COMPSCI 441: Computer Architecture
3-credit course with 3 lecture hours per week
Course Coordinator: Nader Rafla
Textbook(s) and Supplemental Material
Computer Organization and Design, The Hardware/Software Interfaces, 4th Ed., Patterson &
Hennessy, 2012.
Catalog Description
Structure of computer systems using processors, memories, input/output (I/O) devices as
building blocks. Computer system instruction set design and implementation, including memory
hierarchies, microprogramming, pipelining and multiprocessors. Issues and trade-offs involved in
the design of computer system architectures with respect to the design of instruction sets.
Applications of Hardware Description Languages (HDL) in the design of computer systems.
May be taken for either COMPSCI or ECE credit, but not both.
PREREQ: COMPSCI 117 or COMPSCI 125, and ECE 330.
Required
Goals for the Course
Successful students will be expected to:
• quantify and assess the performance of a processor
• translate C to assembly and binary representations
• know how the instructions are used to control the datapath
• implement MIPS processor features using hardware description language
• understand what is pipelining and how it affects the performance
• describe and understand the processor memory hierarchy
Outcomes Addressed
b. an ability to analyze a problem, and identify and define the computing requirements
appropriate to its solution
c. an ability to design, implement, and evaluate a computer-based system, process,
component, or program to meet desired needs
i. an ability to use current techniques, skills, and tools necessary for computing
practice
Outcomes Assessed: None
Topics Covered
Discussion of the MIPS ISA and Basic ALU Architectures
Pipelined Datapath Design Issues
Learning about Performance
Verilog
Memory Heirarchies
I/O Design Issues
Multiprocessor Design Issues
Selected Advanced Topics
Grading
Letter grades are assigned to students based on numerical scores for the following activities:
Activity
Weight
Class Participation
5%
Quizzes
20%
Midterm
20%
Final
25%
Design Project
30%
Curriculum Category Content (Credits)
Area
Core Advanced
Algorithms
Software Design
Computer Architecture
3
Data Structures
Programming Languages