Computer Architecture and Organisation

This course provides an overview of the architecture and organization of a computer hardware system and the important principles of computer organization. In addition, the course addresses also object-oriented programming techniques. The course demonstrates the interrelation between hardware and software, and illustrates how the computers operates and how they can be programmed, with the emphasis on processor design and implementation.

Topics discussed are Computer system overview, Measuring and comparing performance, ISA: instruction set architecture (MIPS, x86, 8051, JVM), Computer arithmetic, processor implementation, fast processor implementation, Memory hierarchy and caching, Interfacing, Modern architectures and organizations (superscalar, VLIW/IA64/Itanium), etc.

The assessment consists of the following parts:

• 7 Lab assignments: Pass/Fail

• 6 homework: HW1, HW2, HW3, HW4, HW5, and HW6 (weekly).

• 1 written exam: WE

You will pass the course if

• (Lab passed AND the Final Grade >=6), where

  • Final grade of the first exam: 'Finale grade' = max( (0.20*HW + 0.80*WE), WE). WE is the grade of the written exam.

  • Final grade of retake exam: 'Finale grade' = WE

Where HW is the weighted average grade of all homework;

HW = (HW1 + HW2 + HW3 + 2*HW4 + 2*HW5 +HW6)/ 8.

Disclaimer: information may change depending on unforeseen circumstances or measures (see: TER Art 29, sub 4).