EECE 538 - Advanced Computer Architectures and Systems

This is a special topics class that examines the concepts and techniques of computer architecture in greater depth than 538. The course takes a look at the basic techniques, then branches out into techniques which have special purpose applications. The thrust of the course is to investigate these architectures by developing the appropriate tools, then using the tools to identify the theoretical limits of the mechanisms studied. Topics:

• Pipelined systems
  • Standart pipeline systems
  • Multifunction (reconfigurable) pipelines
  • Pipelines with long latency
• Shared memory procesing systems
• Message passing processing systems
• Data Flow Computers
• High Level Language Machines
• Machines with Regular Structures
  • Hypercubes
  • Mesh connected machines
  • Tree connected machines
  • Fat-tree connected machines

Required work: Students are required to complete severaL homework assignments, plus a take home final exam. In addition, a research paper is due at the end of the semester. In addition to the homework, several programming activities will be required, involving processor evaluation in simulation and direct execution modes.

Course Text: There is no text for this course, but copies of articles from current journals and related publications will be made available in class. Students should examine the journal articles in detail, and class discussions will point out the appropriate characteristics of each.