Computer Architecture Essentials

Course details

This course provides a comprehensive introduction to computer architecture, designed for professionals without a strong hardware background. Explore the essential components of computing systems, including the CPU, memory, and I/O subsystems. The course covers advanced topics such as instruction execution techniques, memory management, and out-of-order execution. Additionally, learn about specialized architectures and emerging technologies like FPGAs and AI in hardware. By the end of this course, you will have the knowledge to analyze and optimize computing systems for enhanced performance and efficiency.

Learning objectives
Explain the fundamental components and architecture of computing systems, including the CPU, memory, and I/O subsystems.
Analyze and evaluate various instruction execution techniques, such as pipelining and out-of-order execution, and their impact on CPU performance.
Apply knowledge of memory hierarchies, caching strategies, and memory management techniques to optimize system performance.
Evaluate different I/O handling methods, including polling, interrupts, and direct memory access, and their applications in system design.
Analyze and discuss emerging technologies and specialized architectures, such as FPGAs, hardware accelerators, and neuromorphic computing, and their potential impact on the future of computing.

Concepts

0. Introduction

01 - Getting started with computer architecture

1. Computer Architecture

02 - Computer architecture
03 - Components of a computing system
04 - The CPU
05 - The memory subsystem
06 - The input output subsystem

2. The Central Processing Unit

07 - The role of the CPU
08 - CPU organization
09 - Instruction set architectures
10 - Number of operands per instruction
11 - CISC vs. RISC architectures
12 - Harvard vs. Von Neumann architectures
13 - Assembly language

3. Instruction Execution Pipelining

14 - Understanding pipelining
15 - CPU pipeline stages
16 - Pipeline hazards
17 - Overcoming control hazards with software
18 - Overcoming data hazards with software
19 - Overcoming pipeline hazards with hardware
20 - Impact on software - Pipelining

4. Out-of-Order Execution

21 - Understanding OOO execution
22 - OOO execution architecture elements
23 - Tomasulo's algorithm
24 - Instruction schedulers today
25 - Performance improvements

5. Memory

26 - Memory technologies
27 - Memory hierarchy
28 - Cache mapping

6. Complications with Memory

29 - Paging
30 - Hardware support for paging
31 - Memory in multiprocessor systems
32 - Cache coherence
33 - Impact on software - The memory subsystem

7. Input Output

34 - I O handling techniques
35 - Polling vs. interrupts
36 - Direct memory access
37 - Serial communication
38 - Layered communication protocols
39 - Impact on software - I O handling

8. System Integration

40 - Bus architectures
41 - In-die buses
42 - Motherboards
43 - Systems on a chip

9. Specialized Architectures and Emerging Technologies

44 - Embedded systems
45 - FPGAs
46 - Soft processors
47 - Hardware accelerators
48 - Cloud and edge computing
49 - RISC-V - An industry-ready open architecture

Conclusion

50 - Next steps