Computer architecture

Summary

This course completes the overview of computer architecture started on the first year (CS-173 DSD).

Content

Learning Prerequisites

Required courses

CS-173 Fundamentals of digital systems

Recommended courses

None

Important concepts to start the course

• Digital logic (combinational and sequential circuits, FSMs)
• Basic notions of processors and assembly

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the course, the student must be able to:

• Structure nontrivial assembly language programs
• Add interrupt handling logic in a processor and write simple exception handlers in assembler
• Understand the design principles of a modern memory hierarchy
• Understand the interaction mechanisms of system software with hardware
• Design pipelined digital circuits at Register Transfer Level
• Optimize the performance of a processor pipeline by reordering instructions

Teaching methods

• Ex cathedra
• Exercises
• Projects

Expected student activities

• Attending the course and exercise/lab sessions
• Completing the exercises and lab assignments
• Participating in the discussion on the forum

Assessment methods

• Graded lab assignments
• Midterm exam
• Written exam

Supervision

Resources

Moodle Link

• https://go.epfl.ch/CS-200

Prerequisite for

Computer Systems