Computer ArchitectureModule Details

Objectives of the Course:

• Understand performance metrics
• Be introduced to an instruction set architecture
• Understand instruction types, register sets, addressing modes
• Understand flow-of-control, subroutine call and return mechanisms
• Understand the Structure of machine-level programs
• Be introduced to Arithmetic of Computers
• Construct an ALU
• Implement in hardware several Instructions like Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication and Division
• Be introduced to pipelining and memory hierarchy

Learning Outcomes:

• Apply performance metrics
• Apply the concept of an instruction set architecture, ISA, and the nature of a machine-level instruction in terms of its functionality and use of resources (registers and memory).
• Utilize the various classes of instructions: data movement, arithmetic, logical, and flow control.
• Demonstrate the way in which subroutines are called and returns made.
• Design a basic ALU
• Implement in hardware several Instructions like Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication and Division
• Explain how conditional operations are implemented at the machine level.
• Appreciate how a lack of resources in ISPs has an impact on high-level languages and the design of compilers.
• Know, at the assembly language level, how parameters are passed to subroutines and how local workplace is created and accessed.
• Know pipelining and memory hierarchy