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Unit of study_

ELEC3608: Computer Architecture

This unit of study explores the design of a computer system at the architectural and digital logic level. Topics covered include instruction sets, computer arithmetic, performance evaluation, datapath design, pipelining, memory hierarchies including caches and virtual memory, I/O devices, and bus-based I/O systems. Students will design a pipelined reduced instruction set processor.

Code ELEC3608
Academic unit Electrical and Information Engineering
Credit points 6
Prerequisites:
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ELEC2602
Corequisites:
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None
Prohibitions:
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None
Assumed knowledge:
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ELEC3607. Knowledge of microprocessor systems (embedded systems architecture, design methodology, interfacing and programming) is required

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

  • LO1. Understand the literature in computer architecture design
  • LO2. Develop communication skills through the assignment
  • LO3. Work in teams through assignments and deal with project managements issues of completing a design exercise
  • LO4. Understand how economic issues affect computer designers
  • LO5. Design a pipelined RISC processor with memory hierarchy
  • LO6. Critically evaluate different pipelining schemes, memory designs and instruction sets
  • LO7. Model and benchmark the performance of different computer architectures.