CSCI 2016 - Introduction to the Organization of Computer Systems

1. Classification of instructions, addressing modes, assembly languages
2. Computer peripherals: Hard disks, CD-ROM, DVD, audio CD, video displays, printers, scanners
3. Data representation for text, graphic, audio, video etc. data
4. Description and comparison of different processor architectures including CISC & RISC
5. Different metrics to measure computer performance
6. Input-output, interrupts, DMA, buses
7. Introduction to Boolean algebra and basic logic design
8. Introduction to basic combinational and sequential circuits
9. Micro Programming, Micro-instructions formats, symbolic and binary micro-program
10. Numeric representation and arithmetic in different bases including conversions, counting, integer and floating point formats
11. Overview of current computer organization and architectures
12. Processor strategies including pipelining, cache, parallelism, multicore, etc
13. Programming in assembler, data transfers
14. Structure and operation of internal memory
15. Structure and operation of the CPU
16. Von Neumann Architecture: basic functional blocks and their interaction, the instruction set and the instruction cycle

1. evaluate a given organization and architecture.
2. use principles of basic logic design to create simple combinatorial and sequential circuits.
3. use computer arithmetic to convert numbers between bases, perform arithmetic in different bases and use floating point and integer formats for numeric representation.
4. use an assembler to create, execute, test and document an assembly language program of moderate complexity.
5. describe basic optimization strategies (e.g. pipelining, parallelism, cache, etc) and indicate future trends.
6. describe the basic organization, operation and architecture of computer systems.
7. use basic understanding of caching and virtual memory to quantify system optimizations.

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