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| Unit name |
Overview of Computer Architecture |
| Unit code |
COMSM1302 |
| Credit points |
20 |
| Level of study |
M/7
|
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12)
|
| Unit director |
Dr. Kerrison |
| Open unit status |
Not open |
| Pre-requisites |
None
|
| Co-requisites |
None
|
| School/department |
School of Computer Science |
| Faculty |
Faculty of Engineering |
Description including Unit Aims
This unit covers a range of different computer related topics, including historical material, digital electronics and gradually build up to the design of a computer system. The major topics we will cover are: Fundamentals: The history of the transistor. An introduction to digital electronics, building from simple logic gates into flip- flops, registers, multiplexer etc, number systems (binary numbers and arithmetic). Basics of computer architecture: Buses, the Von Neumann vs Harvard architectures, memory, data representation, arithmetic operations, the ALU, the fetch-execute cycle. Control: Data path layout, controlling the fetch-decode-execute cycle. Parallelism in the processor, basics of pipelines, multi-processors. Instruction set design: Designing a processor to execute programs. Instruction types, addressing modes. Assembly languages and compilers, requirements for operating systems, including interrupts and I/O. At this point we will be able to look at how the computer as a whole works.
Intended Learning Outcomes
Successful completion of this unit will enable you to: Demonstrate a a basic understanding of digital electronics and the components used in the design of computer systems. Explain the design and operation of the principal components of the both hardware and software, and how they fit together. Show how high level programs are executed in hardware, by performing simple computations at various levels in the machine.
Teaching Information
There are 24 lectures and 48 hours of supervised laboratory session. Coursework consists of in-lab activities involving both simulation and real hardware, combined with write-up outside of the labs. A further 140 hours are nominally set aside for coursework, private study, etc.
Assessment Information
Coursework (50%), Viva (50%). The coursework will include structured labs and associated write-up. The viva will be an oral examination at the end of the unit.
Reading and References
M Morris Mano. Computer System Architecture. Pearson Higher Education. 1992. ISBN: 0131757385 Essential A. Tanenbaum. Structured Computer Organization. Prentice Hall, 2005. ISBN: 0-131-48521-0 Background
