Cleveland State University
Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
CIS 600 Advanced Computer Architecture
Catalog Data:
CIS 600 Advanced Computer Architecture
Prerequisite: CIS 335, CIS 545, CIS 580.
The design and analysis of modern machine architectures. Quantitative performance
analysis, pipeline and vector processing, hierarchical memory design, multiprocessor
and cluster computing. Instruction level parallelism and multithreaded processors
as well as current research topics in computer architecture. A detailed study of state of
the art systems is included.
Text:
Computer Architecture A Quantitative Approach - 5th Edition, John Hennessy and
David Patterson, Morgan Kaufmann Publishing, 2011.
Instructor:
Timothy Arndt
Phone:
(216) 687-4779
email:
arndt@cis.csuohio.edu
Class Website: http://grail.cba.csuohio.edu/~arndt/cis600.html
Expected Outcomes:
The student comprehends the various ways in which parallelism can be exploited
to increase performance and is able to compose those approaches into a coherent
system organization. The student is able to analyze alternative storage strategies
using quantitative methods. The student is able to categorize computer systems in
terms of the type of parallelism they rely on. The student is able to effectively
communicate complex performance issues by formulating and solving appropriate
sets of equations as well as by graphing simulated and experimental results.
Course Outline:
The schedule of topics and their order of coverage is given below. Every effort will
be made to follow the schedule, but topics covered may vary depending upon the
progress made.
Week of
Topic
Reading
1
Introduction
Chapter 1
2&3
Memory Hierarchy Review
Appendix B
4
Memory Hierarchy Design
Chapter 2
5
Pipeline Review
Appendix C
6
Exam
7&8
Instruction Level Parallelism
Chapter 3
9
Limits to ILP
Chapter 3
10
Exam 2
11
Data Level Parallelism
Chapter 4
12
Introduction to Multiprocessors
Chapter 5
13&14
Thread-level Parallelism
Chapter 5
15
Warehouse-Scale Computers
Chapter 6
-1-
NOTE: The instructor reserves the right to retain, for pedagogical reasons, either the original or a copy of
your work submitted either individually or as a group project for this class. Students' names will be deleted
from any retained items.
Grading:
Homework Assignments (2-4) 40% 2 Midterm Exams 20%
Final Exam (non-comprehensive) 20%
Some homework assignments will involve significant programming.
 All homework assignments are due at the beginning of class on the specified date. An assignment
turned in one day late will get a 10% penalty, two days late will get a 20% penalty, etc. Assignments
turned in after the beginning of class on the due date will be counted as one day late and will receive a
10% penalty.
 All assignments must be individually and independently completed. Should two or more students turn
in substantially the same solution or program, in the judgment of the instructor, the solution will be
considered a group effort. All involved in a group effort homework will receive a zero grade for that
assignment.
 No late assignment are accepted after the assignment is graded and returned.
 See the CSU student conduct code for further information.
 Unacknowledged use of code from other sources (Internet, books, friends, etc.) will result in a score of
zero on that assignment. Two cases of this will result in a grade of F for the semester.
 Plagiarism of material used in the project/presentation will result in a grade of F for the semester.
The following grading scale will be used to calculate final grades:
Total percentage
Total percentage
earned
earned
93 - 100%
A
80 - 82%
90 - 92%
A- 70 – 79%
87 - 89%
B+ 60% and below
83 – 86%
B
BC
F
Examination Policy: Exams are based on lectures, the textbook, and lab practice. Seating during exams will
generally be assigned.
Make-Up Exam Policy: Make-up exams/quizzes will only be given in case of serious need and only when
the instructor is notified prior to the exam time. If this is not done, the grade is automatically 0 for that exam.
Written verification for the student’s inability to take an exam will be required.
Homework Policy:
 All assignments must be individually and independently completed. Should two or more students turn
in substantially the same solution or program, in the judgment of the instructor, the solution will be
considered a group effort. All involved in a group effort homework will receive a zero grade for that
assignment.
 See the CSU student conduct code for further information.
 Unacknowledged use of code from other sources (Internet, books, friends, etc.) will result in a score of
zero on that assignment. Two cases of this will result in a grade of F for the semester.
 Plagiarism of material used in the project/presentation will result in a grade of F for the semester.
Late Assignment: All homework assignments are due at the beginning of class on the specified date. An
assignment turned in one day late will get a 10% penalty, two days late will get a 20% penalty, etc.
Assignments turned in after the beginning of class on the due date will be counted as one day late and will
receive a 10% penalty. No late assignment are accepted after the assignment is graded and returned.
-2-