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Computer Systems and Architecture NQF Level 510 CREDITS

This 10-credit course introduces students to computer systems and architecture. It will cover the hardware components of computers, especially processors, and how data is processed. Students will learn about computer and instruction set architecture, digital logic circuits, CPU and memory organization, caches, virtual memory, and measuring computer performance. The course also compares RISC and CISC architectures.

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Emilia Kullutwe
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41 views2 pages

Computer Systems and Architecture NQF Level 510 CREDITS

This 10-credit course introduces students to computer systems and architecture. It will cover the hardware components of computers, especially processors, and how data is processed. Students will learn about computer and instruction set architecture, digital logic circuits, CPU and memory organization, caches, virtual memory, and measuring computer performance. The course also compares RISC and CISC architectures.

Uploaded by

Emilia Kullutwe
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Computer Systems and Architecture NQF Level 5 10 CREDITS

Prerequisites: None
Course Description
Computer Systems and Architecture is a course which will introduce students to the
hardware components of a computer especially the processor (CPU). Designs of different
computers and how data is processed within the processor will be discussed
Outcomes of Learning
Upon the completion of this course students will be able to:

 Define computer architecture


 Explain the instruction set architecture and its importance in the design of computer
systems
 Design combinational and sequential digital logic circuits
 Explain the design of the arithmetic logic unit (ALU) and the processor, datapath and
control
 Describe the organization of the central processing unit (CPU) and memory hierarchy
 Demonstrate how memory caches and virtual memory work
 Measure, evaluate, summarize and report the performance of a computer system

Course Outline:
1. Introduction to the computer organization:

1.1 Short history of computer evolution


1.2 Generation of computer technology
1.3 Von Neumann computer architecture
1.4 Computer number systems
1.5 Computer performance measures

2. Memory organization and architecture:

2.1 Classification (main memory, virtual memory, Cache


2.2 memory, stack memory, ROM, RAM, (S)DRAM, etc. )
2.3 Memory hierarchy
2.4 Addressing
2.5 Units of measurements

3. Input/output organization:

3.1 Functions
3.2 Bus and interrupt types,
3.3 DMA
3.4 CD-ROM, DVD, RAID and etc.,
3.5 A/D and D/A Converters

4. CPU Design:

4.1 Arithmetic and Logic Unit framework


4.2 Arithmetic and Logic Unit operations (IEEE standard)
4.3 Control Unit (types and organization)

5. Processor and Instruction Set Architectures:

5.1 Memory locations and operations


5.2 Addressing modes
5.3 Instruction types
5.4 Simple programming examples
5.5 Multiprocessors

6. RISC versus CISC:

6.1 RISC design principles


6.2 CISC design principles
6.3 RISC vs. CISC

7. Digital Logic:
7.1 Switching Algebra
7.2 Logic Gates
7.3 Expressions and gate networks
7.4 Combinational Circuits
7.5 Full adder
7.6 Ripple-Carry Adder

Recommended Text
1. Noam Nisan, Shimon Schocken. The Elements a Computing System. Building a
Modern Computer from First Principles. 2005, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
2. Linda Null, Julia Lobur. The Essentials of Computer Organization and Architecture.
2004, Helion.
3. Andrew S. Tanenbaum. Structured Computer Organization. Prentice Hall PTR, 2003.
4. Fundamentals of computer architecture and organisation by Mostafa Abd-El-Barr and
Hesham El-Rewini, 2005.

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