Advanced Computer Architecture
ECE/CS 6100/4100/6290/4290 - ACA/HPCA
Fall 2024
Fall 2024
This course covers modern computer architecture, including out-of-order instruction execution, branch prediction, multi-level caches and cache optimizations, memory, cache coherence, memory consistency, and multi-core processors. This course is a study of the evolution of computer architecture and the factors influencing the design of hardware and software elements of computer systems, topics may include:
Instruction set design
Processor micro-architecture and pipelining
In-order and out-of-order superscalar architectures
Cache and virtual memory organizations
Vector supercomputers and GPU basic
Multithreaded architectures
Memory models and synchronization
Modern domain-specific accelerators, languages, and compilers
Hardware Security
By the conclusion of this course, you will appreciate major topics in the field of Computer Architecture and understand the main principles of operation of modern general-purpose computer hardware.
Below is a tentative schedule and topics which we may cover week by week. The deadlines for laboratories will be provided on canvas. For more up to date updates, please check canvas.
Week 1
Course Introduction
Computer Architecture Overview
Week 2
Single Cycle Implementation
Simple Pipeline & Hazards
Week 3
Branch Prediction
Superscalar Pipelines
Week 4
Out of order execution - Register Renaming
Out of order execution - Tomasulo's Algorithm
Week 5
Out of order execution - Reorder Buffer and Speculation
Out of order execution - Load store queue
Week 6
Recap & Midterm I
Week 7
Cache Basics
DRAM
Week 8
Virtual Memory
Multiprocessor
Week 9
Cache Coherence & Fall Break
Week 10
Cache Coherence Continued
Consistency
Week 11
Vector Array and SIMD
Week 12
Recap & Midterm II
Week 13
Power
Week 14
Special Topics - Machine Learning Acceleration
Special Topics - Hardware Security
Week 15
Thanksgiving
Week 16
Recap & Finals