ELEC3219 Advanced Computer Architecture
Module Overview
This module covers the development of modern computer architectures for servers, workstations, hand-held devices, signal processing and embedded systems from the introduction of the four-stage RISC pipeline to the present day.
Aims and Objectives
Learning Outcomes
Knowledge and Understanding
Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:
- The evolution of modern computer architectures
- The design decisions taken in modern architectures
Subject Specific Intellectual and Research Skills
Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:
- Evaluate the likely performance of a proposed computer architecture
- Outline the design of a computer system to meet a performance requirement
Transferable and Generic Skills
Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:
- Use graduate-level literature to expand your understanding of future architectures
Subject Specific Practical Skills
Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:
- Evaluate by simulation the performance of key architectural features
Syllabus
- Evolution of hardware capabilities: density, speed, power, communications - Virtual memory, virtualised processors - The programming interface: instruction sets and memory models, compiler support - Memory Hierarchies: cache architectures - Branch prediction - Cache coherence - Instruction parallelism: pipeline optimisations, superscalar and out-of-order execution - Data parallelism: dataflow, vector, SIMD - Thread parallelism: hyper-threading, latency hiding, multi-core - GPUs and other accelerators, Intel Phi - Special-purpose processors: DSPs - System on-chip - Architecture performance simulation
Learning and Teaching
| Type | Hours |
|---|---|
| Preparation for scheduled sessions | 18 |
| Revision | 10 |
| Wider reading or practice | 43 |
| Demonstration | 6 |
| Follow-up work | 18 |
| Tutorial | 6 |
| Completion of assessment task | 19 |
| Lecture | 36 |
| Total study time | 156 |
Resources & Reading list
John L Hennessy and David A Patterson (2011). Computer Architecture: A Quantitative Approach.
John L Hennessy and David A Patterson (2013). Computer Organization and Design: The Hardware/Software Interface.
Jim Jeffers, Intel Xeon Phi (2013). Coprocessor High Performance Programming.
Assessment
Summative
| Method | Percentage contribution |
|---|---|
| Architecture simulation | 35% |
| Architecture simulation | 15% |
| Examination (2 hours) | 50% |
Repeat
| Method | Percentage contribution |
|---|---|
| Examination | 100% |
Referral
| Method | Percentage contribution |
|---|---|
| Examination | 100% |
Repeat Information
Repeat type: Internal & External
Linked modules
Pre-requisites: (ELEC1201 AND ELEC1202) OR (COMP1202 and COMP1203)