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Course Description
In this course you will learn to understand how computers really work, so that we can make better use of them with our programs. We will cover advanced architectures, microprocessor structure, I/O subsystems, multiprocessor architecture, intra-system communication, buses, caches, memory hierarchies, addressing modes, microprogramming. However, throughout the course, we will look at these issues from the programmer’s point of view rather than the hardware designer’s view. This course will give you a deeper knowledge of how your programs interact with the hardware, and how to optimize your programs to take advantage of the hardware platform.

The topics mentioned in the title of the course are: Introduction to computer systems’ evolution and performance, system components’ interconnection – buses, memory hierarchies and caches, systems’ internals and external memory structure and operation, input/output devices and operation, number systems, data representation, and computer arithmetic, instruction sets, CPU structure and function, introduction to reduced instruction set computers (RISC), control unit and microprogramming

Instructor: Dr. habil. Alexander Nikov
Room: 417, Phone:3117, Office Hours: Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays 10-11

Teaching assistant: Amir Mohhamed

Textbook
Stallings William, Computer Organization and Architecture: Designing for Performance, Addison-Wesley 7th edition, 2006, ISBN-13:9780131856448

Exam and Assignments Dates
Mid-term exam: Mar 27, Assignment1: Feb 21, assignment2: Mar 25, assigment3: Apr 25

Lecture Hours
Tuesdays 11-13: FSA313; Wednesdays 12-14, FSA114, FSA412

Course Evaluation
Mid-term exam 10%, Assignments (1+2+3) 15%, Final Exam 75%

Late assignments: one day  -10%

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Revised: 16 April 2007