Computer Architecture & Organization II
- Sciences
- 300 level
- 3 credit units
- 167 pages
- 10 units
This course explores computer architecture and organization, focusing on memory systems, addressing modes, and control mechanisms. It covers memory hierarchy, virtual memory, and various control unit designs, including hardware, microprogrammed, and asynchronous approaches. The course also delves into fault-tolerant computing, examining methods for detecting and tolerating faults in computer architectures. Students will gain insights into optimizing computer memories, designing architectures, and managing computer faults.
About this course
- Difficulty
- Intermediate
- Study hours
- 120 hours
- Maths
- Basic
- Content
- Theoretical, problem solving
- Practical work
- No
- Assignments
- Tutor marked assessments
- Final examination
What you'll read
The real module and unit structure of CIT314, taken from the course material NOUN publishes.
One paragraph, so you can see how it reads
CIT314 · UNIT TWO: Methods for Fault Tolerant Computing
The Presentation Schedule included in your course materials gives you the important dates for the completion of tutor marked assignments and attending tutorials. Remember, you are required to submit all your assignments by the due date. You should guard against lagging behind in your work.
What you should be able to do
- Describe computer memory functions and optimization techniques
- Explain architecture designing techniques
- Explain methods to tolerate faults in computer architectures
- Explain methods to optimize control in computer systems
- Analyze memory addressing and hierarchy systems
What it prepares you for
- Computer Architect
- System Designer
- Embedded Systems Engineer
- Hardware Engineer
- System Administrator
- Computer Manufacturing
- Embedded Systems
- Aerospace
- Telecommunications
- Cloud Computing
Where it gets hard
The units students slow down on, and what makes each one heavy.
- Module 1: Memory System
Unit 4: Memory Mapping and Virtual Memories
Understanding the complexities of cache coherence and consistency requires grasping intricate hardware-software interactions.
- Module 2: Memory Addressing and Hierarchy Systems
Unit 3: Virtual Memory control systems
Requires strong understanding of memory management techniques and address translation mechanisms.
- Module 3: Control Unit Methods
Unit 3: Asynchronous Control
Designing asynchronous control units involves complex timing considerations and requires a deep understanding of digital logic.
A suggested way through it
13 weeks, about 72 hours in total. Yours will differ.
- Week 1Module 1: Memory System
Unit 1: Main Memories · 4 hours
Read about main memory types (SRAM, DRAM) and their characteristics.. Solve problems related to memory capacity and access time..
Unit 2: Auxiliary Memories · 3 hours
Study different auxiliary memory devices like magnetic tapes and disks.. Compare their storage capacities and access speeds..
- Week 2Module 1: Memory System
Unit 3: Memory Access Methods · 4 hours
Learn about sequential, random, direct, and associative access methods.. Analyze the advantages and disadvantages of each method..
Unit 4: Memory Mapping and Virtual Memories · 3 hours
Study memory mapping techniques and virtual memory concepts.. Solve problems related to address translation..
- Week 3Module 1: Memory System
Unit 5: Replacement Algorithms · 4 hours
Explore different replacement algorithms like FIFO, LRU, and optimal.. Simulate these algorithms with different page reference strings..
Unit 6: Data Transfer Modes · 3 hours
Study different data transfer modes like programmed I/O, interrupt-driven I/O, and DMA.. Compare their efficiencies..
- Week 4Module 1: Memory System
Unit 7: Parallel Processing · 4 hours
Learn about parallel processing techniques and their advantages.. Study different parallel processing architectures..
Unit 8: Pipelining · 3 hours
Study pipelining concepts and its impact on performance.. Solve problems related to pipeline hazards..
- Week 5Module 2: Memory Addressing and Hierarchy Systems
Unit 1: Memory Addressing · 5 hours
Understand the concept of memory address modes and their importance.. Study different addressing modes like direct, indirect, and indexed..
- Week 6Module 2: Memory Addressing and Hierarchy Systems
Unit 2: Elements of Memory Hierarchy · 5 hours
Study the elements of memory hierarchy and their characteristics.. Analyze the advantages of memory hierarchy..
- Week 7Module 2: Memory Addressing and Hierarchy Systems
Unit 3: Virtual Memory control systems · 5 hours
Learn about virtual memory control systems and their components.. Study paging, segmentation, and address mapping techniques..
- Week 8Module 3: Control Unit Methods
Unit 1: Hardware control · 5 hours
Study the concept of hardware control units and their design.. Analyze the advantages and disadvantages of hardware control..
- Week 9Module 3: Control Unit Methods
Unit 2: Micro-Programmed Control · 5 hours
Learn about micro-programmed control units and their design.. Compare hardware and micro-programmed control units..
- Week 10Module 3: Control Unit Methods
Unit 3: Asynchronous Control · 5 hours
Study asynchronous control units and their advantages.. Learn about asynchronous communication and data transfer..
- Week 11Module 4: Fault Tolerance Computing
Unit 1: Fault Tolerant Computing · 4 hours
Understand the concept of fault-tolerant computing and its importance.. Study hardware and software fault-tolerant issues..
- Week 12Module 4: Fault Tolerance Computing
Unit 2: Methods for Fault Tolerant Computing · 4 hours
Learn about methods for fault-tolerant computing, including fault tree analysis and fault detection methods.. Study fault tolerance architecture and fault models..
- Week 13Module 4: Fault Tolerance Computing
Final Revision · 6 hours
Review all modules and units.. Solve practice problems and review key concepts..
Preparing for the exam
- Create concept maps linking memory hierarchy levels (Units 1-2)
- Practice address translation problems from Unit 3 weekly
- Compare and contrast control unit designs (Units 7-9) in detail
- Review fault tolerance methods (Units 10-11) and their trade-offs
- Focus on key definitions and concepts from all modules
Questions students ask about this course
What is CIT314 about?
This course explores computer architecture and organization, focusing on memory systems, addressing modes, and control mechanisms. It covers memory hierarchy, virtual memory, and various control unit designs, including hardware, microprogrammed, and asynchronous approaches. The course also delves into fault-tolerant computing, examining methods for detecting and tolerating faults in computer architectures. Students will gain insights into optimizing computer memories, designing architectures, and managing computer faults.
How many units does CIT314 have?
CIT314, Computer Architecture & Organization II, has 10 units across 4 modules, over 167 pages of course material. You can read it one unit at a time.
How many credit units is CIT314?
CIT314 carries 3 credit units, at 300 level in Sciences.
Is CIT314 hard?
CIT314 is rated intermediate level, with basic mathematical content. It is mostly theoretical and problem solving work.
How long does CIT314 take to study?
About 120 hours of study, spread across its 10 units.
How is CIT314 assessed?
CIT314 is assessed by assignments, tutor marked assessments and final examination.
What can I do with CIT314?
Computer Architect, System Designer, Embedded Systems Engineer, Hardware Engineer and System Administrator.