Computer Architecture and Organization

EE-321

Lecture No 01: Introduction to Course

Spring 2019
BESE-10 (A&B)

Engr Taufique-ur-Rehman
[email protected]
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 Topics for Today’s Lecture
■ Course Objectives, Learning Outcomes and
Description
■ Difference between Computer Architecture
and Organization
■ Computer Abstraction vs Hierarchy
■ ISA vs Microarchitecture
■ Why Study Computer Architecture?
■ Text and Reference Books
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 Computer Architecture and
Organization Course Objectives
 A complete understanding of program execution

 Understanding of computer’s functional components, their

characteristics, performance and interactions

 Understanding of Computer Architecture so to run programs

more efficiently

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 Computer Architecture and Organization
Course Learning Outcomes

 CLO-1: Understand the function of major components of

computer systems

 CLO-2: Analyze the internal architecture and organization of

the processor

 CLO-3: Validate the underlying theoretical concepts of

computer architecture and organization through simulation

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 Computer Architecture and
Organization Course Description
 This course will focus on the Principles, Current Practices,
and Issues in Computer Architecture and organization
 Covering introduction of Computer Organization including:
• Roles of Processors, Main Memory, and Input/ Output
Devices
• Understanding simple data path and control designs for
processors
• Understanding Memory Organization, including Cache
Structures and Virtual Memory Schemes
• Understanding Parallel Processing and Multi-core
Computers
 Get a deeper understanding of how computers work and
analyze their performance
 How the programs are translated to hardware, which would5
help in writing optimized codes
160mm² die
carrying
1.40 billion
transistors

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 Difference between Computer
Architecture and Organization
 Computer Architecture: Software Perspective
 Refer to those attributes of the system visible to a
programmer or those attributes that have direct
impact on the logical execution of a program
■ Examples:
• Instruction Set
• Number of Bits used for different Data Types
• I/O Mechanisms
• Techniques of Memory Addressing

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 Difference between Computer
Architecture and Organization
 Computer Organization: Hardware Perspective
 Refer to operational units and their interconnections
that realize their architectural specifications, which
are transparent to programmers
■ Examples:
• Control Signals
• Interfaces between Computer and Peripherals
• Design of Cache
• Memory Technology

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Another Definition
■ Computer Architecture: The science and art of designing,
selecting, and interconnecting hardware components and
designing the hardware/software interface to create a
computing system that meets functional, performance,
energy consumption, cost, and other specific goals.

■ Traditional Definition: “The term architecture is used

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 Computer Architecture
Abstractions vs Hierarchy
Abstraction: hiding details
Hierarchy: division into sub systems

Problem
Peripherals Computer
Algorithm
Central Main
Program/Language Processing Memory
Unit
Runtime System
(VM, OS, MM) Computer Systems
Interconnection
ISA (Architecture)
Microarchitecture Input
Output
Logic
Communication
Circuits lines
Electrons
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 ISA vs Microarchitecture
■ ISA (Instruction Set Architecture)
❑ Agreed upon interface between software
Problem
and hardware
■ SW/ Compiler Assumes, HW Delivers Algorithm
❑ What the software writer needs to know to Program
write and debug system/ user programs ISA
Microarchitectur
■ Microarchitecture e
Circuits
❑ Specific implementation of an ISA
Logic Gates
❑ Not visible to the software
■ Microprocessor
❑ ISA, Microarchitecture/ Circuits
❑ “Architecture” = ISA + Microarchitecture

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A Note on Hardware vs. Software
■ However, you will be much more capable if you master both
hardware and software (and the interface between them)

❑ Can develop better software if you understand the underlying

■ This course covers the HW/SW Interface and Microarchitecture

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Why Study Computer Architecture?
■ Enable Better Systems: make computers faster, cheaper,
smaller, more reliable, …
❑ By exploiting advances and changes in underlying technology/ circuits

■ Enable New Applications:

■ Enable Better Solutions:

■ Understand why computers work the way they do

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 Computer Architecture Today
■ Today is a very exciting time to study computer architecture

■ Industry is in a large paradigm shift (to multi-core and beyond) –

■ Challenges:
❑ Power/ Energy Constraints
❑ Complexity of Design
❑ Difficulties in Technology Scaling
❑ Memory Hierarchy
❑ Reliability Issues
❑ Programmability Problems
❑ Huge hunger for Data and new Data-intensive Applications

■ No clear, definitive answers to these problems

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 Text and Reference Books

Text Books

Reference Books

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THE END

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