CS305 Computer ArchitectureAutumn 2011

Lecture 01

Bhaskaran RamanDepartment of CSE, IIT Bombay

http://www.cse.iitb.ac.in/~br/

http://www.cse.iitb.ac.in/synerg/doku.php?id=public:courses:cs305­autumn11:start

Computer Architecture● “Architecture”

● The art and science of designing and constructing buildings

● A style and method of design and construction● Design, the way components fit together

● Computer Architecture● The overall design or structure of a computer system, 

including the hardware and the software required to run it, especially the internal structure of the microprocessor

CS305 Prerequisite

● Logic Design (CS210)● Switching theory● Number systems, computer arithmetic● Logic circuits, combinatorial logic, K­maps● Finite state machines in hardware● Arithmetic unit, control unit design● CAD, FPGA● VHDL

CS305 Course Contents

● Computer organization, von Neumann arch.● Instruction set design● Measuring performance, Amdahl's law, CPI● Datapath and control path● Pipelining, hazards

CS305 Course Contents (continued)

● Memory hierarchy, cache design, cache performance

● Disk storage● RAID● Error correction codes, Hamming codes● I/O Buses

Relation to Other Topics/Courses

Gates, digital circuits, chips

CPU, memory, I/O

Instruction set

Operating System (OS)

Application programs

Digital logic

Machine lang.

Assembly lang.

Higher levellanguage

Har

dwar

eSo

ftw

a re

CS210: Logic DesignCS210: Logic Design

CS305: ComputerArchitecture(Hardware/

software interface)

CS305: ComputerArchitecture(Hardware/

software interface)

CS347: Oper. Sys.CS347: Oper. Sys.

Compilers(Impl. of PL)Compilers

(Impl. of PL)

Course References

● “Computer Organization and Design: The Hardware/Software Interface”, 3rd edition, David A. Patterson and John L. Hennessy, Elsevier (Restricted South Asia Edition).● 4th edition available, but I'll follow 3rd edition

● Notes from other computer architecture courses

Why Important?

Q: Why do you think Computer Architecture is important (or unimportant)?

Identify Computer Architecture around you

Scenario­1: Watch TV || Record

Scenario­2: SMS Gone, AC On

Scenario­3: ICU Patient Monitoring

Image source: uwhealth.org

Scenario­4: Rural Computing

Scenario­5: Horn­Ok­Please

Why Important?

● Computing central to information age● Computer systems range from very small to very 

large, low­end to super­computers● New computing devices, end­user devices● How are they designed?  What affects their 

performance?

Q: Why do you think Computer Architecture is important (or unimportant)?

Course Evaluation● Homework assignment(s): 15%● Quizzes: 15%● Mid­sem: 25%● End­sem: 45%

● Companion course: CS341: Computer Architecture Lab● Assembly language programming, learning concepts 

through simulator (SPIM) based implementation

Students vs. Exam­Takers● Student:

– Attend all classes, arriving on/before time– Exceptions require (1) written explanation (2) prior permission– Attention in classes– Integrity in work: exams, homeworks, labs, etc.

● Exam­takers– Attendance optional

● Declare yourself as student or exam­taker● Student ­­> exam­taker transision is easy and automatic● Exam­taker ­­> student transition is hard

Student­Teacher Relationship

● Being a student is a pre­requisite for teacher­student relationship

● (Only) By being a student, you can:● Ask questions in class● Request deadline extensions● Negotiate on exam re­evaluations

● I will do my best to hold my end of the bargain

How You Learn is Important

● Aspects of “how you learn”● Commitment and hard­work● Time­management● Group learning● Integrity: most important

– Strict policy on dishonesty

– Cheating OR helping cheat ==> FR grade