CS-441 Computer Architecture

Mathematics, Statistics & Computer Science Department

COURSE NO./TITLE: CS-441 (354-441) COMPUTER ARCHITECTURE

CREDITS: 3

COURSE DESCRIPTION: Hierarchical organization of a computer system: CPU, memory, I/O modules. Detailed analysis of the CPU and control unit implementation.

Prerequisites: CS-244 and CS-245

TEXTBOOK: Computer Organization and Design, 2nd Ed. by Patterson
(Used 1st Ed. 8/94-5/00)

COURSE OBJECTIVES: Upon completion of the course the student will be able to:

  1. Apply the techniques of digital logic and Boolean Algebra to simple digital circuit design problems.
  2. Explain the design, operation, and interconnections of the major computer system components consisting of the CPU, memory, and I/O modules.
  3. Explain the design, operation, and interconnections of the major CPU components consisting of the control unit, registers, and the arithmetic and logic unit.
  4. Analyze the functionality of a CPU as determined by its machine instruction set and the data types supported.
  5. Compare and contrast hardwired CPU control versus microprogrammed control.
  6. Explain the design, operation, and interconnections of the major components of a microprogrammed control unit consisting of the control storage, microinstruction sequencing logic, and registers.

COURSE OUTLINE:

  1. Review of Digital Integrated Circuits
  2. The Computer System
    A. Computer Interconnection Structures
    B. Internal and External Memory
    C. Input/Output
  3. The Central Processing Unit
    A. Computer Arithmetic
    B. Instruction Sets
    C. CPU Structure
    1) Processor Organization
    2) Register Organization
    3) Instruction Cycles
  4. The Control Unit
    A. Control Unit Operation
    B. Hardwired Controllers
    C. Microprogrammed Controllers
    D. Instruction Pipelining

Revised 6/08