Computers Architecture

Ideally, the classes will be taught in a computer room. Classes are theoretical and practical. The students are invited to participate and to develop research projects on distinct areas. These topics are defined by the teacher. However, students can propose other ideas (the teacher must approve). Some challenges on MOODLE eLearning platform will be proposed. These Learning and assessment methodologies aim to prepare students to real jobs: to intervene, argue, research, do teamwork, do conflict management, prepare presentations and submit papers. This work will be punctuated for the final evaluation.

To exploit the aspects of computer hardware, improving the Knowledge on “black box” (internal components); learn the elementary concepts: computer Architecture, Organization, functions and structure.
To know the historical and synthetic retrospective from the 1st generation to the new processors and components. To know the current level of development on components and Input/Output devices.
To learn how to balance the performance, optimization techniques for processing data and performance measures and Benchmarks.
To learn about microprocessors and connection to components and devices, cache memory (some techniques about performance optimization and caches), other internal and external memories. To learn about memories evolution.
To understand and to program on a machine level language as Little Man Computer and to exploit the parallelism between that and a high-level programming language.

1. Introduction on Computer Architecture
2. Evolution and Performance
3. Toplevel
view on the computer: function and interconnection
4. Computer arithmetic’s
5. Little Man Computer (LMC)
6. Cache Memory
7. Internal Memory Technology
8. External Memory
9. Input/Output devices
10. Operating System Support
11. Instruction Sets: characteristics and function
12. Instruction Sets: address mode and format
13. Processor structure and function

NAO