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Course Outline CS 438A

Spring 2007

Section A: T, Th: 2:40 pm - 4:10 pm
Class Room: Science Annex 102
Office: Science Annex 128
Office Hours: M, W: 11:30 am - 12:30 pm
T, Th: 1:00 - 2:30; 4:15 - 5:45 pm
F: 11:30 am - 12:30 pm; 2:00 - 3:00 pm
And by appointment also
Phone: 386-481-2689
EMail: BethelmyD@cookman.edu
URL: www4.cookman.edu/faculty/bethelmy

Booklist
Text Author(s) Publisher ISBN
The Essentials of Computer Organization and Architecture Null and Lobur Jones & Bartlett 978-0-7637-3769-6

Required Hardware:

A computer.

Course Description:

Basic concepts of computer architecture and organization, including computer evolution, CPU architectures, instruction sets, ALU design, memory hierarchies, input and output architectures, interrupts and DMA, and parallel processing.

Prerequisite:

At least a C in CS 437 (Digital Circuits).

Course Objectives

A student who successfully completes this course should have a good understanding of the organization and design of a modern computer system.  The student should be able to discuss design tradeoffs and be able to recognize the various organizational unit implementations. The student should appreciate the relationship between hardware and software and how the design of one influences the design of the other.

Assessment of Academic Achievement:

Homework Quizzes Exam I Exam II Term Project Final Exam
15% 5% 15% 15% 20% 30%
Some of the homework will include programming exercises. Given at random 2/22/07
Written		 4/12/07
Written		 See the "Things to note... " section below for project description. Written and comprehensive
on one of the days from 4/24 - 4/26
Note: Graduating seniors will only have Exam I, Exam II, and the term project. Exam II will count as the final and the percentages will be 30% for each exam.  The term project will be presented to me on 4/12/07.

Grading scale:

A: 90-100%, B: 80-89%, C: 70-79%, D: 60-69%, F: 0-59%

Things to note about this class

  • TERM PROJECT: You will be required to present via PowerPoint on 4/19/07 (for non-graduating seniors) a description of a high-powered computer system that is to be used for scientific simulation.  You will need to locate such a system for purchase or describe what components can be used to build such a system and why those components were chosen.  You will describe the system in detail and relate the various architectural components to those described in your text.  I expect pictures as well as detailed specifications.  I will also need to know what system software will be used and why it was chosen.
  • You should be prepared to spend a lot of time outside of class on this material.  It is a 400-level course.
  • You should make a supreme effort to study the textbook very carefully with the aim of understanding the material so that you can retrieve what you have learnt without the aid of the books. (Ideally, you should be reading ahead of me.) Try as many of the self-test exercises at the end of each section in the text.
  • You should be able to design algorithms and implement them, on your own, in at least one higher-level language.  Some of the homework may require you to write programs.
  • You should be prepared for closed-book exams that require you to have memorized certain details covered in the course.
  • You should attempt every question given for homework and see me as soon as you can't do any of them.
  • You cannot pass this class by attendance only but missing classes will cause you to do poorly on my exams/quizzes.
  • You may be required to write parts of a program on in-class exams. None of the exams is open-book.
  • If you miss a class, you need to find out what assignments and reading have been given BEFORE coming to the next class.
  • If you miss a quiz, there is no makeup.
  • If you miss an exam, you will need a documented excuse from a legally valid source (doctor, lawyer, coroner, etc.) for me to consider giving you a makeup.
  • You cannot survive in this class without studying the text.  (I realize that books are expensive and that you may not have the finances right away but there are other things that can be done to ease the burden. See me for suggestions.)
  • I am here to help and I prefer that you hunt me down for such help. I know how I think better than anyone else.
  • You will need to check your Cookman email daily as I will send information to you regularly via your Cookman email accounts.
    Please check daily, especially before class.

Topics that I hope to cover

The topics may not be covered in the order given or within the time specified and it is possible that only parts of some chapters will be covered. You will need to stay informed of which parts of which chapters are being covered.

  • Introduction (Chapter 1 - 4 lecture hours)
  • Data Representation in Computer Systems (Chapter 2 - 6 lecture hours)
  • MARIE: An Introduction to a Simple Computer (Chapter 4 - 6 lecture hours)
  • Closer Look at Instruction Set Architectures (Chapter 5 - 4 lecture hours)
  • Memory (Chapter 6 - 3 lecture hours)
  • I/O and Storage Systems (Chapter 7 - 4 lecture hours)
  • Alternative Architectures (Chapter 9 - 4 lecture hours)
  • Topics in Embedded Systems (Chapter 10 - 4 lecture hours)
  • Performance Measurement and Analysis (Chapter 11 - 2 lecture hours)
  • Selected Storage Systems and Interfaces (Chapter 13 - 3 lecture hours)