CS/ECE 752: Advanced Computer Architecture I
Fall 1999-2000 Offering
URL: http://www.cs.wisc.edu/~markhill/cs752/Fall1999/
Last updated by
Mark Hill
at
Tue Nov 30 10:29:58 CST 1999
Computer architecture is the science and art of selecting and
interconnecting hardware components to create a computer that meets
functional, performance and cost goals. This course qualitatively and
quantitatively examines computer design tradeoffs. We will learn, for
example, how uniprocessors execute many instructions concurrently
and why state-of-the-art memory systems are nearly as complex as processors.
Examining tradeoffs requires that you already know how to design a
correct computer, as is taught is the important prerequisite CS/ECE
552. CS 537 is also a prerequisite, but it is less important, and may
be taken concurrently or adequately covered with external reading.
Office: 6373 Comp Sci and Stat
Email: 
Office hours: Monday 1:30-2:30 Wednesday 2:30-3:30
or by appointment
Office: 5364 Comp Sci and Stat
Phone: 262-5105
Email: cmccurdy@cs.wisc.edu
Office hours: Tuesday 3:00-4:00, Friday 10:00-11:00
or by appointment
John L. Hennessy and David A. Patterson,
Computer Architecture: A Quantitative Approach
ISBN 1-55860-329-8
Morgan Kaufmann Publishers, Second Edition, 1996.
Mark D. Hill, Norman P. Jouppi, and Gurindar S. Sohi
Readings in Computer Architecture
ISBN 1-55860-539-8
Morgan Kaufmann Publishers, 2000 (but available now)
Online ordering from http://www.mkp.com/architecture-readings
Students will also be taught to read the literature using about three
dozen papers, mostly from:
Selected papers are:
Time: 1:00 - 2:15 Tuesdays and Thursdays
Place: 101 Psychology
Lecture Notes:
The default project is to do some original research in a group of three
students. For example, you could examine a modest extension to a paper
studied in class or simply re-validate the data in some paper by
writing your own simulator. Alternatively, you may work in a group of
two to write a paper that surveys an area within computer
architecture. Projects will include an oral presentation and a paper.
There will be two midterm exams, but no final exam. The midterms are
listed in in the Approximate Outline. Please advise me of any
conflicts with these likely exam times before the end of the second
week of classes.
Sample Exams
There will be several assignments. Many assignments will require the
review of material that is touched upon, but not covered in depth in
class. Assignments will not be weighted equally. The approximate
weights of each assignment will be specified when the assignment is
handed out. Assignments will be due in class on the due date. NO LATE
ASSIGNMENTS WILL BE ACCEPTED, except under extreme non-academic
circumstances discussed with the instructor at least one week before
the assignment is due.
University policy on incompletes and academic misconduct (inappropriate
activity, whole
handbook) will be followed strictly.
- 35% Project
- 25% Midterm 1
- 25% Midterm 2
- 15% Homework
| Week of |
Tuesday Topic |
Thursday Topic |
Reading |
| Aug 30 | (no class yet) | Introduction | Chapter 1 |
| Sep 7 | Introduction | Performance/Cost (HW0) | Chapter 1 |
| Sep 14 | Instruction sets | Instruction sets | Chapter 2 |
| Sep 21 | Instruction sets (HW1) | Memory systems | cont., Chapter 5 |
| Sep 28 | Memory systems | Memory systems | cont. |
| Oct 5 | Memory systems (HW2) | Memory systems | cont. |
| Oct 12 | Review | Midterm 1 | -- |
| Oct 19 | ILP | ILP | Chapter 3 |
| Oct 26 | ILP | ILP (HW3) | Chapter 4 |
| Nov 2 | ILP | ILP | cont. |
| Nov 9 | I/O (project proposals) | I/O | Chapter 6 |
| Nov 16 | I/O | Interconnects | Chapter 6 and 7 |
| Nov 23 | Interconnects | (no class - Thanksgiving) | cont. |
| Nov 30 | Review | Midterm 2 | -- |
| Dec 7 | Multiprocessors | Blue sky | Chapter 8 |
| Dec 14 | Project talks | (More project talks?) | -- |
| Dec 21 | (project due at 8:00 AM) | (nothing) | -- |