Computer Architectures (CS 401)

2024 Fall
Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences
Computer Sci.& Eng.(CS)
4
8/6 ECTS (for students admitted in the 2013-14 Academic Year or following years)
Özcan Öztürk ozcan.ozturk@sabanciuniv.edu,
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English
Undergraduate
CS303
Formal lecture
Interactive
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Programs\Type Required Core Elective Area Elective
Computer Science and Engineering *
Computer Science and Engineering *
Electronics Engineering *
Electronics Engineering *
Materials Science and Nano Engineering *
Materials Science and Nano Engineering (Previous Name: Materials Science and Engineering) *
Mechatronics Engineering *
Mechatronics Engineering *
Microelectronics *
Molecular Biology, Genetics and Bioengineering *
Molecular Biology, Genetics and Bioengineering (Pre. Name: Biological Sciences and Bioengineering) *
Telecommunications *

CONTENT

This is an introductory course on computer architectures which is about the basic concepts and techniques that are fundamental for modern computers such as datapath design, pipelining, memory hierarchy, cache, and virtual memory. Topics include: Instruction set design, computer arithmetic, controller and datapath design, cache and memory systems, input-output systems, interrupts and exceptions, pipelining, performance.

OBJECTIVE

To explore the interaction between the hardware organization of modern computers and software, and to reveal the impact of the hardware organization on the performance of the software.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

  • Explain how an instruction is executed in a computer hardware with a classical architecture (e.g., von Neumann machine).
  • Summarize how instructions and data are represented at the machine level and how basic arithmetic is performed.
  • Write simple programs in assembly language for at least one computer architecture.
  • Explain how subroutine calls are handled in one programming language (e.g., the assembly language level).
  • Explain the factors that affect a computer system performance and provide performance metrics to evaluate a computer system.
  • Explain basic instruction level parallelism using pipelining and the major hazards that may occur and the concept of branch prediction and its utility.
  • Explain the effect of memory latency on the performance of a computer platform and the use of memory hierarchy to reduce the effective memory latency.
  • Describe the principles of memory management and the role of memory organization (cache and virtual memory etc.) in overall computer performance.
  • Explain at least one I/O mechanism for the processor to communicate with I/O devices.

PROGRAMME OUTCOMES

1. Understand the world, their country, their society, as well as themselves and have awareness of ethical problems, social rights, values and responsibility to the self and to others. 1

2. Understand different disciplines from natural and social sciences to mathematics and art, and develop interdisciplinary approaches in thinking and practice. 1

3. Think critically, follow innovations and developments in science and technology, demonstrate personal and organizational entrepreneurship and engage in life-long learning in various subjects; have the ability to continue to educate him/herself. 3

4. Communicate effectively in Turkish and English by oral, written, graphical and technological means. 4

5. Take individual and team responsibility, function effectively and respectively as an individual and a member or a leader of a team; and have the skills to work effectively in multi-disciplinary teams. 4

1. Possess sufficient knowledge of mathematics, science, fundamental engineering, computational methods and program-specific engineering topics; use theoretical and applied knowledge of these areas in complex engineering problems. 4

2. Identify, define, formulate and solve complex engineering problems while considering the UN Sustainable Development Goals; choose and apply suitable analysis, design, estimation/prediction and modeling methods for this purpose. 4

3. Develop, choose and use modern techniques and tools that are needed for analysis and solution of complex problems faced in engineering applications; use information technologies effectively. 4

4. Have the ability to design a complex system, process, instrument or a product under realistic constraints and conditions, with the goal of fulfilling creative current and future requirements. 4

5. Use research methods, including conducting literature reviews, designing experiments, performing experiments, collecting data, analyzing results, and interpreting results, to investigate complex engineering problems or discipline-specific research topics. 4

6. Possess knowledge of business practices such as project management, risk management, change management, and economic feasibility analysis; awareness on entrepreneurship and innovation. 1

7. Possess knowledge of impact of engineering solutions on society, health and safety, the economy, sustainability, and the environment within the framework of the UN Sustainable Development Goals; awareness on legal outcomes of engineering solutions; awareness of acting impartially and inclusively without any form of discrimination; act in accordance with ethical principles, possessing knowledge of professional and ethical responsibilities. 2

8. Communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, on technical subjects, considering the diverse characteristics of the target audience (such as education, language, and profession). 4

ASSESSMENT METHODS and CRITERIA

  Percentage (%)
Final 40
Midterm 30
Quiz 10
Assignment 20

RECOMENDED or REQUIRED READINGS

Textbook

David Money Harris, Sarah L. Harris, Digital Design and Computer Architecture, 2nd ed. Morgan Kaufmann, 2013.