6/24/2021 Syllabus | CSC 2304 01 - Computer Architecture- Online- | Portal

Syllabus 
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Course Syllabus

Computer Architecture  (CSC 2304)

Spring 2021
 
Instructor:             Kevin Smith
Office Location:    Building 7/11
Office Hours:        (TBA)
Meeting Times:     MW:  9:00-10:20
 
GENERAL INFORMATION
 

Prerequisite EGR3331, CSC2302

Co-requisite None
Prerequisite For  
Offered in Semester Spring
Credit Hours 3 Hrs
Contact Hours 3 hours/week  3Hrs lecture

 
CATALOG DESCRIPTION
 
This course provides a discussion of the fundamentals of computer organization and architecture and
relates it to contemporary design issues. Students will gain an understanding of the basic structure and
operation of a digital computer. Topics include digital logic, instruction set architecture, computer
arithmetic, architectural CPU design, and functional computer organization. Besides emphasizing the
fundamental concepts, the course will discuss the critical role of performance in driving computer
design.
 
TEXTBOOK/REFERENCES
Computer Organization and Architecture: Designing for Performance, 10th Edition, Prentice-Hall,
William Stallings.
Companion website: http://williamstallings.com/ComputerOrganization/
 
COURSE OUTCOMES
 
Students successfully completing the course will be able to:
Describe computer architecture and organization concepts, computer arithmetic, CPU design, and
interconnection structures of computers.
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Identify high performance architecture design.

Use assembly language to program a microprocessor system.
Develop independent learning skills and be able to learn more about different computer architectures
and organizations.
 
 
 
 
CSC 5364 TOPICAL OUTLINE
 
       
Wk Dates Topics Chapters
Multilevel View of Computers notes
1 1-5/2
Introduction to computers, Architecture and Organization 1
Computer Evolution and Performance: Generations of 1
Computers, IAS architecture (first von Neumann machine),  
2 8-12/2
Key performance issues, Reading: Computer performance  
assessment 2
3 15-19/2 (continued)  
The Computer System: Instruction Cycle, Input/Output 3
4 22-26/2
Instruction Cycle with Interrupts
The Computer System: Interconnection, Elements of Bus 3, handout
5 1-5/3 Design, PCI Bus. Reading: QPI, PCI-express
Presentation topic due
6 8-12/3 (continued)  
The Central Processing Unit: -Number Systems 9
7 15-19/3
Midterm exam1
Computer arithmetic: - Integer Arithmetic 10
8 22-26/3
Presentation outline due
  29/3-2/4 Spring Break  
9 5/4-9/4 Computer arithmetic: -Floating point arithmetic 10
The Central Processing Unit: Instructions Sets: 12,
Characteristics and Functions, Pipelining, RISC 14,
12/4-
10 architecture vs. CISC architecture, Instructions Sets: 15,
16/4
Addressing Modes and Formats 13
Midterm exam2
Introduction to 8086 assembly Part I:8086 organization, other
19/4-
11 architecture, instruction encoding, addressing modes, references
23/4
variables, instructions, program flow control
Introduction to 8086 assembly Part II: Interrupts,  
26/4-
12 Procedures and Macros
30/4
Term presentation paper and slides due
13 3/5-7/5 Presentations  

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Presentations
14 10-14/5  
17/5: End Class

 
 
Tests: Tests and exams will be given in different formats, given the online constraints.  An excused
absence for a test will allow the student to take a makeup during the final week of class; expect makeup
tests to be more difficult than the original test.  All tests will be open-book; you should bring whatever
you expect to need.  There will be no sharing of ANYTHING on a test.
Homework: You can work individually or in pairs to complete programming homework of moderate
difficulty during the semester. All Assignments should be submitted online by the assigned deadline
through Jenzabar (assignments submitted by email will be discarded). Late submission is authorized,
with a penalty of 5% per each day late.
 
Term Presentation: You should submit the topic of your presentation no later than the deadline specified
by the schedule for approval. Presentations will take place during the last couple of week of the
semester. You can work in pairs. Assessment will depend on quality and topic chosen. Students working
in pairs might be graded differently depending on their performance. You can find sample presentation
topics in the presentation requirements document. All requirements are to be submitted through the
LMS system (Not by email). More details are posted online in a separate syllabus.
 
Attendance and participation: Class attendance will be a critical part of this course. It is your
responsibility to keep up with course material and to ask questions when concepts are unclear either in
class or during office hours. Attendance will be evaluated according to AUI regulations and absences
might lower your grade.
 
Course Philosophy: I will present course material in a variety of ways, including lecture, working
through extended examples, and assignment and review of exercises.  A significant part of this course
will be student research and presentation.  I will also evaluate students’ progress using regular tests, and
the final exam.  It is your responsibility to keep up with course material and to ask questions when
concepts are unclear.  You are encouraged to use the feedback I provide to measure your own progress,
and to seek assistance where needed, either by asking general questions during class, or by bringing
specific questions about class topics or assignments to me outside of class.  Since this class will be
taught largely as a distance learning class, students will need to show initiative in using email and other
options provided.
 
GRADING
Student grades will be based on midterm tests, a final exam, project reports and presentations, and
online participation, as follows:
 
Midterms                                             30%
Final exam:                                         20%
Reports and presentations:                  40%
Online participation:                           10%
 
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY

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Students have the responsibility to know and observe the requirements of the AUI Code of Academic
Honesty and the penalties resulting from violation of this code. This code forbids cheating, fabrication
or falsification of information, multiple submissions of academic work, plagiarism, abuse of academic
materials, and complicity in academic dishonesty.

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