Date: Wed, 20 Nov 1996 22:16:22 GMT Server: NCSA/1.5.1 Last-modified: Thu, 14 Nov 1996 19:00:48 GMT Content-type: text/html Content-length: 6939 CPS 220 Computer Systems Organization

CPS 220 Computer Systems Organization (Fall 1996)

Was CPS 296 Section 3 Advanced Topics in Computer Architecture Please contact me if you have any questions about this course.


Instructor Alvin Lebeck
e-mail: alvy@cs.duke.edu
Time: 10:30am - 11:20am
Location: D243 LSRC
Office Hours: Monday and Wednesday 1:30pm - 2:30pm or by appointment


TA Srikanth Srinivasan
e-mail: sri@cs.duke.edu
Location: D330 LSRC
Office Hour: Tuesday 10:30am - 11:30am or by appointment

Announcements

Contents

  • Suggestion Box
  • Course newsgroup
  • Course Synopsis
  • Grade Composition and Quals Information
  • Important Dates
  • Handouts
  • Lectures
  • Homework
  • Exams
  • Research Project
  • Resources

  • Synopsis Of Course Content:

    This course covers topics on advanced computer architecture, and is appropriate for both advanced undergraduates and graduate students. Building on introductory classes which showed how a basic computer functions, this course examines techniques for improving computer performance and usability. This course emphasizes the interaction between hardware and software (operating systems, compilers, and application programs), as well as the cost/performance tradeoffs of computer architecture. Topics covered include virtual memory, pipelining, caches (memory hierarchies), and advanced storage systems. We will also discuss a variety of parallel computer systems and future directions in computer architecture.

    Prerequisites: CPS 104 or equivalent.

    It is assumed that you are familiar with the material covered in CPS 104. If you are not familiar with that material, it is your responsibility to become familiar. Please see me if you have any questions about required background.

    Textbook

    Computer Architecture A Quantitative Approach, 2nd Edition, John L. Hennessy & David A. Patterson Morgan Kaufmann, 1996

    Topics

  • Fundamentals of Computer Architecture (Chapter 1)
  • Instruction Set Architecture (Chapter 2, Appendix C)
  • Pipelining (Chapter 3)
  • Advanced Pipelining (Chapter 4)
  • Memory Hierarchy (Chapter 5)
  • Storage Systems (Chapter 6)
  • Interconnection Networks (Chapter 7)
  • Multiprocessors (Chapter 8)
  • Grade To Be Based On:

  • 30% homework
  • 30% project
  • 30% exams (two midterms, and exit interview)
  • 10% class participation
  • Important: Quals grade is based only on the two midterms and exit interview

    Homework (30% of grade):

    Homework will be assigned throughout the semester (see handouts). You are expected to complete the homework individually. However, I encourage discussion between students on topics covered in this class.

    Exams (30% of grade):

    There will be two midterm exams and a short exit interview in this course (see important dates)

    oResearch Project (30% of grade):

    Course projects will be completed individually or in groups of two. A list of possible projects will be provided. Students will create a web page presenting the results of their projects and will give a short presentation on their projects. Group projects are expected to entail more work than individual projects and require 30 minute presentations (15 minutes per student.) Projects are subject to my approval. More details will be provided later in the semester. You should select your project by September 30.
    Look here for a list of possible research probjets.
    Look under Resources for available tools and other useful links. This is what people have selected for projects


    Important Dates:

  • September 4 First Day of Class
  • September 30 Project selection
  • October 14 Midterm I Exam 7-9pm D106 LSRC
  • October 21 Fall Break
  • October 23 & 25 Project status reports
  • November 28-29 Thanksgiving
  • Dec 6 Project Web Pages Due (Last Class Day)
  • December 6 Midterm II Exam
  • December 9 Exit Interviews
  • Handouts:

    Homework due dates and precise exercises are subject to change. So, don't do these until I officially assign the problems.

    Handout 0: Background Questionaire
    Handout 1: Homework #1 Due September 16, 1996
    Handout 2: Homework #2 Due September 27, 1996
    Handout 3: Homework #3 Due October 9, 1996
    Handout 4: Homework #4 Due Nov 8, 1996
    Handout 5: Homework #5 Due Dec 2, 1996


    Resources and Useful Links

    Last modified: Thu Nov 14 14:00:43 EST