecture: A Quantitative Approach (3rd ed). Morgan Kaufmann, 2002, ISBN: 1-558-60596-7.
• Recommended
  • William Stallings. Computer Organization and Architecture: Designing for Performance (7th ed). Prentice-Hall, 2006, ISBN: 0-13-185644-8.
• Online Resources
  • Computer Architecture Web site.

Syllabus

• Introduction
• Computer platforms and models
• Performance metrics and benchmarks
• Microprocessors
• Arithmetic
• Datapath design
• Pipelining
• Superscalar
• Memory technology
• System interconnects and gigabit networks
• I/O
• Parallel architecture
• Clusters of servers and workstations

Evaluation

• 35% — Homework, Programming Assignment
• 35% — Exam
• 30% — Term Project

Edited March 2006 (html, css checks)