EECE 3324 Computer Architecture and Organization

Lecture 01: Introduction

Yunsi Fei
Chpt. 1.1-1.3 Jan. 7th, 2013

What we are covering today

Introduction and Motivations Overview The course syllabus A quiz (ungraded) so that I can learn what you have known about computer architecture

Examples of work EEs and CEs do

Source: Philips

Examples of work EEs and CEs do

Design computer hardware and software (computers) Develop microprocessors and memory chips (semiconductors) Design electronics for the space industry, ships, trains, and cars (transportation and automotive) Develop electronics and power equipment for aircraft and spacecraft (aerospace) Design life support systems (bioengineering) Develop new amusement park rides (service industry) Expand satellite communications for mobile telephone users (telecommunications) Teach college or university courses related to ECE (education and research) Design and improve security systems for the military, airports and embassies!

Examples of employers for EEs & CEs

Computer

Computer Architecture

Instruction set architecture: interface between SW and HW

Set of instructions; available resources, including data types, registers, addressing modes, and memory organization

Computer organization (microarchitecture)

Represented as diagrams that describe the interconnections of various microarchitectural modules

Implementation
SYSTEM
Specification: function, cost, etc. Large blocks ARCHITECTURE large blocks Gates + registers gates
+

for speed, power speed, power

G S n+

LOGIC CIRCUIT Transistor sizes transistor sizes for LAYOUT D

n+

P&R, parasitics P&R, parasitics

A Perspective of History

1946: ENIAC, the first computer 1,80010 ft3, 174 KWatts, 100KHz

1997: ENIAC-on-a-chip 40mm2, 0.5 Watt, 20MHz

2011: Intel Core i7 processor under 45nm, 160 mm2, 4 cores, 130W, 3.1 GHz, HD Graphics

Wave of the future

Multicores are already here

6-core and 8-core chips are currently available, with larger numbers on the way PlayStations, GPUs

Programming a multicore processor requires a different way of thinking In order to understand why modern chips are multicore, you need to have some historical perspective and start from basics and unicore

What you will learn

The hierarchical view of computer system

How programs are translated into the machine language The hardware/software interface Sample computer architecture and design principles How the hardware executes instructions

Design goals: program performance, and factors that determine the performance
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Levels of Transformation
Problems Algorithms Language (Program) Machine (ISA) Architecture Microarchitecture Programmable
Computer Specific Manufacturer Specific

Circuits Devices Engineers of all sorts depend on levels of abstraction to make problems solvable

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Levels of abstraction

We are going to open the black box of microprocessor and look at whats inside, why you care, and how you can benefit from knowing more 12

Syllabus Instructor and TA

Prof. Yunsi Fei Office: Dana 318 Tel: 617-373-2039 Email: y.fei@neu.edu Office Hours: Tuesday 12-1pm and Thursday 4-5 PM, or by appointment

TA: Alexey Tazin Office hours: TBD

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Syllabus Things you need

Textbook: "Computer Organization and Design: The Hardware/Software Interface" by Patterson and Hennessy, 4th edition (revised printing)
Also, the CD that comes with it

Access to Blackboard Access to COE Linux/Solaris machines Your own installation of MARS and ModelSim
http://courses.missouristate.edu/KenVollmar/MARS/ http://model.com/content/modelsim-pe-student-editionhdl-simulation 14

Syllabus Assignments and exams

About 8 homework assignments

Due at the beginning of class (10:30 am) Hardcopy or electronic submission on BB (PDFs are okay and NO MSWord), sometimes code submission to the COE server as instructed Do your own work

Class project assigned in the second half of the semester Two exams: midterm, final

Open-notes/Open-book

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Grading Policies
Homework: 20% Pop quizzes and class participation: 10% Midterm exam: 20% Class project: 25% Final exam: 25%

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Syllabus Course Outline

Week 1 (Ch.1) Introduction, computer abstraction Week 2 (Ch.2) Review of MIPS ISA Week 3 (Ch.2 and Appendix B) MIPS assembly, compiler and system software, Linux/Unix etc. Week 4-5 (Appd. C.) Review of digital logic design Week 6 (Ch.3) Computer arithmeticMidterm Exam Week 7-8 (Ch.4) Basic Datapath and Control Week 9: Verilog tutorial Week 10 (Ch.4) Processor pipeline and hazards Week 11-12(Ch. 5) Memory hierarchy Week 13-14 (Ch. 7): Advanced topics (time allows) 17

Your first assignment

For this Wed: read Chapter 1

In particular, sections 1.4 and 1.8 (Always read the 'Fallacies and Pitfalls' section)

Make sure you have access to Blackboard and COE Unix/Linux servers Today's quiz: Getting to know you

No grade will be given This is a chance for me to see what you already know so I can tailor the lectures to what you don't 18