Advanced Computer Architecture

Description:

This course provides an in depth study of computer architecture techniques. Main topics include high speed computing techniques, vector machines, shared memory multiprocessors, cache coherence, scalable multiprocessors, and interconnection networks. Upon completion of the course, the student should understand advanced computer architecture concepts.

Textbook:

David Culler and J.P. Singh with Anoop Gupta, " Parallel Computer Architecture: A Hardware/Software Approach," ISBN 1-55860-343-3, Morgan Kaufmann, 1998.

Prerequisite:

EECE 337L and EECE 344

Coordinator:

Min-You Wu

Topics:

• Parallelism and Parallel architecture
  
  • Parallelism and speedup
  • Parallel architecture
  • Communication architecture
• Shared memory multiprocessors
  
  • Concept of cache coherence
  • Snooping protocols
  • Sequential consistency
  • Synchronization
• Cache coherence
  
  • Base design
  • Multilevel cache
  • Split-transaction bus
• Scalable multiprocessors
  
  • Scalability
  • Programming models
  • Scalable architectures
• Directory-based architecture
  
  • Directories
  • Two-level cache-coherent systems
  • Performance optimization
• Interconnection networks
  
  • Bus
  • Cross-bar
  • Static network
  • Multi-level switching network