Course details
Design of Computer Systems
INP Acad. year 2017/2018 Winter semester 6 credits
Principles of a processor. Introduction to VHDL. Von Neumann computer. Data types, formats and coding. Instructions, formats, coding and addressing, instruction set architecture. VHDL models of algorithms and subsystems. Pipelining. Arithmetic and logic operations. Algorithms and function units. Sequencer: basic function, hard-wired and microprogram implementation. Memories: types, organization, controlling. Memory hierarchy, cache memory. Peripheral units, buses and bus control. Performance evaluation. Reliability of computer systems. Introduction to parallel architectures.
Guarantor
Language of instruction
Completion
Time span
- 39 hrs lectures
- 12 hrs exercises
- 14 hrs projects
Assessment points
- 52 pts final exam (written part)
- 15 pts mid-term test (written part)
- 33 pts projects
Department
Subject specific learning outcomes and competences
Students are able to describe functionality of the operation, memory and control units and their communication in a computer. They are familiar with VHDL.
Learning objectives
To give the students knowledge of organization and functioning of a (single core) processor, in particular, the operation, memory and control units, the algorithms with fixed and floating point operations, the way of controlling them, the subsystem communication level, and integration of the processor to a parallel system.
Recommended prerequisites
- Machine Level Programming (ISU)
- Digital Systems Design (INC)
Prerequisite knowledge and skills
Understanding of development trends and possibilities of computer technology.
Fundamental literature
- Hamacher, C., Vranesic, Z., Zaky, S., N. Manjikian: Computer Organization and Embedded Systems, 6th edition, McGraw Hill, 2012, ISBN-13: 978-0-07-338065-0
- Hennessy J. L., Patterson D. A.: Computer Architecture: A Quantitative Approach, 2nd edition, Morgan Kaufmann Publ., 1996, and new editions, e.g. the 5th ed. from 2012.
Syllabus of lectures
- Introduction, processor and its function.
- Data representation.
- Instruction sets, register structures.
- Modelling in VHDL.
- Pipeline processing.
- Algorithms of fixed point operations.
- Algorithms of floating point operations, iterative algorithms.
- Controllers.
- Memories, cache memory.
- Buses, peripheral interfacing and control.
- Computer performance and performance evaluation.
- Reliability of computer systems.
- Introduction to parallel architectures.
Syllabus of numerical exercises
- VHDL - introduction
- VHDL - synthesizable code
- Introduction to FITkit
- Processor in VHDL
- Huffman code, Hamming code
- Modular arithmetic, adders
- Multipliers
- Division
- Iterative algorithms
- Performance evaluation, reliability
- Parallel architectures
Progress assessment
For receiving the credit and thus for entering the exam, students have to get at least 20 points during the semester.
Plagiarism and not allowed cooperation will cause that involved students are not classified and disciplinary action can be initiated.
Controlled instruction
Within this course, attendance on the lectures and demonstrations is not monitored. The knowledge of students is examined by the projects, the mid-term exam and by the final exam. The minimal number of points which can be obtained from the final exam is 20. Otherwise, no points will be assigned to a student.
Course inclusion in study plans