Computer Architecture 2

The course covers fundamental and advanced Computer Architecture issues emphasizing on the structure of single- and multi-core processors, and several memory layers including cache and main memory. In the framework of the course exercises the students learn about the hardware description language VHDL

Objectives

• The learning outcome and goal is the knowledge of fundamental and advances issues concerning computer architecture as well as the hardware language VHDL. • With the completion of the topic the students will be able to: 1. Comprehend the features of advanced single and multi-core processors and memories 2. Design and Implement microcomputers interconnecting CPUs with memories and peripheral circuits. 3. Know the VHDL hardware description language (including entity/architecture structures, combinatorial circuit description like half and full adders, multi-bit adders, comparators, encoder/decoders, (de)multiplexors as well as sequential circuits like flip flops, register/latches, counters, ALUs, CPUs).

Prerequisites

Successive attendance in Computer Architecture 1

Syllabus

In the matter of the course Computer Architecture II include: - Review of PC structure (CPU, main memory RAM-ROM, input-output) - Interface RAM / ROM in CPU - Secondary storage (hard drives, optical disks) - Cache (cache) - Interleaving / Paging (paging) Main Memory, Virtual (virtual) memory, segmentation (segmentation) - Processors partially overlapping Function (pipeline) - Synchronous and parallel processors, Pentium description features During the workshops, students will learn the VHDL hardware description language and environment Altera MaxPlus II of the exercises used in previous years