Computer Architechture
- Sciences
- 300 level
- 3 credit units
- 186 pages
- 18 units
This course introduces students to the fundamental concepts of computer architecture. It covers computer organization and architecture, instruction sets, computer arithmetic, and parallel organization. Topics include the arithmetic and logic unit, control unit design, memory systems, and cache memory. The course also explores reduced instruction set computers, operating system support, error detection, and correction coding. Students will gain an understanding of the underlying principles that govern the design and operation of computer systems.
About this course
- Difficulty
- Intermediate
- Study hours
- 150 hours
- Maths
- Basic
- Content
- Theoretical
- Practical work
- No
- Assignments
- Tutor marked assessments
- Final examination
What you'll read
The real module and unit structure of CIT309, taken from the course material NOUN publishes.
One paragraph, so you can see how it reads
CIT309 · MODULE 5 OPERATING SYSTEM SUPPORT ERROR DETECTION AND ERROR CORRECTION CODING
Finally, on some machines, a single instruction can specify an operation to be performed on a vector (one-dimensional array) of numbers or a string (one- dimensional array) of characters. As Figure 3.6 indicates, this would involve repetitive operand fetch and/or store operations.
What you should be able to do
- Explain the operational units of a computer system
- Outline types of operands and operations specified by machine instructions
- Explain opcodes, operands, and addressing modes
- Understand the way numbers are represented and the algorithms used for basic arithmetic operations
- Understand the organization of a multiprocessor system
What it prepares you for
- Computer Architect
- System Designer
- Embedded Systems Engineer
- Performance Analyst
- Hardware Engineer
- Computer Manufacturing
- Embedded Systems
- Telecommunications
- Aerospace
- Automotive
Where it gets hard
The units students slow down on, and what makes each one heavy.
- Module 2: Computer Arithmetic
Unit 1: The arithmetic and logic unit
Understanding floating-point representation requires grasping the concepts of significant, base, and exponent, and how they are used to represent very large and very small numbers.
- Module 3: Parallel Organization
Unit 3: Multithreading and Chip Multi Processors
Multithreading and chip multi-processors require understanding of parallel processing concepts and how they are implemented in modern processors.
- Module 4: Reduced Instruction Set Computers
Unit 3: RISC Pipelining
RISC pipelining involves understanding instruction cycles and how they are optimized to improve performance.
A suggested way through it
13 weeks, about 64 hours in total. Yours will differ.
- Week 1Module 1: Organization and Architecture
Unit 1: Computer Organization and Architecture · 4 hours
Read the introduction to computer organization and architecture.. Study the structure and function of computer components.. Review the concept of the Von Neumann architecture..
Unit 2: Instruction Sets Characteristics and Functions · 3 hours
Study instruction formats and their characteristics.. Understand the elements of a machine instruction.. Review instruction set design issues..
- Week 2Module 1: Organization and Architecture
Unit 3: Types of Operands · 4 hours
Study different types of operands.. Understand how operands are represented.. Practice converting between different operand types..
- Week 3Module 2: Computer Arithmetic
Unit 1: The Arithmetic and Logic Unit · 4 hours
Understand the arithmetic and logic unit (ALU).. Study integer representation methods.. Review integer arithmetic operations..
- Week 4Module 2: Computer Arithmetic
Unit 2: Control Unit Design/Implementation · 4 hours
Study control unit design and implementation.. Understand micro-operations and their sequencing.. Review hardwired and microprogrammed control..
- Week 5Module 3: Parallel Organization
Unit 1: Multiple Processor Organization · 4 hours
Study types of parallel processor systems.. Understand Flynn's taxonomy of parallel processing.. Review symmetric multiprocessors (SMPs)..
- Week 6Module 3: Parallel Organization
Unit 2: Symmetric Multi Processor · 4 hours
Study the organization of symmetric multiprocessors.. Understand multiprocessor operating system design considerations.. Review mainframe SMP architectures..
- Week 7Module 3: Parallel Organization
Unit 3: Multithreading and Chip Multi Processors · 4 hours
Study implicit and explicit multithreading.. Understand approaches to explicit multithreading.. Review example systems with multithreading..
- Week 8Module 3: Parallel Organization
Unit 4: Vector Computation · 4 hours
Study approaches to vector computation.. Understand the IBM 3090 vector facility.. Review pipelined ALU organization for vector processing..
- Week 9Module 4: Reduced Instruction Set Computers
Unit 1: Instruction Execution Characteristic · 4 hours
Study instruction execution characteristics.. Understand the operation repertoire and data types.. Review instruction format and addressing modes..
Unit 2: Reduced Instruction Set Architecture · 3 hours
Study the characteristics of reduced instruction set architectures.. Understand the differences between CISC and RISC.. Review the advantages of RISC..
- Week 10Module 4: Reduced Instruction Set Computers
Unit 3: RISC Pipelining · 4 hours
Study RISC pipelining techniques.. Understand optimization of pipelining.. Review delayed branch and delayed load..
- Week 11Module 4: Reduced Instruction Set Computers
Unit MIPS 4000 · 4 hours
Study the MIPS R4000 architecture.. Understand the instruction set and pipeline.. Review the memory management unit..
- Week 12Module 5: Operating System Support Error Detection and Error Correction Coding
Unit 1: Operating System Overview · 4 hours
Study operating system objectives and functions.. Understand types of operating systems.. Review the operating system as a resource manager..
Unit 2: Scheduling · 3 hours
Study long-term, medium-term, and short-term scheduling.. Understand process states and process control blocks.. Review queuing diagrams..
- Week 13Module 5: Operating System Support Error Detection and Error Correction Coding
Unit 3: Memory System · 4 hours
Study characteristics of memory systems.. Understand the memory hierarchy.. Review error correction techniques..
Unit 4: Cache Memory · 3 hours
Study cache memory principles.. Understand elements of cache design.. Review Pentium 4 and ARM cache organizations..
Preparing for the exam
- Create concept maps linking Module 1's organization concepts to Module 3's parallel architectures
- Practice converting between integer and floating-point representations from Module 2 weekly
- Review instruction set design issues in Module 1 and compare CISC vs. RISC in Module 4
- Focus on understanding the different types of scheduling algorithms in Module 5
- Study the different cache mapping techniques in Module 5 and their trade-offs
Questions students ask about this course
What is CIT309 about?
This course introduces students to the fundamental concepts of computer architecture. It covers computer organization and architecture, instruction sets, computer arithmetic, and parallel organization. Topics include the arithmetic and logic unit, control unit design, memory systems, and cache memory. The course also explores reduced instruction set computers, operating system support, error detection, and correction coding. Students will gain an understanding of the underlying principles that govern the design and operation of computer systems.
How many units does CIT309 have?
CIT309, Computer Architechture, has 18 units across 6 modules, over 186 pages of course material. You can read it one unit at a time.
How many credit units is CIT309?
CIT309 carries 3 credit units, at 300 level in Sciences.
Is CIT309 hard?
CIT309 is rated intermediate level, with basic mathematical content. It is mostly theoretical work.
How long does CIT309 take to study?
About 150 hours of study, spread across its 18 units.
How is CIT309 assessed?
CIT309 is assessed by assignments, tutor marked assessments and final examination.
What can I do with CIT309?
Computer Architect, System Designer, Embedded Systems Engineer, Performance Analyst and Hardware Engineer.