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Instructor: |
Course Description:
This course is an introduction to computer architecture.
In this class, we will focus on microprocessor design, including CPU
and memory, the interface between hardware and software, and an
introduction to multiprocessors. The labs for this course will focus on microprocessor
characteristics and design, using Verilog, a hardware description language, and performance simulators. A course project enables the students to explore a particular topic of
their choice in depth.
Textbooks:
- David Patterson and John Hennessy, Computer Organization and Design: The Hardware/Software Interface, fourth edition revised, Elsevier Publishers, 2012. (Required)
- John Hennessy and David Patterson, Computer Architecture: A Quantitative Approach, fifth edition, Elsevier Publishers, 2012. (Optional)
Links:
- Verilog Handbook
- Verilog Synthesis Tutorial
- Verilog "Cheat sheet"
- C Programming Notes
- The C Library Reference Guide
- Emacs command summary
- Quartus II Software
- SimpleScalar tool set
- WWW Computer Architecture Page
Tentative Class Schedule
NOTE: Some of the links on this page are not accessible from outside Swarthmore.
| Week | Dates | Topics | Readings & Handouts | Labs & HW |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jan 21-Jan 25 |
|
Chapter 1 Slides Slides (See Verilog links above) |
Lab 1 Quartus II Abbreviated Manual |
| 2 | Jan 28-Feb 1 |
|
Chapter 1 |
Homework 1 |
| 3 | Feb 4-Feb 8 |
|
Chapter 2.1-2.7 Slides MIPS Green Card Slides |
Lab 2 Example MIPS program Download SPIM from here |
| 4 | Feb 11-Feb 15 |
|
Chapter 2.10, 2.11, 2.16, 2.17 Appendix B Chapter 4.1-4.4 Slides Chapter 4.4-4.6 Slides (Appendix D) |
Homework 2 |
| 5 | Feb 18-Feb 22 |
|
Chapter 4.4-4.6 Slides Slides Slides |
Homework 3 |
| 6 | Feb 25-March 1 |
|
Chapter 4.6, 4.5, 4.7-4.9 |
Lab 3 ( register_file.v) |
| 7 | March 4-March 8 |
|
Chapter 4.6, 4.5, 4.7-4.9 Slides BPred Handouts | Homework 4 |
Spring Break |
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| 8 | March 18-March 22 |
|
Chapter 5.1-5.3, 5.5 Slides Slides |
Homework 5 |
| 9 | March 25-March 29 |
|
Chapter 5.4 Slides |
Lab 4 www.SimpleScalar.com |
| 10 | April 1-April 5 |
|
Chapter 4.10 Slides |
Homework 6 Final Project |
| 11 | April 8-April 12 |
|
Tomasulo Handouts Slides Chapter 7.1-7.6, 2.11, 5.8 Slides |
Homework 7 Research Paper Prep |
| 12 | April 15-April 19 |
|
Intel Pentium 4 Intel Core Duo Slides AMD Opteron: Sections 2.17, 3.7, 4.11, 5.10 |
Research Paper Prep |
| 13 | April 22-April 26 |
|
AMD Opteron Memory Hierarchy GPUs: Section 7.7, Appendix A, (Fermi GF100 GPU Architecture) |
Research Paper Prep |
| 14 | April 29-May 3 |
|
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| Final Exam: 5/10 9am | ||||