COMP 4300 Computer Architecture

Fall 2008

MWF 12:00-12:50pm, Shelby Building 1124

Auburn University

 

Instructor: Dr. Xiao Qin

 Shelby Building 3101E, 844-6327, Office hours: Wednesday 1:30-3:00pm

TA: Jie Bao,  baojie@auburn.edu,  Shelby Building 2307, Office hours: Monday 3:00-5:00pm

 General Information | Announcements | Syllabus | Assignments | Lectures 

Announcements

  • The Study Guide for the final exam is available. [Posted Wednesday 12/03] 
  • The schedule for Lab 4 demonstrations is available. [Posted Monday 12/01]

  • Written Assignment 3 is available. (Due 12:00PM, M, Nov. 17) [Posted Monday 11/10] 

  • Lab assignment 4 is available. (Due 11:30AM, M, Dec. 1) [Posted Wednesday 11/5]

  • The schedule for Lab 3 demonstrations is available. [Posted Monday 11/10]

  • Lab assignment 3 is available. (Due 11:30AM, W, Nov. 5) [Posted Wednesday 10/15]

  • The schedule for Lab 2 demonstrations is available. [Posted Monday 10/13]
  • Lab 2 due date is postponed to Sunday Oct. 12, 11:59pm. 
  • The Study Guide for the Midterm exam is available. [Posted Thursday 10/02] 

  • The standard input for Lab2 is: ablewasiereisawelba 

  • Lab assignment 2 is available. (Due 11:30AM, W, Oct. 8) [Posted Friday 9/19]

  • Written Assignment 2 is available. (Due 12:00PM, M, Sept. 29) [Posted Wednesday 9/24] 

  • The schedule for demonstrations is available. [Posted Friday 9/19]

  • Written Assignment 1 due is postponed to Sept. 8.  [Posted Wednesday 9/3]

  • In written assignment 1, #1 part b, F = 8 x 106 should be F = 8 x 10^6. [Posted Wednesday 9/3]

  • Written Assignment 1 is available. (Due 12:00PM, F, Sept. 5) [Posted Wednesday 8/27] 

  • AU ALERT - Due to severe weather expected to continue throughout the day, classes are canceled for today.  It is recommended that you SHELTER IN PLACE.  Tiger Transit is available to take you to your residence if no tornado warning is issued, but will suspend  operation during warnings. The campus is not closed. [Posted Wednesday 8/25, 11:00am]   

  • Lab assignment 1 is available. (Due 11:30AM, W, Sept. 17) [Posted Wednesday 8/20]

  • The webpage of COMP 4300 is launched. [Posted Monday 8/15]

Course Information

This course aims to introduce many issues and challenges involved in designing and implementing modern computer systems. Since application developers definitely benefit from understanding how computer systems work, we will be focusing on the architecture and implementation of von Neumann computer systems. Understanding the interdependence of architectural and implementation decisions is of help to the development of applications where performance is a critical issue. Specific objectives of this course include:

Objectives

  • To learn the principles behind the design of modern computer systems (e.g., tradeoffs: cost vs. performance, speed vs. flexibility)
  • To understand the design of instruction sets
  • To learn pipelining techniques
  • To understand issues in hierarchical memory system design
  • To classify and describe parallel computer architectures
  • To demonstrate the ability to program microprocessors in assembly language

Topics  (These topics may change.) 

  • Basics of machine organization 
  • Principles of instruction set design 
  • Computer arithmetic 
  • Pipelining 
  • Memory hierarchy 
  • Autonomous I/O 
  • Quantitative characterizations of CPU 
  • Memory and I/O performance. 

Prerequisite: COMP 3350 Computer Organization and Assembly Language Programming

Office Hours: Dr. Qin will have office hours on Wednesday at 1:00-3:00pm in his office (Shelby 3101E). Jie Bao will have office hours on Monday from 3:00 to 5:00pm in his offices. To get the most out of office hours, it is recommended to email us in advance.

Textbooks:  

  • Hennessy, J. L, and Patterson, D. A., Computer Architecture: A Quantitative Approach, 4th Edition. Morgan Kaufmann, 2007. ISBN-13 : 978-0-12-370490-0   ISBN-10 : 0-12-370490-1 (Required) 

    • Exams and Grading

    Mid-term                      20%   

    Final Exam                 20%   

    Quizzes                        10%

    Class Participation      5%

    Written Assignments  15%

    Lab Assignments        30%

    Scale

    Letter grades will be awarded based on the following scale. This scale may be adjusted upwards if it is necessary based on final grades.

    A+ >= 97    A >= 93    A- >= 90    B+ >= 87    B >= 83    B- >= 80    C+ >= 77    C >= 73    C- >= 70   D+ >= 67    D >= 63    D- >= 60    F < 60 

    Reading

    Students are expected to read the appropriate sections of the book before each lecture. 

    Assignments

    There will be four written assignments and four laboratory assignments. The lab assignment solutions will be submitted in C or java code.

    Late Assignments

    Late assignments will NOT be accepted without prior arrangement.

    Resources

    Study Hints

    • Ask questions in class.
    • At the first sign of difficulty, talk to your instructor and teaching assistant.
    • Form a study group and meet regularly.
    • Construct chapter summaries noting concepts, definitions, & procedures.

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