Computer Architecture

Description

This class presents and covers advanced and contemporary computer architecture topics, including single and many-core architectures, out of order architectures, graphical processors, cache memory optimization, data parallelism, and design trade-off analysis. Students will implement and present a CPU design that investigates one of the topics covered in the class.

Prerequisites

Student enrolled in this class are expected to have background in computer organization (ECE414 or equivalent). Additionally, students must have basic experience in a programming language such as C/C++/C#/Java or equivalent. Experience in debugging, Linux OS, and/or shell scripting is preferred but not required.

Required textbook

Computer Architecture: A Quantitative Approach - 6^th Edition, John L. Hennessy, David Patterson, ISBN: ISBN: 978-0-12-811905-1, Publisher: Morgan Kaufmann Publishers, Pub. Date: 2017

Grade Breakdown

Development/Research project (40%): Students are required to implement a concept covered in class, and advance this concept to include variations which expose the tradeoffs of design constraints. Students will select a computer architecture topic/concept/feature and work in small groups to research it (learn, implement, modify, and analyze results).

Oral exam and presentation (5%): Students will present the project findings in class and answer questions from the faculty and other students

Two midterms (20% each)

Homework assignments (15%)

Communication

In-class: chatting and cell phone usage are not allowed. Please remember to turn your cellphone off during class.

Emails: when sending emails please put [ECE514] in the subject line and state a specific subject; for instance “[ECE514] question about homework 1”. Note, no spaces in [ECE514], and expect a reply in 24hrs

Project questions: check the project page for more details on the research project.

Grading Policy

The course will use the UM standard letter grading scheme:

A/A+ 100% to 94%

A- < 94% to 90%

B+ < 90% to 87%

B < 87% to 84%

B- < 84% to 80%

C+ < 80% to 77%

C < 77%to 74%

Late submissions: All late assignments receive zero credits. This means students must plan to finish their work before deadline to avoid delays due to “technical difficulties”. Online assignments (on Blackboard) will timeout at the deadline and cannot be made up.

Assignments: All assignments will be submitted online (Blackboard). Class participation and homework assignments will be announced during the semester. Typically you will do some class participation assignments during the lecture, and have one week to complete homework assignments at home. Please bring your laptops to the lectures.

Makeups: No makeup midterms except for a medically documented sickness or family emergency.

Regarding: all re-grading requests must be submitted within three days of original grading.

Honor Code: Every student is expected to read, acknowledge, and adhere to the University of Miami honor code located at

http://bulletin.miami.edu/general-university-information/undergraduate-academic-procedure-information/grades/#text.

Students who are caught breaking the honor code will be persecuted

Accommodations for students with disabilities

Students requesting classroom accommodation must first register with the Dean of Students Office. That office will provide the student with documentation that he/she must provide to the course instructor when requesting accommodation