CSCI 2400 - Computer Architecture
ECE 3217 - Computer Architecture and Organization

Fall 2017

1. Course Description
2. Acknowledgements
3. Prerequisites
4. Assignments
5. Course Schedule
6. Textbooks and Other Resources
7. Grading
8. Links
9. Academic Honesty
10. Academic Support
11. Disability Services
12. Title IX Statement

Course Description

Computers are designed to perform useful work by executing software, and users of computer systems typically think of computer operation in terms of software and source code. However, computers are physical artifacts and software ultimately executes on hardware. The purpose of this course is to show how high level programs are achieved in hardware, and how modern computer systems are designed in order to facilitate efficient execution.

The purpose of this course is for each student to learn:

• How data is represented in computer hardware
• How processors operate on data
• How programs execute on computer hardware
• x86 processor assembly language
• Basic organization and operation of modern processors

Topical Outline:

• Understand how to represent numbers in binary, decimal, octal, hexadecimal, and arbitrary-base number systems, as well as how to convert between them
• Be able to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in arbitrary number systems by hand
• Understand signed and unsigned (two's complement) integer representations
• Be able to perform the above arithmetic operations as well as bitwise operations, shifts, and modulus operations on signed and unsigned integer representations by hand
• Understand IEEE floating point representation, and the limits of floating point representation
• Be able to convert between decimal and floating point by hand
• Be able to perform arithmetic operations on floating point numbers by hand
• Be able to contrast floating point and fixed point representations
• Understand the compilation and linking process, and identify the intermediate build products
• Be able to write basic C programs
• Achieve basic proficiency in x86 and x86-64 assembly programming
• Understand the components and organization of sequential processors
• Understand the components and organization of pipelined processors
• Understand the benefits and hazards associated with pipelined processing
• Be able to fill out a pipeline cycle stage diagram for a given sequence of instructions
• Understand how caches improve memory system performance as well as cache system characteristics
• Be able to trace cache activity and identify the contents of a cache after a sequence of operations

Learning Outcomes:

• Perform arithmetic in arbitrary number systems (binary, octal, hex, etc.)
• Utilize signed integer, unsigned integer, and floating point representations as appropriate
• Understand how software executes on the processor hardware so as to be able to write programs in both assembly and a higher-level language, and convert between the two
• Identify active processor components in the execution of an instruction and discern the intermediate values produced in a processor
• Contrast sequential and pipelined processor execution, associated benefits and hazards, and fill out a pipeline cycle stage diagram
• Understand the organization and tradeoffs in the various levels of the memory heirarchy, and be able to demonstrate the workings of a processor cache

Catalog Description: Introduction to the organization and architecture of computer systems, including aspects of digital logic, data representation, assembly level organization, memory systems and processor architectures.

Acknowledgements

This course owes a debt of gratitude to Prof. Jason Fritts, who designed the original format.

Prerequisites

• CSCI 1300 - Introduction to Object-Oriented Programming
• MATH 1660 - Discrete Mathematics

Textbook

Required course textbook: Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective, 3rd Ed. by Bryant and O'Hallaron, Pearson, 2016

(book's website)

(code examples)

(book errata)

Supporting: C Programming (a free online book providing a useful C reference)

Assignments

There will be approximately 7-9 assignments for this course. These are a mix of written and programming assignments whose purpose is to apply course concepts.

Assignments submitted on time will be given full credit. Assignments submitted up to 24 hours late will be given a ten percent penalty. Assignments submitted between 24 hours and 48 hours late will be given a twenty percent penalty. Assignments submitted after 48 hours late will not be given credit, except in the case of extenuating circumstances pre-approved by the instructor.

Course Schedule

Grading

Your grade will be determined as follows:

Grading is done on a straight scale (uncurved). The following scores are guaranteed. The grading scale may be curved upwards (in your favor) at the discretion of the instructor.

• 93% guarantees an A
• 90% guarantees an A-
• 87% guarantees a B+
• 83% guarantees a B
• 80% guarantees a B-
• 77% guarantees a C+
• 73% guarantees a C
• 70% guarantees a C-
• 60% guarantees a D

Links / Resources

Data Representation:

ASCII info on Wikipedia    (table of printable characters)

ASCII Table at JimPrice.com

(An ASCII table is available in the textbook, though it's not as easy to read)

Digital Logic:

MultiMedia Logic digital logic simulator

Intro to Digital Logic at www.play-hookey.com

Intel x86 Assembly:

template.s -- a simple .s assembly file you can use as a template for further development

x86 Assembly and GDB Debugger Tutorial

Linux/Unix links:

Linux Command Line Cheat Sheet   by Dave Child

Unix Tutorial for Beginners       (great tutorial if you're new to Linux)

vi Editor:

vi Cheat Sheet

Assembly Programming Games! (no experience necessary)

TIS-100

Shenzhen I/O

Academic Honesty

Academic integrity is honest, truthful and responsible conduct in all academic endeavors. The mission of Saint Louis University is "the pursuit of truth for the greater glory of God and for the service of humanity." Accordingly, all acts of falsehood demean and compromise the corporate endeavors of teaching, research, health care, and community service via which SLU embodies its mission. The University strives to prepare students for lives of personal and professional integrity, and therefore regards all breaches of academic integrity as matters of serious concern.

The governing University-level Academic Integrity Policy was adopted in Spring 2015, and can be accessed on the Provost's Office website here. The College of Arts and Sciences policies on academic honesty can be found here.

If you are ever in doubt whether a particular action is a violation of academic honesty, please ask first!

Academic Support

In recognition that people learn in a variety of ways and that learning is influenced by multiple factors (e.g., prior experience, study skills, learning disability), resources to support student success are available on campus. The Student Success Center assists students with academic and career related services, is located in the Busch Student Center (Suite, 331) and the School of Nursing (Suite, 114). Students can visit www.slu.edu/success to learn more about:

• Course-level support (e.g., faculty member, departmental resources, etc.) by asking your course instructor.
• University-level support (e.g., tutoring services, university writing services, disability services, academic coaching, career services, and/or facets of curriculum planning).

Disability Services

Students with a documented disability who wish to request academic accommodations must contact Disability Services to discuss accommodation requests and eligibility requirements. Once successfully registered, the student also must notify the course instructor that they wish to access accommodations in the course.

Please contact Disability Services, located within the Student Success Center, at Disability_services@slu.edu or 314.977. 3484 to schedule an appointment. Confidentiality will be observed in all inquiries. Once approved, information about the student’s eligibility for academic accommodations will be shared with course instructors via email from Disability Services and viewed within Banner via the instructor’s course roster.

Note: Students who do not have a documented disability but who think they may have one are encouraged to contact to Disability Services.

Title IX Statement

Saint Louis University and its faculty are committed to supporting our students and seeking an environment that is free of bias, discrimination, and harassment. If you have encountered any form of sexual misconduct (e.g. sexual assault, sexual harassment, stalking, domestic or dating violence), we encourage you to report this to the University. If you speak with a faculty member about an incident of misconduct, that faculty member must notify SLU’s Title IX coordinator, Anna R. Kratky (DuBourg Hall, room 36; akratky@slu.edu; 314-977-3886) and share the basic facts of your experience with her. The Title IX coordinator will then be available to assist you in understanding all of your options and in connecting you with all possible resources on and off campus.

If you wish to speak with a confidential source, you may contact the counselors at the University Counseling Center at 314-977-TALK. To view SLU’s sexual misconduct policy and for resources, please visit the following web addresses:

• http://www.slu.edu/general-counsel-home/office-of-institutional-equity-and-diversity/sexual-misconduct-policy
• http://www.slu.edu/here4you