Module 19340 (2008)
Syllabus page 2008/2009
06-19340
Computer Systems & Architecture
Level 2/I
Links | Outline | Aims | Outcomes | Prerequisites | Teaching | Assessment | Books | Detailed Syllabus
The Module Description is a strict subset of this Syllabus Page. (The University module description has not yet been checked against the School's.)
Relevant Links
Outline
Introduction to Hardware Engineering: outline of digital circuits, basic computer organisation and architecture (CPU, memory, i/o); control of peripherals; basics of networking.
Aims
The aims of this module are to:
- provide an understanding of the fundamental concepts and principles of computer architectures in the context of the von Neumann model
- introduce the basic components of von Neumann computers, their internal design and operation and their interactions
- develop an appreciation of how computer hardware supports and interacts with the programming languages and environments that students learn in other modules
- provide a basic understanding of networking sufficient to support programming involving networks in other modules
Learning Outcomes
| On successful completion of this module, the student should be able to: | Assessed by: | |
| 1 | explain the fundamental principles upon which the operation of modern computers is based | Examination |
| 2 | describe and explain the structure and organization of computer systems, including the role and operation of each of the component modules | Examination |
| 3 | explain the fundamental concepts and issues involved in the control of peripherals, including interrupt-handling | Examination |
| 4 | explain the fundamental concepts and issues involved in computer networking, including the need for protocols, addressing and routing | Examination |
| 5 | describe and explain the interaction between software and hardware, demonstrating how programs are executed | Examination |
Restrictions, Prerequisites and Corequisites
Restrictions:
None
Prerequisites:
06-18187 (Foundations of Computer Science)
Co-requisites:
None
Teaching
Teaching Methods:
Lectures/tutorials: 2 hrs/week
Contact Hours:
Assessment
- Sessional: 1.5 hr examination (100%)
- Supplementary (where allowed): As the sessional assessment
Recommended Books
| Title | Author(s) | Publisher, Date |
| Computer organization and Design - The Hardware/Software Interface | John Hennessy and David Patterson | Morgan Kaufmann, 1997 |
| Structured Computer Organization | Andrew Tanenbaum | Prentice Hall, 1999 |
| Computer Organization and Architecture: Designing for Performance | William Stallings | Prentice Hall, 1999 |
| Structured Computer Organization | Andrew Tanenbaum | Prentice Hall, 2000 |
Detailed Syllabus
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Basic concepts
- Historical Overview
- Overview of stored program (von Neumann) computer organisation
- The Instruction Set Architecture; RISC vs CISC
- The Processor Cycle
- Measuring and predicting performance; Factors affecting performance.
- Inside the CPU
- Boolean Algebra and Digital Logic
- The CPU Datapath; Implementing some common datapath elements in digital logic.
- Pipelining
- Controlling the CPU
- Memory Architecture
- The Memory Hierachy
- The Memory Map
- Caches
- I/O and Peripheral Control
- Buses
- Memory-mapped I/O
- Interrupts
- Direct Memory Access
- Hardware/Software Interface
- What happens during compilation and linking?
- Generating Code
- Addressing Modes
- Networks
- Basic Network Topology
- Network Addressing
- Routing
- Network Protocols
Last updated: 24 Apr 2008
Source file: /internal/modules/COMSCI/2008/xml/19340.xml
Links | Outline | Aims | Outcomes | Prerequisites | Teaching | Assessment | Books | Detailed Syllabus