CSC364: Computer Architecture

Computer Architecture
CSC 364, Fall 2004
Dominique Thiébaut

Course Description & Syllabus
(http://cs.smith.edu/~thiebaut/classes/364/)

1. Introduction	7. Grading Policy
2. Class Times	8. Professor
3. Textbooks	9. Teaching Assistant
4. Other Sources	10. Lab Assistant
5. Lateness Policy	11. Office/Lab Hours
6. Grading

Professor

Dominique Thiébaut
McConnell Hall, 208.
Telephone: 3854
Office hours MW 2:30-4:00 and by appointment

Go to the class Homepage for exercices, demo programs, and misc. information.

Introduction

CSC364, Computer Architecture, is a 4-credit seminar. This year it is being taught with a format different from prior years, with an emphasis on GUI programming and simulation.

The goal of the course is to design a processor simulator in C++ using Trolltech's Qt graphics library. The whole semester will be spent learning Qt (no previous knowledge of Qt is required), and learning aspects of computer architecture which will be implemented in a software simulator as we progress.

We will cover important aspects of computer architecture, and what trade-offs computer designers are faced with when implementing new circuitry to improve on overall performance or power management of computer components. Some of the key concepts we will cover are listed below:

Registers, instruction sets, assembly issues

Arithmetic and Logic Units (ALU).

Microprogramming versus hardwired control units

Pipelines and branch prediction

Memory hierarchy and caches

Input/Output (I/O), events, interrupts, Direct Memory Access.

During the semester, we will also read and discuss several papers discussing important aspects of computer architecture:

The First Draft Report on the Edvac, by John von Neumann.
more to come later!

This course is usually offered in the fall, and is the fourth computer course of a series, including CSC111, CSC112, and CSC231.

The programming environment is Windows XP, but interested students can elect to develop their projects on a Linux or Mac platform.

Prerequisites

CS I (CSC111), CS II (CSC112), and Assembly (CSC231).

Schedule

The class meets three times a week, MWF 1:10-2:20. Regular homework assignments will be given out, more or less on a weekly basis.

Class Times

Lectures: Monday, Wednesday, Friday 11:00 - 12:10 p.m., Bass 102

Textbooks

The main book for the class is Computer Organization, 5th Edition, Hamacher, Vranesic, and Zaky, Mc Graw Hill. (Available from Amazon.com.) It is quite an expensive book ($122 new at Amazon), but it is a very good reference to have.

C++ GUI Programming with Qt 3, by Jasmin Blanchette and Mark Summerfield, (also available from Amazon.com.) This book is not required, and is an additional reference on Qt (which is already very well documented on Trolltech's Web site.) Two copies of this book are owned by the department and available in McC104 and McC209.

Other Sources of Material

Check the Class Homepage for additional links to Qt- or architecture-related sources.

Lateness Policy

No late assignments will be accepted (except in case of documented illness or personal difficulties). However, one assignment can be dropped without penalty during the semester.

Grading

Homework assignments 60%, Final Project 40%.

Teaching Assistant

We have no TAs this semester.