CSC 345 - Principles of Computer Organization
2007 Winter WEC Term

An introduction to computer organization, processors, instruction sets, and assembly language programming. (Prereq: CSC 210.)

We will cover programming in the MIPS assembly language, with a number of programming assignments using the SPIM simulator as provided in the Text's CD. The basic architecture of a processor, data representation, and micro-code will be the main topics of this class along with the assembly language programming.

Essential Information:

Instructor:  Erik Steinmetz
E-mail:  steinmee@augsburg.edu
Phone:  (612) 330-1062
Office:  Sverdrup 203A
Class:  Fridays, 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. in Sverdrup 205
Dates:  12 January, 26 January, 2 February, 16 February, 23 February, 9 March, 23 March
Text:  Computer Organization and Design: The Hardware-Software Interface (Third Edition); Patterson & Hennessy
Office Hours:  Monday or Tuesday (TBD) evenings before a class session, 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. 

Grading

There will be a mid-term and a final exam during the course, each counting for 30 percent of the grade. Graded homeworks will make up the remainder of the grade. All homeworks must be completed individually.

Schedule (subject to modification)

Dates Topics Chapter
12 January Introduction, History, Assembly Language Basics Organization 1, 2
26 January Assembly Language Continued, Numbering Systems Organization 2.9, 2.15, 3
2 February Numbering Systems Continued, Assemblers and Linkers Organization 3, Appendix A
16 February   Review and Mid-Term, Hardware Logic Organization Appendix B
23 February Processor Datapath, Flow Control in Hardware Organization 5, Appendix C
9 March Processor Pipelining, Principles of Cache Organization 6, 7
23 March Final Exam

Assignments

Assignment Date Due
Assignment One 26 January  
Assignment Two 2 February
Assignment Three 16 February
Appendix B, problems 11, 12, and 13 23 February
Chapter 5, problems 1, 2, 3, 8, and 32   9 March
Chapter 6, problems 1, 2, 3, 4, 17, 18, 19
Chapter 7, problems 9, 10, 11
These are no-credit problems suggested for study.

Exam Schedule

The mid-term will be held during the first half of class on 16 February.

The final will be held during class on 23 March.

Class Links