Computer Architecture

CS 240
Spring 2000

Instructor:

Thomas P. Kelliher
Hoffberger 140
Office phone: 337-6189
Home phone: 931-2946
Send mail to kelliher AT DOMAIN goucher.edu
http://phoenix.goucher.edu/~kelliher/
Office hours: MWF 12:20--1:20pm. Th 9:00-10:00am. Other times by appointment.

Class:

Hoffberger G39
MWF 10:30am--11:20pm
Three credits.

Objectives:

The objectives of this class are for you to learn how a CPU interfaces to the outside world (I/O), to learn how microarchitectural techniques are employed to speed execution, to learn about multiprocessors, and to learn how an architect designs an architecture to solve a specified class of problems.

Textbook:

D. A. Patterson and J. L. Hennessy, ``Computer Organization & Design: The Hardware/Software Interface,'' 2nd ed., Morgan Kaufmann, 1998. Required.

Grading:

Grade Distribution

A = [92--100], A- = [90--92), B+ = [88--90), B = [82--88), B- = [80--82), etc.

Course Point Distribution

There are tentatively 550 total points for the course:

1. Assignments --- There will be approximately five written assignments. Each assignment will be worth 50 points. Late assignments will be accepted only by prior arrangement.

2. Paper presentation --- A 20 minute presentation of a paper from the research literature. This presentation will be worth 50 points. Presentations will be April 12 and 14.

3. Exams --- There will be one midterm and a final. Each will be worth 100 points. Tentatively, the midterm will be March 10.

4. Attendance, participation. 50 points.

Course Handouts:

Most course handouts will be made available once in class. After that, they may be obtained from the class home page on the World Wide Web (see the class URL above). Some course handouts will only be distributed through the class home page.

Attendance:

Attendance of classes is expected and is a part of your grade. It is your responsibility to catch up on missed class work.

Integrity:

Academic dishonesty will not be tolerated. We are all bound by the Academic Honor Code.