Graduate Computer Architecture ((3))

Catalog description

This is a graduate survey course in computer architecture for graduate students who have some experience in computer organization and design. It covers early systems, microprocessor design, instruction set architecture, control, buses, ALU, memory and multiprocessor systems. The class focuses on memory hierarchies, caching, virtual memory, ISA design considerations (RISC, CISC, VLSI RISCs), branch speculation, advanced datapaths, multithreading, coherence and consistency, and processor heterogeneity. Students will present current work in architecture. Each week lecture meets for 150 minutes.