Objectives and outcomes
Students acquire a basic knowledge of computer architecture and organization. They understand the operation and structure of processors and other computer subsystems. Upon completion of the course, students will be able to understand the structure and functioning of CISC and RISC processors, the bus, the input/output system, as well as the way the processor communicates with peripheral units.
Lectures
Introduction to computer architecture and organisation. Boolean algebra and logic circuits. Minimisation. Combinational and sequential circuits. Function and interconnection. Architecture. CISC and RISC. Programming model. Data types. Instruction formats. Addressing modes. Interrupts. Buses. Cache memory. Internal memory. External memory. Computer input / output. Operating system support. Computer arithmetic. Instruction sets. CPU structure and function.
Practical classes
Boolean algebra and logic circuits. Minimization. Combinational and sequential circuits. Simulation of simple combinational and sequential networks on a PC. Simulation of ALU, x86 architecture, set of instructions, addressing, writing simple programs on the simulator and on 32 and 64 bit h86 assembler.