Faculty of Engineering Handbook

COMPUTER ORGANIZATION AND ARCHITECTURE

Subject Code:	ECP2046
Objective:	To give a general understanding of the computer technology and the design principles of computer hardware.
Pre-Requisite:	EEN1036: Digital Logic Design
Credit Hours:	3
Contact Hours:	53 hours (lectures, tutorials & laboratory experiments)
Assesment:	Lab: 10% Test/Quiz: 15% Tutorial/Assignment: 15% Final Examination: 60%
Laboratory:	1. Bus Operation 2. Memory Interfacing
References:	William Stallings, "Computer Organization and Architecture", MacMillan 1993 William Stallings, "Operation Systems", Prentice-Hall 1995 Kai Hwong, "Advanced Computer Architecture", McGraw-Hill 1993

Course Contents

Overview of Computer Fundamentals
Development history of computer hardware and software, Review of computer fundamentals, simple machine code sequence to illustrate action, control transfer. Contemporary computers.
Storage and Input/Output Systems
Computer function (fetch and execute cycles), interrupts, interconnection structures (Bus structure and bus types), Overview of memory system, memory chip organization and error correction, cache memory, memory storage devices. Overview of I/O, programmed and interrupt-driven I/Os, direct memory access (DMA), I/O channel and I/O processor.
Operating System
Overview of operating system, dimension and type of operating system, high level scheduling, short-term scheduling, I/O scheduling, memory management, virtual memory, window base operating systems.
Computer Arithmetic
Integer arithmetic (addition, subtraction, multiplication, division), floating-point representation (IEEE), floating-point arithmetic. Arithmetic and Logic unit (ALU).
Instruction Set and Register
Machine instruction characteristics, types of operands and operations, instruction functions, addressing modes, instruction formats, register organization, instruction pipelining.
Control Unit
Micro-operations, control of the CPU, hardwired implementation, control unit operation, micro-instruction sequencing and execution, micro-programmed control.
High performance computer systems
Techniques to achieve high performance, pipelining, storage hierarchy, units with function dedicated for I/O. RISC, introduction to superscalar processor, parallel processor.

Learning Outcome of Subject

At the completion of the subject, students should be able to:·

define computers and simple machine code sequence
explain the working of input/output systems in a computer.
define memory systems, DMA and interrupt-driven input/output systems.
identify and explain different types of scheduling in an operating system.
explain the memory management in a window based operating system.
apply basic computer arithmetic.
explain the working of an Arithmetic Logic Unit.
define and explain addressing modes and register organization.
define and explain micro operations and control unit operation.
identify and differentiate between high performance computers with RISC, Superscalar and parallel processors.
explain bus operations in a computer.
apply simple memory interfacing.

Programme Outcomes (% of contribution)

Ability to acquire and apply fundamental principles of science and engineering. - 40%
Capability to communicate effectively. - 5%
Acquisition of technical competence in specialized areas of engineering discipline. - 10%
Ability to identify, formulate and model problems and find engineering solutions based on a system approach. - 10%
Ability to conduct research in chosen fields of engineering. - 5%
Understanding of the importance of sustainability and cost-effectiveness in design and development of engineering solutions. - 10%
Understanding and commitment to professional and ethical responsibilities. - 5%
Ability to work independently as well as with others in a team.- 10%
Capability and enthusiasm for self-improvement through continuous professional development and life-long learning. - 5%