CS 281

Computer Architecture

Instructor: Doug Lawrence

Phone: 243-7705

Email: DougCLawrence@msn.com

Office Hours: By appointment

Class: Tuesday and Thursday, 12:40-2:00

Room: Social Science 344

Prerequisites: CS131, CS132

Textbooks: “Essentials of Computer Architecture”

- by Douglas E. Comer (Required) ISBN:0-13-149179-2

Some Class Objectives

- Learn the computer systems functional breakdown

· Processor, memory, I/O, software interface

· Implementation of the CPU

· Interconnection structures

- Understand how computer instructions and data are formatted

- Understand digital logic

- Prepare for future software and hardware classes

- Understand how programs execute in a computer. (Procedures, pipelining, etc.)

- Understand performance assessment and assessment components (Benchmarks, speed, etc.)

- Understand data representation and operation on that data

Grading Policy

The following are estimates and are subject to change.

Homework: 70%

Exams (3): 15% each

(You must take 2 of the 3 exams.)

I do not grade on a curve. I use the standard grading scale, utilizing the “+” and “-“ system. Some of you may be taking this class with the pass/no pass option. The Computer Science policy is that “the student must earn the equivalent of a letter grade of C for pass.”

Prerequisites

It is your responsibility to have taken all prerequisite classes prior to taking this class. This instructor cannot be responsible for bringing you up to speed on material that you should already know.

Homework and Exams

Homework is due by 5 PM on the day it is due. It must be legible and on 8½” by 11” sheets of paper. No legal size paper please. To save paper, I do not hand out paper copies of the homework in class if I don’t have to. I rely on students to go to the class web site to get the assignments.

If you start missing assignments your chances of passing the class are EXTREMELY slim. You cannot pass on the merits of the exams scores alone. You must make arrangements with me prior to missing the exam if you don’t think you’re going to make it. However, note that you only have to take 2 of the 3 exams, none of which are cumulative.

The graded homework will typically be returned 7-10 days after submission. Late homework will be accepted, but it will be marked down 10% for each day it is late (excluding weekends and holidays) and won’t be accepted once the assignment has been returned to the rest of the class or answers posted on the class web site. Any exceptions to the late rule must be made prior to when the homework is due and the excuse needs to be a good one –“just too busy” won’t cut it.

Collaboration on homework is encouraged, but you are responsible for personally writing and understanding the solutions. No “group” assignments will be accepted. Obvious duplications will result in a splitting of the grade between the students involved, regardless of who did the copying.

Web site: We will use Blackboard. You will be able to check your grades, download homework assignments and check out any additional material relevant to the class.

Students with disabilities: If you have a disability of any kind and it affects how you might perform in this class (test taking, homework, attendance, etc.), please notify me. I am more than willing to make accommodations. I may require that your disability be certified by DSS.

One last note: Please don’t wait until the day we do class evaluations to indicate a problem, whether that problem be with the class or with me. I hate reading evaluations only to discover that a student didn’t like my teaching methods or me, or had trouble understanding the assignments. I am always willing to meet with you and help.