COMP 231
Introduction to Computer Organization
(CRN 25282, Spring 2015)

Announcements

  • The first lecture will be held on Wednesday, January 14, 2015.

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    Course Description

    A bottom-up exploration of the interaction between computer hardware and software. Topics begin with an introduction to digital logic, and continue through elementary processor design, to assembly language, machine data representation, and computer arithmetic. Other topics in contemporary computer architecture such as multicore processors and GPGPU's may be discusses as time allows. Projects include hardware and simulated digital circuits as well as programs in assembly language.

    The syllabus for this course can be found at http://cs.rhodes.edu/welshc/COMP231_S15/syllabus.pdf.

    Book, Course Information, and Prerequisites

    Null and Lobur Book

    Textbook: The Essentials of Computer Organization and Architecture, 4rd edition
    by Linda Null and Julia Lobur
    Kidder, The Soul of a New Machine
    Location: Ohlendorf 225
    Time: MWF 3:00-3:50PM
    URL: http://cs.rhodes.edu/welshc/COMP231_S15/
    Prerequisite: This course assumes successful completion of CS141 or significant programming experience. Please come see me if you have not had CS141.


    Course Instructor

    Instructor: Catie Welsh
    Office: Ohlendorf 422
    Email: welshc@rhodes.edu (please include “CS 231" somewhere in the subject)
    Office Hours: Tues/Thurs 2-4pm or by appointment - Ohlendorf 422







    Schedule

    This is a tentative schedule and subject to change as needed.

    Date Lecture Topic(s) Readings Assignments
    W-January 14 Intro slides Chapter 1 First Day Survey - Due Friday
    F-January 16 Binary Arithmetic & Boolean Logic slides Section 2.1-2.3.1  
    M-January 19 Holiday- No Class
    W-January 21 Gates & Boolean Logic slides Section 3.1-3.4 Homework 1 - due 1/28 (in class)
    F-January 23 More Digital Logic & Basic Circuits slides Section 3.5  
    M-January 26 Intro to Electronics & More Circuits slides Section 3.6-3.6.3  
    W-January 28 More Memory Circuits slides    
    F-January 30 More Memory Circuits slides Section 3.6.5 Homework 2 - due 2/6 (at the beginning of class)
    M-February 2 Number Representations slides Section 2.4-2.4.2, 2.4.4  
    W-February 4 More on number representations slides Section 2.6-2.6.1  
    F-February 6 Still more on number representations, ASCII slides Section 2.6.3-2.6.4  
    M-February 9 More on characters, Begin ALUs slides Section 4.1-4.2 Homework 3 - due 2/16 (at the beginning of class)
    W-February 11 The datapath slides Section 4.3-4.7  
    F-February 13 Instructions and Instruction Set Architecture (ISA) slides Section 4.8  
    M-February 16 Snow Day
    W-February 18 Midterm 1
    F-February 20 Snow Day Again
    M-February 23 More on Instructions and ISAs slides Section 4.9  
    W-February 25 Still more on instructions and ISAs slides Section 4.10 Homework 4 - due 3/4 (at the beginning of class)
    F-February 27 Assembly Language slides Section 4.11-4.12  
    M-March 2 More on Assembly Language slides    
    W-March 4 More on Assembly Language slides   Homework 5 - due 3/18
    Kidder Assignment - due 3/27
    F-March 6 Snow Day
    M-March 9 Spring Break - No Class
    W- March 11 Spring Break - No Class
    F-March 13 Spring Break - No Class
    M-March 16 Control unit slides Section 4.13  
    W-March 18 Microgramming slides    
    F-March 20 Macroinstruction format slides Sections 5.1-5.2.1, 5.2.3-5.2.4  
    M-March 23 Expanding opcodes slides Section 5.2.5-5.4.2 Homework 6 - due 3/30
    W-March 25 Addressing modes slides    
    F-March 27 Overview of pipelining slides Section 5.5  
    M-March 30 Extended aside: What's the big deal about Java anyway?, Review slides    
    W-April 1 Midterm 2
    F-April 3 Holiday- No Class
    M-April 6 Memory management - caches slides Section 6.1-6.3  
    W-April 8 Memory management - more on caches slides Section 6.4  
    F-April 10 Virtual Memory: Paging slides Section 6.5 Homework 7 - due 4/17
    M-April 13 Segmentation, Begin Interrupts slides Section 6.5.5, 6.5.6, 4.7, 4.9.2  
    W-April 15 More on interrupts, RISC design philosophy slides Section 4.14, 9.1-9.2  
    F-April 17 Overview of Embedded Systems slides Chapter 10 Triumph of the Nerds Assignment - due 4/27
    M-April 20 More on Embedded Systems, Thought Experiment slides   Homework 8 - Reading Only
    W-April 22 Alternative Architectures slides Sections 9.2-9.4  
    F-April 24 GPUs slides    
    M-April 27 Triumph of the Nerds Discussion, Course evals    
    W-April 29 Review    
    Fri-May 8 Final Exam, Time: 5:30-8:00pm
    Alternate Exam Times available May 4th, May 5th and May 6th