Computer Architecture

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3460:465 Course Information

Prerequisite: Completion of 306 or 210 and 4450:330 with grades of C- or better.
Objectives
- An introduction to the hardware organization of the computer at the register, processor and systems level. An in-depth study of the architecture of a particular computer systems family.
Required Text -
- Structured Computer Organization - 5th edition, Andrew S. Tanenbaum, 2006, Pearson Prentice Hall, ISBN 0-13-148521-0
Grading Policies
Your grade will be based on 2 exams (40%), a comprehensive final (25%), and series of course projects and homework (35%).
Exams must be taken at the announced times unless prior arrangements are made. Homeworks must be turned in on time or they will not be given any credit. Hopefully you will all meet the deadlines for all projects. However, if you find it necessary to submit a project late, your grade will be reduced by 10% per day.

All programming assignments must be your own work. Devising your own solutions to problems and implementing them is the best way to learn about the topics in this course. You should follow these three rules:
- Guard your code as if it was a trade secret. Do not show your code to anyone else.
- Sting operations are often used to trap spies in industry. Do not read someone else's code.
- Discussions among classmates about the general nature of a solution can be beneficial. Beware that these discussions do not become too detailed, or revert to a foreign language such as C, C++, Pascal, FORTRAN, BASIC, PERL, Java or JavaScript, PHP, Assembly, or Pseudocode.
If you need help with your programs, please see me. Duplicate or similar programs, plagiarism, cheating, undue collaboration, or other forms of academic dishonesty may be reported to the Student Disciplinary Office.
Grading scale:
- A 90-100 B 80- 89 C 70- 79 D 60- 69 F 0- 59
- (+/- grades awarded at my discretion)
Final Exam: As stated in University Exam Schedule
Last day to drop this class: March 9 - Please note that I do not sign withdrawal slips, so this is the last date you may withdraw from the course unless you have a good attendance record and have discussed dropping the class with me prior to this date.

Course Topics

See course notes page

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