Computer Architecture (U01898)

? Credit Points : 10 ? SCQF Level : 9 ? Acronym : INF-3-CAR

Computer architecture is about making computing hardware and software operate as fast as possible and for the minimum cost. Over the years improvements in technology and advances in computer architecture have resulted in huge increases in computer performance. This course examines the fundamentals of high-performance computer architecture and looks at how the interface between hardware and software (architecture and compiler) influences performance.

Entry Requirements

? Pre-requisites : Successful completion of Year 2 of an Informatics Single or Combined Degree, or equivalent by permission of the School.

Subject Areas

Home subject area

Computer Systems Organisation, (School of Informatics, Schedule O)

Delivery Information

? Normal year taken : 3rd year

? Delivery Period : Semester 2 (Blocks 3-4)

? Contact Teaching Time : 3 hour(s) per week for 10 weeks

First Class Information

Date	Start	End	Room	Area	Additional Information
07/01/2008	10:00	10:50	Room 7.18, David Hume Tower	Central

All of the following classes

Type	Day	Start	End	Area
Lecture	Monday	10:00	10:50	Central
Lecture	Thursday	10:00	10:50	Central

Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes

It is anticipated that after successful completion of this course students will be able to:
- Describe and discuss the organisation and operation of high performance processors.
- Analyse and evaluate the performance of high performance processors.
- Define and describe the principles and operation of memory hierarchies.
- Analyse and evaluate the performance of memory hierarchies.
- Describe the operation of I/O subsystems.
- Describe the operation of multiprocessor organisations and explain cache coherence issues.
- Discuss, assess and compare quantitatively the behaviour and performance of modern computer systems.
- Employ machine language for programming short code segments.