Computer Architecture
David Wentzlaff
In this course, you will learn to design the computer architecture of complex modern microprocessors.Sign Up
Next session: 30 September 2012 (10 weeks long)
Workload: 5-8 hours per week.
About the Course
This course forms a strong foundation in the understanding and design of modern computing systems. Building on a computer organization base, this course explores techniques that go into designing a modern microprocessor. Fundamental understanding of computer architecture is key not only for students interested in hardware and processor design, but is a foundation for students interested in compilers, operating systems, and high performance programming. This course will explore how the computer architect can utilize the increasing number of transistors available to improve the performance of a processor. Focus will be given to architectures that can exploit different forms of parallelism, whether they be implicit or explicit. This course covers architectural techniques such as multi-issue superscalar processors, out-of-order processors, Very Long Instruction Word (VLIW) processors, advanced caching, and multiprocessor systems.
About the Instructor(s)
David Wentzlaff is an Assistant Professor of Electrical Engineering at Princeton University. Prior to joining Princeton, David completed his PhD thesis at MIT and is a co-founder of Tilera Corporation. At Tilera, he was Lead Architect of the TILE64 and TILEPro64 processors and designed the scalable TILE processor architecture. Before Tilera, he was one of the architects of the Raw Processor at MIT and designed the Raw on-chip networks. David founded the MIT Factored Operating System (fos) project which focuses on designing scalable operating systems for thousand core multicores and cloud computers. David received a MS in EECS from MIT and a BS in EE from UIUC. He enjoys hiking and mountaineering when not designing multicore processors or operating systems. His current research includes designing next generation manycore processors for the data center and sustainable computing.Recommended Background
This course is targeted at senior-level undergraduates and first-year graduate students. Students should have a good working understanding of digital logic, basic processor design and organization, pipelining, and simple cache design.
Suggested Readings
Highly Recommended:
Computer Architecture, Fifth Edition: A Quantitative Approach (The Morgan Kaufmann Series in Computer Architecture and Design)
(5th Edition), 2011.
John L. Hennessy and David A. Patterson
The 5th edition is new and very different than previous editions. USE THE 5TH EDITION.
Approximately $55 on Amazon
ISBN: 978-0123838728Optional Additional Text:
Modern Processor Design: Fundamentals of Superscalar Processors (McGraw-Hill Series in Electrical and Computer Engineering)
(1st Edition), 2004.
John P. Shen and Mikko H. Lipasti
Approximately $125 on Amazon
ISBN: 0070570647
Computer Architecture, Fifth Edition: A Quantitative Approach (The Morgan Kaufmann Series in Computer Architecture and Design)
(5th Edition), 2011.John L. Hennessy and David A. Patterson
The 5th edition is new and very different than previous editions. USE THE 5TH EDITION.
Approximately $55 on Amazon
ISBN: 978-0123838728Optional Additional Text:
Modern Processor Design: Fundamentals of Superscalar Processors (McGraw-Hill Series in Electrical and Computer Engineering)
(1st Edition), 2004.John P. Shen and Mikko H. Lipasti
Approximately $125 on Amazon
ISBN: 0070570647
Course Format
The course will be made up of lectures (about 70 minutes each), two exams, and in-lecture assessments
FAQ
- Does Princeton award credentials or reports regarding my work in this course?No certificates, statements of accomplishment, or other credentials will be awarded in connection with this course.
