B34LA1
     Computer Architectures & Networks (2002/3)
Dr. James A. McClean
Room: EM 2.24 
Phone: x 3345
email: J.A.McClean@hw.ac.uk
Outline Description

Weeks 1-5, Dr. James McClean
Performance:  MIPs,MFLOPs,progs to evaluate performance,
Benchmarks,benchmark suits,comparison figures,Amdahl's law
Computer Design:  Best price/perf for given functional 
requirement,Moore's law, IC costs,wafer yield,test costs.
Memory Hierarchy: Technologies,evolution of DRAM tech,
speed calculations,interleaved memories.			

Weeks 6-10, Dr. Yvan Petillot
Networks: Introduction to layered communication, ISO reference 
model, overview of levels 1-7; Physical layer: stop and wait, 
alternating bit and sliding window protocols; commercial examples; 
Network Layer: routing and congestion control, virtual circuits and 
datagrammes; Transport Layer: levels of service.		

Written Examination, April 2003.

The 3 hour paper is synoptic comprising 2 Sections, Computer Architecture &
Networks (B34LA1) and Multiprocessor Computers and Networks (B34DJ2). 
The rubric (not yet agreed) is likely to be :Attempt FOUR questions, TWO from 
three in each Section. Past papers with similar architecture coverage to mine in
part were classified under 22.4DH1 but these did not have the networks section.



Lecture Timetable/Estimated Syllabus Coverage 

Lecture Timetable Weeks 1-5 [Dr. James McClean]:  (Dr. Yvan Petillot Weeks 6-10)
Mondays, 9.15 -10.15am Room EM 1.82, Tuesdays, Room EM 3.06 1.15-2.15pm, 
Fridays 12.15pm Fridays Room EM 3.06 
            
           Estimate 10 lectures and 5 tutorials the last 2 being revision in weeks 5 and 10.

Estimated Syllabus Coverage:
Performance metrics, benchmark suites, Amdahl's law, 
performance improvements, [8.10/14.10], part lecture/part tutorial [11.10]

Computer design, price/performance, Moore's law,
SIA roadmap, IC costs, fabrication, testing, packaging, 
cost & price breakdown of a product, [15.10/21.10], part lecture/part tutorial [18.10]

Memory hierarchy, attribute table for high-end PCs
or workstations, memory speed calculations, conventional DRAM,
enhancements, FPM, EDO, SDRAM, DDRAM, RDRAM, interleaved 
memory, multiword-width memory, performance comparison,
[22.10/28.10/29.10], part lecture/part tutorial [25.10/1.11]

           Cache memories architectural/structural level overview, 
 Speed/performance issues. [4.11/2.11/4.11], revision tutorials [8.11/13.12]
           



Book list:
Recommended text (strongly suggested you buy):

   	 	"Computer Organisation and Architecture":
       		Designing for Performance, 6th Edition, 
        		William Stallings,  Prentice Hall, (2002),

                         		ISBN: 0-13-049307-4
                       		Price £33.99 Amazon UK 
         			 or Blackwells,  Campus shop or South Bridge


On-line student resources supporting this book are at:
http://williamstallings.com/COA6e.html


If  instead you already have the 5th edition (200)
http://williamstallings.com/COA5e.html


This text provides a clear, comprehensive presentation of the organization and architecture of modern-day computers, emphasizing both fundamental principles and the critical role of performance in driving computer design. The text conveys concepts through a wealth of concrete examples highlighting modern CISC and RISC systems.
         









             Other texts (worth looking up in the library for a second opinion or for 
further/background reading):

The Bible in this topic, although H&P have produced a 2002 editions with less emphasis on the quantitative aspects. The initial computer performance metrics lectures and some of the later cache material are based on material derived from this text.


     "Computer Architecture: A Quantitative Approach", 
         2nd Edition, J. H. Hennessy & D. A. Patterson,
Morgan Kaufmann Publishers, (1996),
     		 ISBN: 1-55860-372-7
Price: £29.95

                http://www.cs.berkeley.edu/~pattrsn/
               http://www-flash.stanford.edu:80/~jlh/


   "Structured Computer Organisation", Andrew S. Tanenbaum,  4th Edition,
               Prentice-Hall Publishers, (1998), ISBN:  0-13-020435-8
Price: £34.99

Again on-line student resources accompanying this book 
http://www.cs.vu.nl/~ast/

"Advanced Computer Architectures: A Design Space Approach", D. Sima,   T. Fountain, and P. Kacsuk, Addison-Wesley Publishers, (1997), ISBN: 0-201-42291-3.
Price: £37.99

If you don't understand something during the lectures or think I'm assuming too much (or too little) prior knowledge, then please feel free to interrupt and ask a question. Alternatively, come to see me in my office or email me your query - contact details above.

B34lA1	Computer Architectures & Networks	General Introduction

JAMcC	- 0.4 -	HW: ECE